Summary:
There is just one elementary school in Decatur, Michigan, Davis Elementary School, which serves grades K-5 within the Decatur Public Schools district, a small, rural community where the school enrolls 356 students.
For parents, the most important takeaway is that Davis Elementary is currently facing a challenging academic period. The school ranks #928 out of 1,492 Michigan elementary schools, a significant drop from its previous #603 ranking. In the most recent testing year, proficiency rates fell below state averages in nearly every subject and grade. For example, 3rd-grade English Language Arts proficiency is just 19.6% compared to the state's 38.2%, and 3rd-grade math is 25.0% versus 42.9% statewide. Even more concerning is the sharp year-over-year decline; 5th-grade science proficiency plummeted from 61.3% to 33.3%, and 5th-grade ELA fell from 50.7% to 33.3%. This pattern across all grades suggests a systemic issue rather than a one-off bad year for a single class.
However, there are some bright spots. Fourth-grade students are performing relatively well, with math proficiency (39.4%) exactly matching the state average and ELA scores (38.0%) coming close. This suggests that instruction at that grade level may be particularly effective. Additionally, the school has a lower chronic absenteeism rate (19.8%) than both the district (22.3%) and the state (27.9%), which is a positive sign for student engagement. The school spends a substantial $19,130 per student, yet this high investment is not currently translating into above-average results. With 64% of students qualifying for free or reduced-price lunch, the school faces socioeconomic challenges, but the relative success in 4th grade indicates that targeted support can make a difference. Parents should ask the school about what is driving the recent decline and what specific interventions are planned for the coming year.
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