CADILLAC – By almost any indicator, the students at Kenwood Elementary in Cadillac should be poor readers.
Almost three in four Kenwood students are economically disadvantaged, in a state that ranks 44th in the nation in low-income fourth-grade reading skills.
More than nine in 10 students at the school are white; Michigan’s poor, white students rank a dismal 49th in fourth-grade reading, ahead of only Alaska.
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Yet Kenwood’s low-income students are reading all-stars, meeting Michigan’s fourth-grade reading standards at double the rate of poor students elsewhere in the state. That’s quite a record for a school that, just four years ago, was one of the worst-performing in Michigan as measured by the Michigan Department of Education.
That turnaround was no miracle, say school leaders in Cadillac, just a new approach to teaching, a focus on data, and a lot of work.
“Change is hard,” said Cadillac Superintendent Jennifer Brown. “A sense of urgency is needed.”

Four years ago, Kenwood Elementary was in the second percentile of schools in Michigan; two years later, it had rocketed to the 59th percentile. (Bridge photo by Ron French)
The question is whether Michigan can find that same sense of urgency to respond to poor education performance across the state.
Scores released this month from the National Assessment for Educational Progress, often called the “nation’s report card,” showed Michigan remains in the bottom third nationally in overall student achievement. Michigan fourth-graders ranked 36th in reading compared to their peers in other states.
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That should be sobering to state leaders, because early literacy is considered a major indicator of later academic success.
More sobering is an analysis conducted by Brian Jacob, a University of Michigan economics professor. Even when economic and social indicators (such as poverty) are taken into account, Michigan schools underperform compared with most other states.
Michigan also had the biggest decrease in fourth-grade reading and eighth-grade math scores between 2003 and 2015 among all students.
“Michigan is doing worse,” Jacob said. “I don’t think anyone knows exactly what the reason is, and that’s partly because there are lots of reasons.”
Michigan’s poor performance doesn’t surprise University of Michigan early literacy researcher Nell Duke. “States vary in the degree to which their policies and practices support the education of students, including low-income students,” Duke said.
“For example, Michigan funds our schools less equitably than many other states, which affects low-income students of all races,” Duke said. Many high-performing states give added money to poor districts because it costs more in additional staffing and resources to raise student achievement among low-income students. In Michigan, per-pupil funding is equal for students regardless of income.
Michigan also invests less in teacher continuing education than other states, Duke said.
“Our students just really don’t have the support, and in some cases our schools don’t have the staffing that some other (states) do,” said Ron Koehler, assistant superintendent of Kent Intermediate School District, which includes Grand Rapids Public Schools. “We’re last in the nation in terms of school nurses, for example. We don’t have as many social workers to deal with issues (as other states).”
Comparing the Great Lakes State with the Sunshine State offers an example of how the nitty-gritty of state policy can affect learning. While Michigan’s low-income white fourth-graders rank 49th in reading, Florida’s rank second, with reading skills almost two years ahead of similar students in Michigan. A decade ago, Florida’s fourth-graders were a year behind Michigan’s.
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One element in that turnaround: Florida invested heavily in early literacy, in additional staffing and teacher training, to the tune of $130 million in 2014 alone. By comparison, Michigan allocated $6 million for early literacy coaches in 2017.
Florida voters passed a constitutional amendment in 2010 capping class size at 18 for kindergarten through third grade and 22 for fourth through eighth grades. Florida also has universal pre-K available to all families. Michigan’s pre-K program is available only to low- and moderate-income families, and even among those families an estimated 30,000 4-year-olds still do not have access to high-quality early education.
In a 2014 interview with Bridge, Florida’s Foundation for Excellence In Education CEO Patricia Levesque said, “If a big state with a Michigan-size population of low-income students can improve, maybe there are some things Michigan can learn from Florida’s experience that would be useful.”
There may also be lessons closer to home, too, in a blue-collar town in northern Michigan.
Hope in an unexpected place
Cadillac is a town of 10,000 in the northwest Lower Peninsula. In the 1800s, it was known for its lumber business and locomotive manufacturing. Rock band KISS played at a homecoming dance there in 1975. Today, it’s a typical northern Michigan community, with below-average household income and educational attainment, surviving on small industries and tourism.
“I know people want to find a silver bullet in a program, but most of that turnaround was due to a shift in thinking. It really is about finding people who are committed to the work and the kids, and are willing to roll up their sleeves (and say) ‘Whatever the kids bring to school, we’re going to work with it.’” ‒ Cadillac Superintendent Jennifer Brown
Four years ago, the Michigan Department of Education placed Cadillac’s highest-poverty school – Kenwood Elementary – in the second percentile of all Michigan schools, based on assessments and performance growth on a variety of tests and subjects.
Two years later, the school rose to the 59th percentile.
The remarkable turnaround was based partly on the school’s rising reading scores. On the 2017 M-STEP, Michigan’s state accountability test, only 29 percent of the state’s low-income fourth-graders were proficient or better in English language arts, half the rate of their wealthier classmates.
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But at high-poverty Kenwood, 62 percent of low-income fourth-graders were proficient or higher ‒ one of the highest rates for low-income students in the state.
Kenwood’s success shows that Michigan schools can improve learning, and can do it without a huge infusion of cash.

An emphasis on small group learning and data have helped turn around a struggling, low-income elementary school. (Bridge photo by Ron French)
In a small, cluttered principal’s office, Kenwood Principal Kelly Buckmaster and Cadillac Superintendent Jennifer Brown rattled off a list of changes instituted at the school since its low-water mark in 2014.
- Major teacher shakeup: Six of Kenwood’s 14 classroom teachers were replaced. “We gave them the option – get on board (with the plan) or (leave),” Brown said.
- Support staff: The school added two certified teachers without classroom assignments – a behavioral specialist to head off student issues before they caused disruptions, and an instructional coach who meets with every teacher at least once a month to go over data and tweak teaching methods sort of like a batting coach on a baseball team. The Cadillac Area Public Schools district squeezed money from other programs to fill the new positions.
- Common planning time: Teachers have time during the school week to meet to strategize classwork.
- Food and dentists: Kenwood offers free breakfast for all students, rather than the third of students who received it before the turnaround. And a dentist visits the school twice a year for students who may not see dentists regularly.
- Quick turnaround classroom data: “My teachers have weekly common planning time,” Buckmaster said. “One week we may be looking at math data, and another week at reading data: ‘Here’s where we want to be. Here’s the kids who got there. Here’s the kids who didn’t get there. What are we going to do to get them there? How are we going to assess that they actually got there?’”
- Smaller groups: An emphasis on small-group and individualized instruction, to work with students who are struggling with a concept. This was more complicated than it sounds, Buckmaster said. Teachers had to prepare multiple lessons that could keep various groups active at the same time.
- Good vibes: A culture that praises students for what they do right rather than criticizing them for what they do wrong. “When you walk into the school, you can feel the positive environment,” said third-grade teacher Kelly Baas.
“It probably doesn’t sound revolutionary,” admitted Brown. “I know people want to find a silver bullet in a program, but most of that turnaround was due to a shift in thinking. It really is about finding people who are committed to the work and the kids, and are willing to roll up their sleeves (and say) ‘Whatever the kids bring to school, we’re going to work with it.’”
“We still have all the problems,” Buckmaster said. “We just handle them differently now. We focus on what we can control.”
The reforms at Kenwood have been so successful they’ve been expanded to other elementary schools in Cadillac, with Brown squeezing dollars from the district’s budget to pay for more literacy coaches.
What happened at Kenwood can happen elsewhere, Brown said. “We can’t clone Kelly and her staff, but you don’t need to,” she said. “Teachers work hard. They’re invested. No one gets into the profession to see kids not succeed. This is scalable, if teachers are supported in the right way.”
That support includes building in time for teachers to work together to share an idea, ensuring they receive quick access to student data, and providing the money for good professional development.
“It takes a commitment to allocate resources where needs are and not just follow the same paradigm you’ve always followed,” Brown said.
The question is whether the state now has that same sense of urgency that Kenwood instructional coach Heidi Stange feels when she recalls the faces of teachers the day they learned the school was in the second percentile.
“We can’t think we have a handle on it, because then we’re losing focus,” Stange said. “It scares me when I think about us sliding.”
Different income, different reading skills
There is a frustratingly stubborn gap in the reading skills of Michigan students from low-income families and their wealthier classmates. Look up the percentage of poor students and non-poor students who were proficient or higher on the M-STEP third-grade English language arts test in 2017 by typing in the name of your school district.
District | Poor students | Non-poor students | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Tested | Passed | Percent | Tested | Passed | Percent | |
Zeeland | 117 | 58 | 49.6 | 289 | 208 | 72 |
Ypsilanti | 213 | 24 | 11.3 | 21 | <10 | * |
Yale | 55 | 30 | 54.5 | 76 | 54 | 71.1 |
Wyoming | 250 | 63 | 25.2 | 50 | 23 | 46 |
Wyandotte | 150 | 57 | 38 | 117 | 65 | 55.6 |
Woodland School | 2 | < 10 | * | 21 | 10 | 47.6 |
Woodland Park Academy | 38 | < 10 | * | 10 | < 10 | * |
Woodhaven-Brownstown | 175 | 67 | 38.3 | 201 | 138 | 68.7 |
Wolverine | 18 | < 10 | * | 3 | < 10 | * |
Windemere Park Charter Academy | 51 | 22 | 43.1 | 30 | 17 | 56.7 |
Winans Academy | 58 | < 10 | * | 4 | < 10 | * |
Williamston | 23 | 11 | 47.8 | 89 | 72 | 80.9 |
William C. Abney Academy | 52 | < 10 | * | 1 | < 10 | * |
Will Carleton Charter School Academy | 2 | < 10 | * | 24 | 16 | 66.7 |
Whittemore-Prescott | 47 | 19 | 40.4 | 7 | < 10 | * |
Whitmore Lake | 30 | 11 | 36.7 | 27 | 16 | 59.3 |
Whitehall | 75 | 30 | 40 | 76 | 53 | 69.7 |
Whiteford | 9 | < 10 | * | 39 | 21 | 53.8 |
Whitefish | 1 | < 10 | * | 0 | 0 | |
White Pine Academy | 4 | < 10 | * | 6 | < 10 | * |
White Pigeon | 41 | < 10 | * | 25 | 10 | 40 |
White Cloud | 41 | 18 | 43.9 | 17 | < 10 | * |
Westwood Heights | 41 | < 10 | * | 1 | < 10 | * |
Westwood | 131 | 10 | 7.6 | 10 | < 10 | * |
Weston | 24 | < 10 | * | 5 | < 10 | * |
Western | 90 | 35 | 38.9 | 131 | 87 | 66.4 |
West Village Academy | 42 | 13 | 31 | 11 | < 10 | * |
West Ottawa | 269 | 138 | 51.3 | 182 | 133 | 73.1 |
West MI Academy of Environmental Science | 49 | 20 | 40.8 | 23 | 17 | 73.9 |
West MI Academy of Arts and Academics | 20 | < 10 | * | 41 | 22 | 53.7 |
West Iron | 43 | 13 | 30.2 | 21 | < 10 | * |
West Branch-Rose City | 94 | 42 | 44.7 | 43 | 30 | 69.8 |
West Bloomfield | 90 | 26 | 28.9 | 241 | 153 | 63.5 |
Wells Township | 1 | < 10 | * | 0 | 0 | |
Webberville | 28 | 20 | 71.4 | 25 | 18 | 72 |
Wayne-Westland | 578 | 94 | 16.3 | 265 | 120 | 45.3 |
Wayland Union | 104 | 44 | 42.3 | 130 | 81 | 62.3 |
Waverly | 149 | 72 | 48.3 | 54 | 32 | 59.3 |
Watervliet | 55 | 21 | 38.2 | 35 | 16 | 45.7 |
Watersmeet | 13 | < 10 | * | 6 | < 10 | * |
Waterford Montessori Academy | 5 | < 10 | * | 27 | 16 | 59.3 |
Waterford | 354 | 131 | 37 | 243 | 135 | 55.6 |
Washington-Parks Academy | 153 | 31 | 20.3 | 35 | < 10 | * |
Warrendale Charter Academy | 81 | 20 | 24.7 | 2 | < 10 | * |
Warren Woods | 102 | 26 | 25.5 | 88 | 40 | 45.5 |
Warren Consolidated | 626 | 188 | 30 | 405 | 212 | 52.3 |
Walton Charter Academy | 79 | < 10 | * | 10 | < 10 | * |
Walled Lake | 242 | 60 | 24.8 | 746 | 425 | 57 |
Walkerville | 17 | < 10 | * | 4 | < 10 | * |
Walker Charter Academy | 27 | < 10 | * | 47 | 37 | 78.7 |
Waldron | 9 | < 10 | * | 7 | < 10 | * |
Walden Green Montessori | 7 | < 10 | * | 11 | < 10 | * |
Wakefield-Marenisco | 4 | < 10 | * | 12 | < 10 | * |
Voyageur Academy | 65 | 10 | 15.4 | 4 | < 10 | * |
Vista Charter Academy | 64 | 18 | 28.1 | 7 | < 10 | * |
Vicksburg | 63 | 33 | 52.4 | 100 | 69 | 69 |
Vestaburg | 24 | < 10 | * | 10 | < 10 | * |
Vassar | 43 | 11 | 25.6 | 15 | 10 | 66.7 |
Vanguard Charter Academy | 34 | 11 | 32.4 | 51 | 31 | 60.8 |
Vandercook Lake | 75 | 23 | 30.7 | 31 | 14 | 45.2 |
Vanderbilt Charter Academy | 36 | 21 | 58.3 | 11 | < 10 | * |
Vanderbilt | 2 | < 10 | * | 0 | 0 | |
Van Dyke | 147 | 26 | 17.7 | 56 | 16 | 28.6 |
Van Buren | 180 | 25 | 13.9 | 112 | 46 | 41.1 |
Utica | 625 | 228 | 36.5 | 1,250 | 787 | 63 |
University Yes Academy | 44 | < 10 | * | 5 | < 10 | * |
University Preparatory Science and Math (PSAD) | 57 | 20 | 35.1 | 29 | 12 | 41.4 |
University Preparatory Academy (PSAD) | 118 | 33 | 28 | 21 | < 10 | * |
Universal Learning Academy | 50 | 15 | 30 | 14 | < 10 | * |
Universal Academy | 51 | < 10 | * | 0 | 0 | |
Unionville-Sebewaing | 25 | 11 | 44 | 21 | 12 | 57.1 |
Union City | 33 | < 10 | * | 25 | 11 | 44 |
Ubly | 20 | < 10 | * | 16 | 11 | 68.8 |
Troy | 123 | 55 | 44.7 | 802 | 588 | 73.3 |
Triumph Academy | 46 | 22 | 47.8 | 36 | 19 | 52.8 |
Trillium Academy | 35 | 14 | 40 | 20 | 14 | 70 |
Tri County | 102 | 30 | 29.4 | 51 | 27 | 52.9 |
Trenton | 41 | < 10 | * | 134 | 64 | 47.8 |
Traverse City | 293 | 105 | 35.8 | 427 | 255 | 59.7 |
Tipton Academy | 53 | 18 | 34 | 12 | < 10 | * |
Timbuktu Academy | 39 | < 10 | * | 0 | 0 | |
Timberland Academy | 66 | 10 | 15.2 | 5 | < 10 | * |
Three Rivers | 131 | 54 | 41.2 | 81 | 57 | 70.4 |
Three Oaks Public School Academy | 65 | 11 | 16.9 | 2 | < 10 | * |
Three Lakes Academy | 7 | < 10 | * | 5 | < 10 | * |
Thornapple Kellogg | 84 | 34 | 40.5 | 136 | 90 | 66.2 |
The Paris Academy | 4 | < 10 | * | 8 | < 10 | * |
The New Standard Academy | 49 | 20 | 40.8 | 5 | < 10 | * |
The James and Grace Lee Boggs School | 7 | < 10 | * | 6 | < 10 | * |
The Dearborn Academy | 44 | 18 | 40.9 | 1 | < 10 | * |
Tekonsha | 13 | < 10 | * | 6 | < 10 | * |
Tecumseh | 72 | 34 | 47.2 | 152 | 97 | 63.8 |
Taylor International Academy | 11 | < 10 | * | 4 | < 10 | * |
Taylor Exemplar Academy | 55 | 18 | 32.7 | 27 | 17 | 63 |
Taylor | 413 | 83 | 20.1 | 117 | 43 | 36.8 |
Tawas | 48 | 22 | 45.8 | 36 | 23 | 63.9 |
Tahquamenon | 32 | 15 | 46.9 | 21 | 11 | 52.4 |
Swartz Creek | 128 | 51 | 39.8 | 120 | 61 | 50.8 |
Swan Valley | 52 | 26 | 50 | 78 | 53 | 67.9 |
Suttons Bay | 24 | < 10 | * | 7 | < 10 | * |
Superior Central | 26 | < 10 | * | 6 | < 10 | * |
Summit Academy North | 87 | 30 | 34.5 | 40 | 15 | 37.5 |
Summit Academy | 24 | < 10 | * | 19 | < 10 | * |
Summerfield | 15 | < 10 | * | 40 | 27 | 67.5 |
Success Mile Academy | 42 | < 10 | * | 4 | < 10 | * |
Sturgis | 226 | 77 | 34.1 | 20 | < 10 | * |
Stockbridge | 38 | 18 | 47.4 | 54 | 36 | 66.7 |
Stephenson | 17 | < 10 | * | 16 | 10 | 62.5 |
State Street Academy | 15 | < 10 | * | 7 | < 10 | * |
Starr Detroit Academy | 97 | 16 | 16.5 | 7 | < 10 | * |
Star International Academy | 109 | 40 | 36.7 | 12 | < 10 | * |
Stanton Township | 11 | < 10 | * | 3 | < 10 | * |
Standish-Sterling | 56 | 26 | 46.4 | 46 | 32 | 69.6 |
St. Louis | 51 | < 10 | * | 27 | 14 | 51.9 |
St. Joseph | 59 | 21 | 35.6 | 133 | 87 | 65.4 |
St. Johns | 70 | 25 | 35.7 | 116 | 75 | 64.7 |
St. Ignace | 10 | < 10 | * | 15 | < 10 | * |
St. Charles | 24 | < 10 | * | 25 | 18 | 72 |
Springport | 49 | 20 | 40.8 | 21 | < 10 | * |
Spring Lake | 28 | 23 | 82.1 | 146 | 124 | 84.9 |
Sparta | 79 | 44 | 55.7 | 90 | 62 | 68.9 |
Southwest Detroit Community School | 59 | < 10 | * | 2 | < 10 | * |
Southgate | 121 | 31 | 25.6 | 115 | 59 | 51.3 |
Southfield | 272 | 83 | 30.5 | 155 | 68 | 43.9 |
South Redford | 164 | 44 | 26.8 | 75 | 29 | 38.7 |
South Pointe Scholars Charter Academy | 32 | 11 | 34.4 | 53 | 32 | 60.4 |
South Lyon | 100 | 30 | 30 | 495 | 320 | 64.6 |
South Lake | 89 | 27 | 30.3 | 35 | 20 | 57.1 |
South Haven | 76 | 24 | 31.6 | 61 | 35 | 57.4 |
South Canton Scholars Charter Academy | 17 | < 10 | * | 70 | 46 | 65.7 |
South Arbor Charter Academy | 17 | < 10 | * | 67 | 40 | 59.7 |
Sodus Twp #5 | 5 | < 10 | * | 2 | < 10 | * |
Sigel Twp. #4F | 3 | < 10 | * | 3 | < 10 | * |
Shepherd | 64 | 20 | 31.3 | 73 | 35 | 47.9 |
Shelby | 80 | 17 | 21.3 | 12 | < 10 | * |
Schoolcraft | 25 | 11 | 44 | 49 | 29 | 59.2 |
Sault Ste. Marie | 70 | 34 | 48.6 | 45 | 33 | 73.3 |
Saugatuck | 21 | 10 | 47.6 | 31 | 30 | 96.8 |
Saranac | 46 | 15 | 32.6 | 42 | 25 | 59.5 |
Sarah J. Webber Media Arts Academy | 21 | < 10 | * | 3 | < 10 | * |
Sandusky | 41 | 19 | 46.3 | 33 | 20 | 60.6 |
Sand Creek | 29 | 13 | 44.8 | 30 | 18 | 60 |
Saline | 34 | 10 | 29.4 | 316 | 221 | 69.9 |
Saginaw Township | 150 | 39 | 26 | 170 | 104 | 61.2 |
Saginaw Preparatory Academy | 35 | < 10 | * | 5 | < 10 | * |
Saginaw | 412 | 84 | 20.4 | 83 | 42 | 50.6 |
Rutherford Winans Academy | 39 | < 10 | * | 0 | 0 | |
Rudyard | 37 | < 10 | * | 15 | < 10 | * |
Royal Oak | 71 | 25 | 35.2 | 320 | 208 | 65 |
Ross-Hill Academy | 12 | < 10 | * | 1 | < 10 | * |
Roseville | 209 | 48 | 23 | 153 | 33 | 21.6 |
Roscommon | 41 | 13 | 31.7 | 27 | 12 | 44.4 |
Romulus | 144 | 43 | 29.9 | 51 | 16 | 31.4 |
Romeo | 87 | 33 | 37.9 | 279 | 165 | 59.1 |
Rogers City | 19 | 13 | 68.4 | 14 | < 10 | * |
Rockford | 81 | 30 | 37 | 457 | 283 | 61.9 |
Rochester | 93 | 42 | 45.2 | 947 | 683 | 72.1 |
Riverview | 83 | 33 | 39.8 | 117 | 64 | 54.7 |
Riverside Academy | 73 | 17 | 23.3 | 0 | 0 | |
River Valley | 17 | < 10 | * | 19 | 13 | 68.4 |
River Rouge | 96 | 15 | 15.6 | 35 | 13 | 37.1 |
River City Scholars Charter Academy | 55 | 11 | 20 | 4 | < 10 | * |
Ridge Park Charter Academy | 58 | 19 | 32.8 | 17 | 12 | 70.6 |
Richmond | 34 | 16 | 47.1 | 58 | 35 | 60.3 |
Richfield Public School Academy | 75 | < 10 | * | 4 | < 10 | * |
Republic-Michigamme | 3 | < 10 | * | 3 | < 10 | * |
Renaissance Public School Academy | 27 | < 10 | * | 20 | 15 | 75 |
Regents Academy | 1 | < 10 | * | 0 | 0 | |
Regent Park Scholars Charter Academy | 81 | 10 | 12.3 | 1 | < 10 | * |
Reeths-Puffer | 151 | 55 | 36.4 | 132 | 73 | 55.3 |
Reese | 32 | 19 | 59.4 | 18 | < 10 | * |
Reed City | 81 | 18 | 22.2 | 47 | 20 | 42.6 |
Redford Union | 114 | 26 | 22.8 | 25 | < 10 | * |
Reading | 32 | < 10 | * | 18 | < 10 | * |
Reach Charter Academy | 60 | 13 | 21.7 | 15 | < 10 | * |
Ravenna | 31 | 12 | 38.7 | 32 | 19 | 59.4 |
Rapid River | 5 | < 10 | * | 6 | < 10 | * |
Quincy | 41 | 20 | 48.8 | 36 | 21 | 58.3 |
Quest Charter Academy | 57 | 23 | 40.4 | 27 | 14 | 51.9 |
Prevail Academy | 56 | 11 | 19.6 | 13 | < 10 | * |
Powell | 2 | < 10 | * | 2 | < 10 | * |
Potterville | 25 | 12 | 48 | 38 | 23 | 60.5 |
Posen | 13 | < 10 | * | 7 | < 10 | * |
Portland | 46 | 23 | 50 | 111 | 77 | 69.4 |
Portage | 150 | 61 | 40.7 | 456 | 330 | 72.4 |
Port Huron | 380 | 105 | 27.6 | 225 | 121 | 53.8 |
Pontiac Academy for Excellence | 51 | < 10 | * | 18 | < 10 | * |
Pontiac | 221 | 31 | 14 | 58 | < 10 | * |
Plymouth-Canton | 175 | 66 | 37.7 | 908 | 599 | 66 |
Plymouth Scholars Charter Academy | 8 | < 10 | * | 81 | 56 | 69.1 |
Plymouth Educational Center Charter School | 34 | < 10 | * | 5 | < 10 | * |
Plainwell | 71 | 23 | 32.4 | 128 | 89 | 69.5 |
Pittsford | 27 | < 10 | * | 10 | < 10 | * |
Pine River | 49 | 16 | 32.7 | 26 | 15 | 57.7 |
Pinconning | 59 | 19 | 32.2 | 38 | 23 | 60.5 |
Pinckney | 26 | < 10 | * | 122 | 60 | 49.2 |
Pickford | 11 | < 10 | * | 16 | < 10 | * |
Pewamo-Westphalia | 10 | < 10 | * | 11 | < 10 | * |
Petoskey | 71 | 24 | 33.8 | 108 | 69 | 63.9 |
Perry | 39 | 12 | 30.8 | 39 | 25 | 64.1 |
Pentwater | 7 | < 10 | * | 13 | 11 | 84.6 |
Pennfield | 75 | 22 | 29.3 | 72 | 40 | 55.6 |
Pellston | 21 | < 10 | * | 11 | < 10 | * |
Peck | 16 | < 10 | * | 8 | < 10 | * |
Paw Paw | 65 | 22 | 33.8 | 83 | 55 | 66.3 |
Parchment | 54 | 18 | 33.3 | 45 | 27 | 60 |
Paramount Charter Academy | 34 | < 10 | * | 17 | < 10 | * |
Paragon Academy | 55 | 20 | 36.4 | 30 | 17 | 56.7 |
Pansophia Academy | 28 | < 10 | * | 5 | < 10 | * |
Oxford | 62 | 19 | 30.6 | 232 | 128 | 55.2 |
Owosso | 136 | 37 | 27.2 | 90 | 43 | 47.8 |
Owendale-Gagetown | 10 | < 10 | * | 2 | < 10 | * |
Ovid-Elsie | 59 | 25 | 42.4 | 36 | 24 | 66.7 |
Otsego | 67 | 43 | 64.2 | 113 | 83 | 73.5 |
Oscoda | 65 | 17 | 26.2 | 17 | 10 | 58.8 |
Orchard View | 112 | 38 | 33.9 | 38 | 17 | 44.7 |
Ontonagon | 6 | < 10 | * | 9 | < 10 | * |
Onsted | 44 | 19 | 43.2 | 52 | 34 | 65.4 |
Onekama | 19 | < 10 | * | 15 | < 10 | * |
Onaway | 34 | 10 | 29.4 | 19 | < 10 | * |
Olivet | 29 | < 10 | * | 57 | 42 | 73.7 |
Old Redford Academy | 117 | 40 | 34.2 | 21 | < 10 | * |
Okemos | 44 | 17 | 38.6 | 245 | 181 | 73.9 |
Ojibway Charter School | 7 | < 10 | * | 3 | < 10 | * |
Oakside Scholars Charter Academy | 68 | < 10 | * | 10 | < 10 | * |
Oakridge | 104 | 36 | 34.6 | 49 | 29 | 59.2 |
Oakland International | 44 | < 10 | * | 3 | < 10 | * |
Oakland Academy | 13 | < 10 | * | 13 | 11 | 84.6 |
Oak Park | 212 | 44 | 20.8 | 27 | < 10 | * |
Novi | 24 | 10 | 41.7 | 474 | 323 | 68.1 |
Nottawa | 6 | < 10 | * | 11 | < 10 | * |
Norway-Vulcan | 26 | < 10 | * | 23 | 12 | 52.2 |
Northwest | 121 | 50 | 41.3 | 102 | 55 | 53.9 |
Northville | 24 | 11 | 45.8 | 519 | 370 | 71.3 |
Northview | 108 | 45 | 41.7 | 116 | 63 | 54.3 |
Northridge Academy | 33 | < 10 | * | 0 | 0 | |
Northport | 7 | < 10 | * | 7 | < 10 | * |
North Star Academy | 13 | < 10 | * | 14 | < 10 | * |
North Saginaw Charter Academy | 55 | 11 | 20 | 3 | < 10 | * |
North Muskegon | 25 | 15 | 60 | 50 | 34 | 68 |
North Huron | 16 | < 10 | * | 14 | < 10 | * |
North Dickinson | 7 | < 10 | * | 13 | < 10 | * |
North Central | 11 | < 10 | * | 5 | < 10 | * |
North Branch | 87 | 41 | 47.1 | 81 | 48 | 59.3 |
North Adams-Jerome | 18 | < 10 | * | 3 | < 10 | * |
Noor International Academy | 12 | < 10 | * | 13 | 12 | 92.3 |
Niles | 155 | 50 | 32.3 | 106 | 50 | 47.2 |
NICE | 29 | 15 | 51.7 | 68 | 43 | 63.2 |
Newaygo | 79 | 14 | 17.7 | 48 | 19 | 39.6 |
New Paradigm Glazer-Loving Academy | 39 | < 10 | * | 0 | 0 | |
New Paradigm College Prep | 12 | < 10 | * | 0 | 0 | |
New Lothrop | 16 | < 10 | * | 35 | 21 | 60 |
New Haven | 52 | 12 | 23.1 | 53 | 16 | 30.2 |
New Buffalo | 24 | 11 | 45.8 | 21 | 13 | 61.9 |
New Branches Charter Academy | 18 | < 10 | * | 6 | < 10 | * |
New Beginnings Academy | 21 | < 10 | * | 0 | 0 | |
New Bedford Academy | 7 | < 10 | * | 3 | < 10 | * |
Negaunee | 41 | 18 | 43.9 | 83 | 44 | 53 |
Napoleon | 50 | 27 | 54 | 45 | 34 | 75.6 |
Nah Tah Wahsh Public School Academy | 15 | < 10 | * | 0 | 0 | |
Muskegon Montessori Academy for Environmental Change | 13 | < 10 | * | 4 | < 10 | * |
Muskegon Heights Public School Academy System | 52 | < 10 | * | 2 | < 10 | * |
Muskegon | 224 | 30 | 13.4 | 27 | < 10 | * |
Munising | 25 | < 10 | * | 23 | < 10 | * |
Multicultural Academy | 9 | < 10 | * | 0 | 0 | |
Mt. Pleasant | 96 | 37 | 38.5 | 138 | 77 | 55.8 |
Mt. Morris | 125 | 20 | 16 | 12 | < 10 | * |
Mt. Clemens Montessori Academy | 7 | < 10 | * | 43 | 25 | 58.1 |
Mount Clemens | 57 | 11 | 19.3 | 21 | < 10 | * |
Morrice | 15 | < 10 | * | 9 | < 10 | * |
Morley Stanwood | 67 | < 10 | * | 23 | < 10 | * |
Morey Montessori Public School Academy | 6 | < 10 | * | 2 | < 10 | * |
Morenci | 24 | < 10 | * | 16 | < 10 | * |
Moran Twp | 3 | < 10 | * | 1 | < 10 | * |
Montrose | 61 | 20 | 32.8 | 38 | 22 | 57.9 |
Montague | 59 | 16 | 27.1 | 55 | 38 | 69.1 |
Montabella | 41 | < 10 | * | 18 | < 10 | * |
Monroe | 265 | 69 | 26 | 97 | 52 | 53.6 |
Mona Shores | 112 | 28 | 25 | 168 | 100 | 59.5 |
Momentum Academy | 10 | < 10 | * | 1 | < 10 | * |
Mio-AuSable | 22 | 10 | 45.5 | 12 | < 10 | * |
Millington | 49 | 14 | 28.6 | 32 | 17 | 53.1 |
Mildred C. Wells Preparatory Academy | 23 | < 10 | * | 0 | 0 | |
Milan | 48 | 13 | 27.1 | 83 | 39 | 47 |
Mid-Michigan Leadership Academy | 38 | < 10 | * | 1 | < 10 | * |
Midland Academy of Advanced and Creative Studies | 5 | < 10 | * | 14 | < 10 | * |
Midland | 202 | 82 | 40.6 | 314 | 223 | 71 |
Mid Peninsula | 12 | < 10 | * | 2 | < 10 | * |
Michigan Virtual Charter Academy | 93 | 29 | 31.2 | 31 | 17 | 54.8 |
Michigan Technical Academy | 88 | 25 | 28.4 | 19 | < 10 | * |
Michigan School for the Deaf | 3 | < 10 | * | 2 | < 10 | * |
Michigan School for the Arts | 32 | < 10 | * | 1 | < 10 | * |
Michigan Mathematics and Science Academy | 44 | < 10 | * | 0 | 0 | |
Michigan Great Lakes Virtual Academy | 84 | 12 | 14.3 | 18 | 11 | 61.1 |
Michigan Educational Choice Center | 80 | 10 | 12.5 | 15 | < 10 | * |
Michigan Connections Academy | 46 | 17 | 37 | 41 | 26 | 63.4 |
Michigan Center | 49 | 17 | 34.7 | 46 | 20 | 43.5 |
Metro Charter Academy | 61 | 29 | 47.5 | 24 | 13 | 54.2 |
Mesick | 32 | 10 | 31.3 | 12 | < 10 | * |
Merritt Academy | 15 | < 10 | * | 27 | 13 | 48.1 |
Merrill | 15 | < 10 | * | 8 | < 10 | * |
Meridian | 48 | 13 | 27.1 | 29 | 10 | 34.5 |
Menominee | 57 | 24 | 42.1 | 47 | 22 | 46.8 |
Mendon | 24 | 10 | 41.7 | 18 | < 10 | * |
Memphis | 19 | < 10 | * | 40 | 18 | 45 |
Melvindale-N. Allen Park | 162 | 47 | 29 | 29 | 16 | 55.2 |
McBain | 47 | 21 | 44.7 | 33 | 19 | 57.6 |
Mayville | 27 | 12 | 44.4 | 20 | < 10 | * |
Mattawan | 51 | 14 | 27.5 | 202 | 147 | 72.8 |
Mason Co. Eastern | 25 | < 10 | * | 7 | < 10 | * |
Mason Co. Central | 60 | 20 | 33.3 | 32 | 15 | 46.9 |
Mason (Monroe) | 44 | 21 | 47.7 | 33 | 29 | 87.9 |
Mason (Ingham) | 57 | 20 | 35.1 | 147 | 91 | 61.9 |
Marysville | 64 | 34 | 53.1 | 149 | 98 | 65.8 |
Martin Luther King, Jr. Education Center Academy | 31 | 23 | 74.2 | 2 | < 10 | * |
Martin | 30 | 20 | 66.7 | 10 | < 10 | * |
Marshall Academy | 15 | < 10 | * | 16 | < 10 | * |
Marshall | 109 | 38 | 34.9 | 106 | 63 | 59.4 |
Marquette | 53 | 19 | 35.8 | 164 | 90 | 54.9 |
Marlette | 45 | 16 | 35.6 | 12 | < 10 | * |
Marion | 21 | < 10 | * | 11 | < 10 | * |
Marcellus | 23 | 10 | 43.5 | 13 | 10 | 76.9 |
Mar Lee | 20 | 10 | 50 | 9 | < 10 | * |
Maple Valley | 57 | 15 | 26.3 | 29 | < 10 | * |
Manton | 39 | < 10 | * | 32 | 19 | 59.4 |
Manistique | 36 | < 10 | * | 15 | < 10 | * |
Manistee | 66 | 17 | 25.8 | 42 | 23 | 54.8 |
Manchester | 13 | < 10 | * | 40 | 17 | 42.5 |
Mancelona | 53 | < 10 | * | 15 | < 10 | * |
Madison-Carver Academy | 69 | 14 | 20.3 | 13 | < 10 | * |
Madison Academy | 19 | < 10 | * | 5 | < 10 | * |
Madison (Oakland) | 56 | 21 | 37.5 | 5 | < 10 | * |
Madison (Lenawee) | 78 | 37 | 47.4 | 52 | 28 | 53.8 |
Macomb Montessori Academy | 12 | < 10 | * | 0 | 0 | |
Mackinaw City | 8 | < 10 | * | 7 | < 10 | * |
MacDowell Preparatory Academy | 29 | < 10 | * | 2 | < 10 | * |
Ludington | 83 | 24 | 28.9 | 70 | 45 | 64.3 |
Lowell | 107 | 52 | 48.6 | 163 | 106 | 65 |
Livonia | 283 | 92 | 32.5 | 729 | 437 | 59.9 |
Livingston Classical Cyber Academy | 3 | < 10 | * | 15 | 11 | 73.3 |
Litchfield | 5 | < 10 | * | 6 | < 10 | * |
Linden Charter Academy | 75 | < 10 | * | 2 | < 10 | * |
Linden | 59 | 21 | 35.6 | 118 | 81 | 68.6 |
Lincoln Park | 329 | 86 | 26.1 | 56 | 24 | 42.9 |
Lincoln | 139 | 16 | 11.5 | 109 | 48 | 44 |
Lighthouse Academy | 4 | < 10 | * | 0 | 0 | |
Light of the World Academy | 1 | < 10 | * | 17 | < 10 | * |
Leslie | 45 | 26 | 57.8 | 36 | 25 | 69.4 |
Les Cheneaux | 9 | < 10 | * | 7 | < 10 | * |
Leland | 12 | < 10 | * | 19 | 11 | 57.9 |
Legacy Charter Academy | 86 | 14 | 16.3 | 2 | < 10 | * |
Leelanau Montessori Public School Academy | 3 | < 10 | * | 6 | < 10 | * |
Lawton | 40 | 21 | 52.5 | 36 | 23 | 63.9 |
Lawrence | 26 | 10 | 38.5 | 9 | < 10 | * |
Laurus Academy | 57 | 24 | 42.1 | 24 | 14 | 58.3 |
Lapeer | 165 | 67 | 40.6 | 147 | 89 | 60.5 |
Lansing Charter Academy | 70 | 11 | 15.7 | 11 | < 10 | * |
Lansing | 653 | 138 | 21.1 | 200 | 70 | 35 |
L'Anse Creuse | 252 | 77 | 30.6 | 420 | 257 | 61.2 |
L'Anse | 24 | < 10 | * | 14 | < 10 | * |
Landmark Academy | 35 | 14 | 40 | 23 | 11 | 47.8 |
Lamphere | 114 | 23 | 20.2 | 93 | 35 | 37.6 |
Lakewood | 69 | 38 | 55.1 | 63 | 51 | 81 |
LakeVille | 49 | 18 | 36.7 | 31 | 16 | 51.6 |
Lakeview (Montcalm) | 36 | 14 | 38.9 | 35 | 25 | 71.4 |
Lakeview (Macomb) | 99 | 44 | 44.4 | 203 | 101 | 49.8 |
Lakeview (Calhoun) | 180 | 38 | 21.1 | 134 | 73 | 54.5 |
Lakeshore (Berrien) | 62 | 28 | 45.2 | 129 | 87 | 67.4 |
Lake Shore (Macomb) | 77 | 22 | 28.6 | 130 | 64 | 49.2 |
Lake Orion | 110 | 55 | 50 | 446 | 310 | 69.5 |
Lake Linden-Hubbell | 22 | 11 | 50 | 18 | 15 | 83.3 |
Lake Fenton | 36 | 19 | 52.8 | 112 | 62 | 55.4 |
Lake City | 69 | 13 | 18.8 | 24 | 13 | 54.2 |
Laingsburg | 18 | < 10 | * | 53 | 37 | 69.8 |
Knapp Charter Academy | 49 | 13 | 26.5 | 30 | 16 | 53.3 |
Kingston | 25 | < 10 | * | 17 | 12 | 70.6 |
Kingsley | 47 | 26 | 55.3 | 54 | 42 | 77.8 |
Kingsbury Country Day School | 3 | < 10 | * | 22 | < 10 | * |
Keystone Academy | 30 | 16 | 53.3 | 55 | 38 | 69.1 |
Keys Grace Academy | 39 | < 10 | * | 0 | 0 | |
Kentwood | 420 | 185 | 44 | 179 | 130 | 72.6 |
Kent City | 77 | 37 | 48.1 | 39 | 30 | 76.9 |
Kenowa Hills | 106 | 41 | 38.7 | 91 | 62 | 68.1 |
Kelloggsville | 122 | 32 | 26.2 | 19 | 13 | 68.4 |
Kearsley | 160 | 53 | 33.1 | 57 | 35 | 61.4 |
Kalkaska | 82 | 32 | 39 | 34 | 18 | 52.9 |
Kaleva Norman Dickson | 34 | < 10 | * | 10 | < 10 | * |
Kalamazoo | 710 | 172 | 24.2 | 260 | 190 | 73.1 |
Joy Preparatory Academy | 35 | < 10 | * | 3 | < 10 | * |
Joseph K. Lumsden Bahweting Anishnabe Academy | 43 | 20 | 46.5 | 23 | 13 | 56.5 |
Jonesville | 56 | 15 | 26.8 | 43 | 14 | 32.6 |
Jo-Lewiston | 31 | 16 | 51.6 | 18 | < 10 | * |
Jenison | 107 | 52 | 48.6 | 238 | 170 | 71.4 |
Jefferson International Academy | 37 | < 10 | * | 3 | < 10 | * |
Jefferson | 63 | 33 | 52.4 | 41 | 24 | 58.5 |
Jackson | 271 | 72 | 26.6 | 102 | 71 | 69.6 |
Ithaca | 49 | 15 | 30.6 | 37 | 17 | 45.9 |
Island City Academy | 5 | < 10 | * | 19 | < 10 | * |
Ishpeming | 32 | < 10 | * | 12 | < 10 | * |
Ironwood | 37 | 17 | 45.9 | 24 | 12 | 50 |
Iron Mountain | 24 | 15 | 62.5 | 16 | 12 | 75 |
Ionia Twp #2 | 2 | < 10 | * | 1 | < 10 | * |
Ionia | 119 | 50 | 42 | 90 | 61 | 67.8 |
International Academy of Saginaw | 17 | < 10 | * | 14 | < 10 | * |
International Academy Flint | 76 | 12 | 15.8 | 10 | < 10 | * |
Innocademy Allegan Campus | 5 | < 10 | * | 3 | < 10 | * |
Innocademy | 8 | < 10 | * | 40 | 24 | 60 |
Inland Lakes | 23 | < 10 | * | 17 | 10 | 58.8 |
Imlay City | 94 | 33 | 35.1 | 47 | 23 | 48.9 |
Ida | 13 | < 10 | * | 66 | 48 | 72.7 |
ICademy Global | 1 | < 10 | * | 10 | < 10 | * |
Huron Valley | 158 | 53 | 33.5 | 456 | 276 | 60.5 |
Huron Academy | 44 | 11 | 25 | 33 | 10 | 30.3 |
Huron | 65 | 16 | 24.6 | 128 | 64 | 50 |
Hudsonville | 97 | 58 | 59.8 | 369 | 287 | 77.8 |
Hudson | 42 | 14 | 33.3 | 21 | 11 | 52.4 |
Howell | 134 | 56 | 41.8 | 357 | 223 | 62.5 |
Houghton-Portage | 27 | 10 | 37 | 52 | 37 | 71.2 |
Houghton Lake | 54 | 11 | 20.4 | 18 | 10 | 55.6 |
Hopkins | 47 | 24 | 51.1 | 69 | 49 | 71 |
Hope of Detroit Academy | 83 | 17 | 20.5 | 2 | < 10 | * |
Hope Academy of West Michigan | 34 | < 10 | * | 0 | 0 | |
Hope Academy | 39 | < 10 | * | 10 | < 10 | * |
Honey Creek Community School | 1 | < 10 | * | 27 | 22 | 81.5 |
Homer | 62 | 18 | 29 | 27 | 16 | 59.3 |
Holton | 54 | 20 | 37 | 14 | < 10 | * |
Holt | 169 | 55 | 32.5 | 240 | 140 | 58.3 |
Holly Academy | 5 | < 10 | * | 95 | 66 | 69.5 |
Holly | 93 | 30 | 32.3 | 114 | 68 | 59.6 |
Holland | 164 | 59 | 36 | 62 | 41 | 66.1 |
Hillsdale Preparatory School | 5 | < 10 | * | 10 | < 10 | * |
Hillsdale | 59 | 25 | 42.4 | 23 | 13 | 56.5 |
Hillman | 21 | < 10 | * | 19 | < 10 | * |
Highpoint Virtual Academy of Michigan | 48 | < 10 | * | 11 | < 10 | * |
Highland Park Public School Academy System | 41 | < 10 | * | 5 | < 10 | * |
Hesperia | 46 | < 10 | * | 27 | < 10 | * |
Henry Ford Academy: School for Creative Studies (PSAD) | 55 | < 10 | * | 6 | < 10 | * |
Hemlock | 24 | < 10 | * | 40 | 22 | 55 |
Hazel Park | 131 | 18 | 13.7 | 52 | 11 | 21.2 |
Hastings | 93 | 38 | 40.9 | 91 | 51 | 56 |
Haslett | 54 | 29 | 53.7 | 140 | 109 | 77.9 |
Hartland | 62 | 28 | 45.2 | 300 | 210 | 70 |
Hartford | 84 | 11 | 13.1 | 14 | < 10 | * |
Hart | 93 | 15 | 16.1 | 21 | 11 | 52.4 |
Harrison | 70 | 24 | 34.3 | 30 | 13 | 43.3 |
Harper Woods | 70 | 17 | 24.3 | 22 | < 10 | * |
Harper Creek | 87 | 26 | 29.9 | 95 | 63 | 66.3 |
Harbor Springs | 7 | < 10 | * | 48 | 30 | 62.5 |
Harbor Beach | 17 | < 10 | * | 15 | 12 | 80 |
Hanover-Horton | 31 | 12 | 38.7 | 55 | 43 | 78.2 |
Hanley International Academy | 63 | 19 | 30.2 | 5 | < 10 | * |
Hancock | 30 | 15 | 50 | 28 | 19 | 67.9 |
Hamtramck Academy | 59 | 27 | 45.8 | 0 | 0 | |
Hamtramck | 173 | 27 | 15.6 | 4 | < 10 | * |
Hamilton Academy | 32 | < 10 | * | 3 | < 10 | * |
Hamilton | 60 | 27 | 45 | 152 | 101 | 66.4 |
Hale | 20 | 10 | 50 | 7 | < 10 | * |
Hagar Twp #6 | 5 | < 10 | * | 0 | 0 | |
Gwinn | 55 | < 10 | * | 22 | < 10 | * |
Gull Lake | 51 | 18 | 35.3 | 181 | 112 | 61.9 |
Grosse Pointe | 79 | 44 | 55.7 | 413 | 340 | 82.3 |
Grosse Ile | 10 | < 10 | * | 110 | 79 | 71.8 |
Greenville | 149 | 61 | 40.9 | 150 | 94 | 62.7 |
Greater Heights Academy | 51 | < 10 | * | 1 | < 10 | * |
Great Oaks Academy | 72 | 26 | 36.1 | 8 | < 10 | * |
Great Lakes Academy | 16 | < 10 | * | 1 | < 10 | * |
Grass Lake | 29 | < 10 | * | 87 | 34 | 39.1 |
Grant | 74 | 12 | 16.2 | 43 | 19 | 44.2 |
Grandville | 103 | 44 | 42.7 | 226 | 140 | 61.9 |
Grand Traverse Academy | 20 | < 10 | * | 78 | 50 | 64.1 |
Grand River Academy | 42 | < 10 | * | 41 | 28 | 68.3 |
Grand Rapids Ellington Academy of Arts & Technology | 10 | < 10 | * | 2 | < 10 | * |
Grand Rapids Child Discovery Center | 15 | < 10 | * | 27 | 17 | 63 |
Grand Rapids | 1,090 | 215 | 19.7 | 155 | 74 | 47.7 |
Grand Ledge | 108 | 41 | 38 | 264 | 163 | 61.7 |
Grand Haven | 155 | 82 | 52.9 | 259 | 194 | 74.9 |
Grand Blanc Academy | 47 | < 10 | * | 1 | < 10 | * |
Grand Blanc | 204 | 82 | 40.2 | 362 | 239 | 66 |
Goodrich | 30 | < 10 | * | 102 | 58 | 56.9 |
Godwin Heights | 133 | 44 | 33.1 | 14 | < 10 | * |
Godfrey-Lee | 103 | 27 | 26.2 | 5 | < 10 | * |
Gobles | 38 | 20 | 52.6 | 19 | 12 | 63.2 |
Global Tech Academy | 24 | < 10 | * | 1 | < 10 | * |
Global Preparatory Academy | 20 | < 10 | * | 0 | 0 | |
Global Heights Academy | 47 | < 10 | * | 0 | 0 | |
Glenn | 4 | < 10 | * | 2 | < 10 | * |
Glen Lake | 15 | < 10 | * | 27 | 14 | 51.9 |
Gladwin | 78 | 30 | 38.5 | 49 | 31 | 63.3 |
Gladstone | 45 | 22 | 48.9 | 56 | 40 | 71.4 |
Gibraltar | 73 | 26 | 35.6 | 178 | 99 | 55.6 |
George Washington Carver | 48 | < 10 | * | 4 | < 10 | * |
George Crockett Academy | 43 | < 10 | * | 1 | < 10 | * |
Genesee STEM Academy | 37 | < 10 | * | 4 | < 10 | * |
Genesee | 34 | < 10 | * | 6 | < 10 | * |
GEE White Academy | 44 | < 10 | * | 0 | 0 | |
GEE Edmonson Academy | 25 | < 10 | * | 0 | 0 | |
Gaylord | 127 | 53 | 41.7 | 110 | 62 | 56.4 |
Garden City | 128 | 68 | 53.1 | 101 | 70 | 69.3 |
Galesburg-Augusta | 44 | 14 | 31.8 | 34 | 15 | 44.1 |
Fulton | 15 | < 10 | * | 22 | 12 | 54.5 |
Fruitport | 101 | 44 | 43.6 | 65 | 45 | 69.2 |
Fremont | 75 | 29 | 38.7 | 62 | 33 | 53.2 |
Freeland | 40 | 16 | 40 | 130 | 92 | 70.8 |
Frederick Douglass International Academy | 14 | < 10 | * | 2 | < 10 | * |
Fraser | 171 | 64 | 37.4 | 183 | 103 | 56.3 |
Frankfort-Elberta | 12 | < 10 | * | 18 | 14 | 77.8 |
Frankenmuth | 12 | < 10 | * | 61 | 32 | 52.5 |
Francis Reh PSA | 40 | < 10 | * | 1 | < 10 | * |
Fowlerville | 87 | 34 | 39.1 | 128 | 80 | 62.5 |
Fowler | 9 | < 10 | * | 24 | 20 | 83.3 |
Four Corners Montessori Academy | 11 | < 10 | * | 41 | 21 | 51.2 |
Fortis Academy | 57 | 26 | 45.6 | 26 | 15 | 57.7 |
Forest Park | 23 | < 10 | * | 14 | < 10 | * |
Forest Hills | 82 | 32 | 39 | 635 | 438 | 69 |
Forest Area | 20 | < 10 | * | 5 | < 10 | * |
Forest Academy | 23 | < 10 | * | 12 | < 10 | * |
Flushing | 121 | 41 | 33.9 | 160 | 96 | 60 |
Flint | 400 | 46 | 11.5 | 29 | < 10 | * |
Flat Rock | 55 | 21 | 38.2 | 74 | 48 | 64.9 |
Flat River Academy | 6 | < 10 | * | 1 | < 10 | * |
Flagship Charter Academy | 72 | 16 | 22.2 | 2 | < 10 | * |
Fitzgerald | 157 | 32 | 20.4 | 21 | < 10 | * |
Ferndale | 96 | 11 | 11.5 | 46 | 21 | 45.7 |
Fenton | 69 | 17 | 24.6 | 156 | 89 | 57.1 |
Fennville | 71 | 14 | 19.7 | 17 | < 10 | * |
Faxon Language Immersion Academy | 3 | < 10 | * | 9 | < 10 | * |
Farwell | 45 | 18 | 40 | 40 | 18 | 45 |
Farmington | 138 | 38 | 27.5 | 514 | 316 | 61.5 |
Fairview | 13 | < 10 | * | 6 | < 10 | * |
Excelsior | 4 | < 10 | * | 2 | < 10 | * |
Excel Charter Academy | 43 | 21 | 48.8 | 40 | 35 | 87.5 |
Ewen-Trout Creek | 5 | < 10 | * | 3 | < 10 | * |
Evergreen Academy | 4 | < 10 | * | 6 | < 10 | * |
Evart Public Schools | 38 | 16 | 42.1 | 16 | < 10 | * |
Essexville-Hampton | 48 | 19 | 39.6 | 63 | 39 | 61.9 |
Escuela Avancemos! | 46 | < 10 | * | 1 | < 10 | * |
Escanaba | 103 | 25 | 24.3 | 63 | 35 | 55.6 |
Engadine | 12 | < 10 | * | 2 | < 10 | * |
Endeavor Charter Academy | 66 | 11 | 16.7 | 11 | < 10 | * |
Elm River | 2 | < 10 | * | 0 | 0 | |
Ellsworth | 13 | < 10 | * | 6 | < 10 | * |
Elkton-Pigeon-Bay Port Laker | 31 | 14 | 45.2 | 31 | 24 | 77.4 |
Elk Rapids | 32 | 16 | 50 | 50 | 30 | 60 |
El-Hajj Malik El-Shabazz Academy | 31 | < 10 | * | 3 | < 10 | * |
Edwardsburg | 79 | 36 | 45.6 | 115 | 98 | 85.2 |
Education Achievement System-EAS | 229 | 11 | 4.8 | 14 | < 10 | * |
Ecorse | 54 | 12 | 22.2 | 6 | < 10 | * |
Eau Claire | 57 | 22 | 38.6 | 6 | < 10 | * |
Eaton Rapids | 93 | 36 | 38.7 | 69 | 38 | 55.1 |
Eaton Academy | 22 | < 10 | * | 14 | < 10 | * |
Easton Twp #6 | 1 | < 10 | * | 6 | < 10 | * |
East Shore Leadership Academy | 18 | < 10 | * | 0 | 0 | |
East Lansing | 85 | 38 | 44.7 | 171 | 122 | 71.3 |
East Jordan | 40 | 13 | 32.5 | 25 | 14 | 56 |
East Jackson | 51 | < 10 | * | 19 | < 10 | * |
East Grand Rapids | 7 | < 10 | * | 210 | 178 | 84.8 |
East Detroit | 135 | 23 | 17 | 35 | < 10 | * |
East China | 84 | 23 | 27.4 | 211 | 130 | 61.6 |
East Arbor Charter Academy | 33 | 13 | 39.4 | 44 | 26 | 59.1 |
Eagle's Nest Academy | 32 | < 10 | * | 0 | 0 | |
Eagle Crest Charter Academy | 43 | 25 | 58.1 | 42 | 30 | 71.4 |
Durand | 57 | 17 | 29.8 | 31 | 13 | 41.9 |
Dundee | 42 | 16 | 38.1 | 59 | 34 | 57.6 |
Dryden | 17 | < 10 | * | 18 | 11 | 61.1 |
Dr. Joseph F. Pollack Academic Center of Excellence | 70 | 19 | 27.1 | 28 | 12 | 42.9 |
Dowagiac Union | 142 | 25 | 17.6 | 35 | < 10 | * |
Dove Academy of Detroit | 49 | < 10 | * | 0 | 0 | |
Dollar Bay-Tamarack City Area K-12 School | 14 | < 10 | * | 12 | < 10 | * |
Dexter | 28 | 13 | 46.4 | 234 | 137 | 58.5 |
DeWitt | 42 | 18 | 42.9 | 183 | 119 | 65 |
Detroit Service Learning Academy | 143 | 30 | 21 | 0 | 0 | |
Detroit Premier Academy | 71 | < 10 | * | 4 | < 10 | * |
Detroit Merit Charter Academy | 76 | 29 | 38.2 | 9 | < 10 | * |
Detroit Leadership Academy | 44 | < 10 | * | 0 | 0 | |
Detroit Innovation Academy | 46 | 10 | 21.7 | 0 | 0 | |
Detroit Enterprise Academy | 78 | 15 | 19.2 | 2 | < 10 | * |
Detroit Edison Public School Academy | 106 | 58 | 54.7 | 10 | < 10 | * |
Detroit Community Schools | 45 | 16 | 35.6 | 3 | < 10 | * |
Detroit Achievement Academy | 15 | < 10 | * | 0 | 0 | |
Detroit Academy of Arts & Sciences | 88 | < 10 | * | 8 | < 10 | * |
Detroit | 2,947 | 273 | 9.3 | 414 | 59 | 14.3 |
DeTour Arts and Technology Academy | 2 | < 10 | * | 3 | < 10 | * |
Detour | 6 | < 10 | * | 3 | < 10 | * |
Delton-Kellogg | 52 | 10 | 19.2 | 32 | 14 | 43.8 |
Deckerville | 38 | < 10 | * | 12 | < 10 | * |
Decatur | 42 | 16 | 38.1 | 18 | 11 | 61.1 |
Dearborn Heights #7 | 138 | 25 | 18.1 | 37 | 10 | 27 |
Dearborn | 1,173 | 393 | 33.5 | 343 | 189 | 55.1 |
Davison | 212 | 112 | 52.8 | 214 | 131 | 61.2 |
David Ellis Academy West | 58 | 19 | 32.8 | 21 | 10 | 47.6 |
David Ellis Academy | 33 | < 10 | * | 4 | < 10 | * |
Dansville | 14 | < 10 | * | 27 | 14 | 51.9 |
Da Vinci Instittue | 18 | < 10 | * | 4 | < 10 | * |
Croswell-Lexington | 73 | 31 | 42.5 | 69 | 51 | 73.9 |
Crossroads Charter Academy | 24 | 10 | 41.7 | 11 | < 10 | * |
Cross Creek Charter Academy | 25 | 14 | 56 | 58 | 46 | 79.3 |
Crestwood | 199 | 75 | 37.7 | 87 | 58 | 66.7 |
Crescent Academy | 97 | 19 | 19.6 | 27 | 10 | 37 |
Creative Technologies Academy | 3 | < 10 | * | 18 | < 10 | * |
Creative Montessori Academy | 45 | 14 | 31.1 | 49 | 21 | 42.9 |
Crawford AuSable | 88 | 34 | 38.6 | 44 | 32 | 72.7 |
Covert | 22 | < 10 | * | 0 | 0 | |
Countryside Academy | 47 | < 10 | * | 6 | < 10 | * |
Corunna | 84 | 27 | 32.1 | 45 | 24 | 53.3 |
Coopersville | 86 | 33 | 38.4 | 114 | 71 | 62.3 |
Constantine | 62 | 17 | 27.4 | 50 | 23 | 46 |
Conner Creek Academy East | 51 | < 10 | * | 4 | < 10 | * |
Concord Academy - Petoskey | 8 | < 10 | * | 8 | < 10 | * |
Concord Academy - Boyne | 2 | < 10 | * | 9 | < 10 | * |
Concord | 21 | < 10 | * | 20 | 11 | 55 |
Comstock Park | 74 | 23 | 31.1 | 53 | 25 | 47.2 |
Comstock | 90 | 25 | 27.8 | 26 | 17 | 65.4 |
Commonwealth Community Development Academy | 27 | < 10 | * | 0 | 0 | |
Columbia | 36 | 24 | 66.7 | 52 | 37 | 71.2 |
Colon | 26 | < 10 | * | 24 | < 10 | * |
Coloma | 66 | 26 | 39.4 | 33 | 17 | 51.5 |
Colfax Twp. | 1 | < 10 | * | 1 | < 10 | * |
Coleman | 27 | < 10 | * | 21 | 12 | 57.1 |
Cole Academy | 15 | < 10 | * | 14 | < 10 | * |
Coldwater | 108 | 26 | 24.1 | 93 | 53 | 57 |
Clio | 131 | 68 | 51.9 | 98 | 59 | 60.2 |
Clintondale | 98 | 13 | 13.3 | 25 | < 10 | * |
Clinton | 22 | 10 | 45.5 | 51 | 26 | 51 |
Climax-Scotts | 23 | < 10 | * | 16 | < 10 | * |
Clawson | 37 | < 10 | * | 61 | 26 | 42.6 |
Clarkston | 110 | 43 | 39.1 | 414 | 261 | 63 |
Clarenceville | 97 | 22 | 22.7 | 54 | 23 | 42.6 |
Clare | 63 | 21 | 33.3 | 61 | 33 | 54.1 |
Chippewa Valley | 280 | 89 | 31.8 | 821 | 451 | 54.9 |
Chippewa Hills | 98 | 50 | 51 | 52 | 32 | 61.5 |
Chesaning Union | 54 | 25 | 46.3 | 30 | 23 | 76.7 |
Chelsea | 21 | < 10 | * | 151 | 90 | 59.6 |
Cheboygan | 80 | 24 | 30 | 33 | 22 | 66.7 |
Chatfield School | 15 | < 10 | * | 39 | 21 | 53.8 |
Chassell Township | 12 | < 10 | * | 10 | < 10 | * |
Charyl Stockwell Academy | 8 | < 10 | * | 93 | 64 | 68.8 |
Charlton Heston Academy | 45 | 15 | 33.3 | 6 | < 10 | * |
Charlotte | 95 | 35 | 36.8 | 81 | 54 | 66.7 |
Charlevoix Montessori Academy for the Arts | 1 | < 10 | * | 0 | 0 | |
Charlevoix | 31 | < 10 | * | 38 | 23 | 60.5 |
Chandler Woods Charter Academy | 19 | < 10 | * | 65 | 46 | 70.8 |
Chandler Park Academy | 150 | 33 | 22 | 8 | < 10 | * |
Cesar Chavez Academy | 157 | 42 | 26.8 | 5 | < 10 | * |
Centreville | 24 | < 10 | * | 25 | 16 | 64 |
Central Montcalm | 77 | 14 | 18.2 | 50 | 17 | 34 |
Central Lake | 9 | < 10 | * | 3 | < 10 | * |
Central Academy | 38 | 13 | 34.2 | 9 | < 10 | * |
Center Line | 143 | 29 | 20.3 | 46 | 16 | 34.8 |
Cedar Springs | 106 | 26 | 24.5 | 151 | 65 | 43 |
Cassopolis | 47 | 14 | 29.8 | 20 | 12 | 60 |
Cass City | 39 | 11 | 28.2 | 37 | 26 | 70.3 |
Caseville | 11 | < 10 | * | 7 | < 10 | * |
Carsonville | 13 | < 10 | * | 14 | < 10 | * |
Carson City-Crystal | 37 | 10 | 27 | 18 | < 10 | * |
Carrollton | 80 | 13 | 16.3 | 31 | < 10 | * |
Caro | 66 | 20 | 30.3 | 44 | 20 | 45.5 |
Carney-Nadeau | 13 | < 10 | * | 6 | < 10 | * |
Carman-Ainsworth | 209 | 72 | 34.4 | 58 | 30 | 51.7 |
Capac | 31 | < 10 | * | 33 | 12 | 36.4 |
Canton Charter Academy | 11 | < 10 | * | 70 | 52 | 74.3 |
Caniff Liberty Academy | 32 | < 10 | * | 1 | < 10 | * |
Camden-Frontier | 22 | 12 | 54.5 | 16 | < 10 | * |
Calumet | 58 | 31 | 53.4 | 48 | 34 | 70.8 |
Caledonia | 66 | 35 | 53 | 247 | 178 | 72.1 |
Cadillac | 143 | 84 | 58.7 | 93 | 74 | 79.6 |
Byron Center Charter School | 9 | < 10 | * | 17 | 12 | 70.6 |
Byron Center | 77 | 43 | 55.8 | 235 | 199 | 84.7 |
Byron | 31 | 12 | 38.7 | 27 | 14 | 51.9 |
Burton Glen Charter Academy | 77 | 12 | 15.6 | 4 | < 10 | * |
Burt Township | 3 | < 10 | * | 0 | 0 | |
Burr Oak | 18 | < 10 | * | 6 | < 10 | * |
Bullock Creek | 56 | 24 | 42.9 | 64 | 46 | 71.9 |
Buckley | 15 | < 10 | * | 14 | < 10 | * |
Buchanan | 61 | 16 | 26.2 | 52 | 26 | 50 |
Brown City | 39 | 17 | 43.6 | 26 | 19 | 73.1 |
Bronson | 51 | 18 | 35.3 | 27 | 14 | 51.9 |
Britton Deerfield | 23 | < 10 | * | 12 | < 10 | * |
Brimley | 29 | < 10 | * | 14 | < 10 | * |
Brighton | 71 | 40 | 56.3 | 356 | 258 | 72.5 |
Bridgman | 26 | < 10 | * | 38 | 21 | 55.3 |
Bridgeport-Spaulding | 70 | < 10 | * | 20 | < 10 | * |
Bridge Academy | 76 | 12 | 15.8 | 0 | 0 | |
Breitung Twp | 57 | 30 | 52.6 | 71 | 48 | 67.6 |
Breckenridge | 27 | < 10 | * | 22 | 13 | 59.1 |
Brandywine | 56 | 13 | 23.2 | 37 | 17 | 45.9 |
Brandon | 65 | 21 | 32.3 | 94 | 51 | 54.3 |
Branch Line School | 5 | < 10 | * | 12 | < 10 | * |
Bradford Academy | 64 | < 10 | * | 12 | < 10 | * |
Boyne Falls | 5 | < 10 | * | 1 | < 10 | * |
Boyne City | 44 | 21 | 47.7 | 54 | 39 | 72.2 |
Bloomingdale | 68 | 25 | 36.8 | 6 | < 10 | * |
Bloomfield Hills | 21 | < 10 | * | 322 | 217 | 67.4 |
Blissfield | 28 | 12 | 42.9 | 55 | 29 | 52.7 |
Black River Public School | 17 | < 10 | * | 52 | 26 | 50 |
Birmingham | 42 | 11 | 26.2 | 522 | 343 | 65.7 |
Birch Run | 77 | 27 | 35.1 | 57 | 26 | 45.6 |
Big Rapids | 65 | 32 | 49.2 | 74 | 47 | 63.5 |
Big Jackson | 4 | < 10 | * | 1 | < 10 | * |
Big Bay De Noc | 13 | < 10 | * | 5 | < 10 | * |
Bessemer | 21 | 12 | 57.1 | 29 | 25 | 86.2 |
Berrien Springs | 85 | 32 | 37.6 | 35 | 19 | 54.3 |
Berlin Twp #3 | 2 | < 10 | * | 2 | < 10 | * |
Berkley | 44 | 15 | 34.1 | 271 | 158 | 58.3 |
Benzie Co. Central | 67 | 20 | 29.9 | 47 | 25 | 53.2 |
Benton Harbor Charter School Academy | 47 | < 10 | * | 0 | 0 | |
Benton Harbor | 125 | < 10 | * | 25 | < 10 | * |
Bentley | 46 | < 10 | * | 15 | < 10 | * |
Bendle | 86 | 30 | 34.9 | 2 | < 10 | * |
Bellevue | 33 | 13 | 39.4 | 13 | < 10 | * |
Bellaire | 7 | < 10 | * | 13 | < 10 | * |
Belding | 86 | 21 | 24.4 | 43 | 23 | 53.5 |
Beecher | 61 | < 10 | * | 5 | < 10 | * |
Bedford | 81 | 31 | 38.3 | 213 | 146 | 68.5 |
Beaverton | 47 | < 10 | * | 15 | < 10 | * |
Bear Lake | 8 | < 10 | * | 9 | < 10 | * |
Beal City | 19 | < 10 | * | 28 | < 10 | * |
Bay City Academy | 27 | < 10 | * | 12 | < 10 | * |
Bay City | 336 | 104 | 31 | 224 | 107 | 47.8 |
Battle Creek Montessori Academy | 11 | < 10 | * | 4 | < 10 | * |
Battle Creek | 257 | 33 | 12.8 | 35 | < 10 | * |
Bath | 37 | 17 | 45.9 | 52 | 32 | 61.5 |
Bark River | 31 | 11 | 35.5 | 15 | < 10 | * |
Baraga | 10 | < 10 | * | 6 | < 10 | * |
Bangor Twp (Bay) | 103 | 30 | 29.1 | 65 | 34 | 52.3 |
Bangor Twp #8 | 2 | < 10 | * | 0 | 0 | |
Bangor (Van Buren) | 76 | 14 | 18.4 | 11 | < 10 | * |
Baldwin | 44 | 12 | 27.3 | 6 | < 10 | * |
Bad Axe | 34 | 13 | 38.2 | 26 | 16 | 61.5 |
Avondale | 90 | 26 | 28.9 | 142 | 80 | 56.3 |
AuTrain-Onota | 3 | < 10 | * | 0 | 0 | |
August Academy | 1 | < 10 | * | 1 | < 10 | * |
Au Gres-Sims | 25 | 13 | 52 | 15 | 11 | 73.3 |
Atlanta | 16 | < 10 | * | 6 | < 10 | * |
Atherton | 43 | < 10 | * | 2 | < 10 | * |
Athens | 22 | 10 | 45.5 | 25 | 17 | 68 |
Ashley | 13 | < 10 | * | 5 | < 10 | * |
Arts and Technology Academy of Pontiac | 33 | < 10 | * | 19 | < 10 | * |
Armada | 33 | 10 | 30.3 | 89 | 50 | 56.2 |
Arenac Eastern | 4 | < 10 | * | 0 | 0 | |
Arbor Academy | 31 | 11 | 35.5 | 7 | < 10 | * |
Ann Arbor Learning Community | 4 | < 10 | * | 10 | < 10 | * |
Ann Arbor | 282 | 77 | 27.3 | 876 | 633 | 72.3 |
Anchor Bay | 92 | 47 | 51.1 | 295 | 178 | 60.3 |
American Montessori Academy | 41 | < 10 | * | 34 | 13 | 38.2 |
American International Academy | 41 | < 10 | * | 4 | < 10 | * |
Alpena | 136 | 50 | 36.8 | 110 | 56 | 50.9 |
Almont | 29 | 18 | 62.1 | 72 | 55 | 76.4 |
Alma | 89 | 25 | 28.1 | 65 | 32 | 49.2 |
Allendale | 62 | 20 | 32.3 | 151 | 95 | 62.9 |
Allen Park | 77 | 33 | 42.9 | 175 | 97 | 55.4 |
Allegan | 117 | 42 | 35.9 | 58 | 35 | 60.3 |
Algonac | 48 | 20 | 41.7 | 71 | 38 | 53.5 |
Alcona | 34 | 12 | 35.3 | 12 | < 10 | * |
Alba | 12 | < 10 | * | 1 | < 10 | * |
Alanson | 12 | < 10 | * | 7 | < 10 | * |
Akron-Fairgrove | 14 | 10 | 71.4 | 3 | < 10 | * |
Airport | 88 | 29 | 33 | 88 | 42 | 47.7 |
Advanced Technology Academy | 75 | 13 | 17.3 | 8 | < 10 | * |
Adrian | 144 | 48 | 33.3 | 63 | 32 | 50.8 |
Addison | 39 | 17 | 43.6 | 28 | 11 | 39.3 |
Adams Township | 23 | 11 | 47.8 | 15 | 10 | 66.7 |
Achieve Charter Academy | 12 | 10 | 83.3 | 74 | 57 | 77 |
Academy of Warren | 69 | < 10 | * | 3 | < 10 | * |
Academy of International Studies | 31 | < 10 | * | 4 | < 10 | * |
Academy for Business and Technology | 54 | 10 | 18.5 | 5 | < 10 | * |
Statewide | 54,170 | 15,756 | 29.1 | 50,080 | 30,244 | 60.4 |
* Not published by the state.
Source: 2016-17 M-Step results from the Michigan Center for Educational Performance and Information
Comments
“ ....... Michigan schools can improve learning and can do it without a huge infusion of cash.” Heresy to the MEA union leaders and to a large number of liberals, but the results don’t lie.
You are deluded if you do not think pay matters. Michigan is losing teachers because NOBODY IS GOING TO PAY 60000-100000 for a degree to make 36000, with poor benefits and no pension or job security. Right-wingers are whining now about shortages.
And maybe each slice of the pie would be larger if there weren’t so many people eating pie. When I went to school granted over 50 years ago there were very few non-classroom people in the building. Today there are more out of the classroom than in it, thanks to the MEA demands and weak school boards that cave.
Mary, I don't see it stated that pay doesn't matter. But you are right, colleges have priced themselves out of line with the incomes many of their grads are likely to make when out in the real world especially when starting out. But to your point, and not begrudging anyone, Michigan has among the highest average pay for teachers in the country, especially when adjusted to reflect our very low cost of living.
I repeat. NO ONE IS GOING TO PAY 60000 -100000 TO GET A DEGREE THAT STARTS ON AVERAGE AT 36000 A YEAR WITH POOR BENEFITS AND POOR RETIREMENT. Michigan's are skew by older staff. Younger staff is not being paid as teachers were in the past and in the next ten years unless something changes, Michigan will be screwed as far as teachers are concerned. Colleges have the same problem. Nobody is going to get a phd for a part-time job.
Mary,
What is surprising is that you see nothing in this article or the Cadillac experience that interests you. You only respond to a comment about money.
The Cadillac experience proves that the culture is critical before anything else including money. The kids see and feel the culture they don't see the money, they respond to the culture not to the money. Why is that so important, the kids do the learning not the teachers or staff.
Have you ever been in a classroom that all the students were getting A's or have they always has a distribution of academic success [A's, B's, C's]? The reality was everything was the same [even the money spent] and yet performance varied. The only difference was the students, they expectations of themselves, the effort they made, and that was all a reaction to their individual cultures. In the case of Cadillac they have create the school culture and made it one of significant impact.
If you want more money, we need to see success. We will support success, it is the continue whine for money while deteriorating performance that causes dwindling support for money to the schools. In my district we now have a fight between the Board and Superintendent [union is in the fight to] over money and declining enrollment and during this bickering no one raise the idea of student learning, it is simply adults talking to adults about money.
Get over the money, learn from Cadillac to start delivering results, then ask for money.
Glad see articles showcasing schools that successfully address their problems. And can't help noticing that they didn't sit around crying that they weren't getting any help from the Governor, State Leg. and State Board of Ed and therefore can't do anything. They saw their situation, found money in their existing budget and took action. This can't be the only one out there.
A quick solution, in addition to solutions like those in the article, is to vote out the Republicans who have contributed so much to the total deterioration of our schools (and our roads and other infrastructure). They have just cut and cut in order to repeatedly give the corporations and wealthy more money. The middle class has been hit hard by this kind of short sighted, upward income focussed mentality.
Take look at this article (and most Republicans won't even look at it I suspect):
https://www.vox.com/2018/4/25/17276284/arizona-teacher-strike-tax-cut-fu...
Note that Michigan is on the list of GOP led states where education was sacrificed on the tax cuts for the wealthy altar.
Somehow I missed it that political parties had anything to do with this school's wonderful success. Of course it helps not being fixated on Republicans, Snyder, DeVoses, Koches or any the rest of your Boogie Men. Have you considered a different hobby, maybe fishing?
A milennium ago when I took my daughter to kindergarten, I sat around for a few days, just to watch. I had discussed school with my daughter, and learned that she wanted to "learn how to write my name in script." Sounded good to me. But in that classroom, I saw a young boy who, apparently, didn't know just what a crayon was. He fumbled with it, clearly not knowing which end was up. I realized that this lovely little boy had never had a crayon, or a pencil, let alone a felt pen. I'm not sure what his family income was. . . His father worked for the city, and a real benefit of having him as a neighbor was that ours was one of the very first neighborhoods to have our snow plowed. Any thing more I were to say would be pure guess work. But imagine a 5-year old who doesn't know how to color in a bunny. I do believe that the single most important thing a parent can do for pre-schoolers is read to them every day. Even if one has to read the same book 300 times. Because after about 200 times, s/he will be able to "read" it to you, and will have memorized the way the written words sound. And for heaven sakes, kids' crayons should be deductable on your income tax!!
I enjoyed this article on education. I am retired Michigan teacher with 32 years in the classroom. Teacher pay in Michigan is not the issue. Thank God for the MEA!
So teacher pay is not the issue but funding our schools IS one of the major public education issues in Michigan.
This article points out equitable funding is an issue.
“Michigan funds our schools less equitably than many other states, which affects low-income students of all races,” Duke said. Many high-performing states give added money to poor districts because it costs more in additional staffing and resources to raise student achievement among low-income students.”
This article also points out other states target their funding more effectively than Michigan.
“Florida invested heavily in early literacy, in additional staffing and teacher training, to the tune of $130 million in 2014 alone. By comparison, Michigan allocated $6 million for early literacy coaches in 2017.
Florida voters passed a constitutional amendment in 2010 capping class size at 18 for kindergarten through third grade and 22 for fourth through eighth grades. Florida also has universal pre-K available to all families. Michigan’s pre-K program is available only to low- and moderate-income families, and even among those families an estimated 30,000 4-year-olds still do not have access to high-quality early education.”
This article does not point out the gap between the actual annual per pupil cost of educating a student in Michigan and the actual annual per pupil investment Michigan makes in it’s children. Current data indicates this gap is at least $1000 less per student every year compared to states with students scoring higher on standardized testing.
My experience over the years has been that as Michigan has not kept up with funding the actual cost of education professional educators and local school boards have forced to make tough choices in how to cut costs. Usually this cost cutting involves eliminating “unnecessary” staff.
This article does point to this issue.
“Our students just really don’t have the support, and in some cases our schools don’t have the staffing that some other (states) do,” said Ron Koehler, assistant superintendent of Kent Intermediate School District, which includes Grand Rapids Public Schools. “We’re last in the nation in terms of school nurses, for example. We don’t have as many social workers to deal with issues (as other states).”
Great Job Bridge Magazine!
Ben Laird
Why is this article the exception, it talks about results, about success, and yet they didn't get a sudden infusion of money to deliver this change in results, while almost all others start with money, more money and never talk about performance/learning results?
I learned a long time ago that when asking others for money [whether for my pay, for a new project, for improvements in the service/facility] the results were always presented first and if the results met expectations then I was asked about how much money, what kind of resources, what types of support.
Why is Michigan education different, why are results always the last thing talked about, why is it about how bad things are, how bad they will get, we are so bad when compared to others?
As best I can tell the there are tens of thousands of students that learn enough from public education to go on to college, earn degrees, and compete internationally for employment. How is that with such success what we have is described as so bad?
I wonder how many elementary school principles across Michigan has spent the inordinate sum for a phone call to Cadillac to simply ask and listen about what they have done differently?
With all your years experience, within the classroom was there a distribution of learning success or did all the students learn equally? If there was a curve of success, what did you attribute it to?
I enjoyed this article on education. I am retired Michigan teacher with 32 years in the classroom. Teacher pay in Michigan is not the issue. Thank God for the MEA!
So teacher pay is not the issue but funding our schools IS one of the major public education issues in Michigan.
This article points out equitable funding is an issue.
“Michigan funds our schools less equitably than many other states, which affects low-income students of all races,” Duke said. Many high-performing states give added money to poor districts because it costs more in additional staffing and resources to raise student achievement among low-income students.”
This article also points out other states target their funding more effectively than Michigan.
“Florida invested heavily in early literacy, in additional staffing and teacher training, to the tune of $130 million in 2014 alone. By comparison, Michigan allocated $6 million for early literacy coaches in 2017.
Florida voters passed a constitutional amendment in 2010 capping class size at 18 for kindergarten through third grade and 22 for fourth through eighth grades. Florida also has universal pre-K available to all families. Michigan’s pre-K program is available only to low- and moderate-income families, and even among those families an estimated 30,000 4-year-olds still do not have access to high-quality early education.”
This article does not point out the gap between the actual annual per pupil cost of educating a student in Michigan and the actual annual per pupil investment Michigan makes in it’s children. Current data indicates this gap is at least $1000 less per student every year compared to states with students scoring higher on standardized testing.
My experience over the years has been that as Michigan has not kept up with funding the actual cost of education professional educators and local school boards have forced to make tough choices in how to cut costs. Usually this cost cutting involves eliminating “unnecessary” staff.
This article does point to this issue.
“Our students just really don’t have the support, and in some cases our schools don’t have the staffing that some other (states) do,” said Ron Koehler, assistant superintendent of Kent Intermediate School District, which includes Grand Rapids Public Schools. “We’re last in the nation in terms of school nurses, for example. We don’t have as many social workers to deal with issues (as other states).”
Great Job Bridge Magazine!
Ben Laird
This is a good story, a story of local success and children who are better prepared, yet the comments, as usual, show a sharp divide, an unnecessary divide.
It is unfortunate that is the case. The success is based on some new ideas and some old ideas.
Teachers who were unwilling to change were let go. Teachers and staff worked as a team. Kids had food and health care at the school so their basic needs were met, without an income test. Students were held to a standard and given the means and tools to achieve that standard. The State legislature stayed out of their way.
I'd ask the commentators, rather than taking shots at each other to think how these lessons could be applied in their school districts
From 2nd to 59th percentile in two years? This is an extremely rapid gain, almost statistically improbable. I'd have to see additional data before I believe this.