Summary:
Deerfield, Michigan, is served by a single elementary school, Britton Deerfield School - Deerfield Building, which enrolls 130 students in grades PK through 5 as part of the Britton Deerfield Schools district.
For parents considering this small, rural school, the most important takeaway is that it shows real strengths in early elementary grades but struggles significantly by 5th grade. In the most recent school year, 3rd and 4th grade math proficiency was strong, with 4th graders hitting 57.9% proficiency—well above the state average of 39.4%. However, 5th grade performance drops off a cliff: math proficiency plunges to just 16.7% and ELA falls to 20.8%, both far below state averages. This dramatic decline across all subjects suggests a possible transition issue or a particularly challenging cohort, but it is a pattern parents should watch closely. The school also has a chronic absenteeism rate of 23.7%, meaning nearly one in four students misses enough school to be considered chronically absent, which likely compounds learning challenges.
Financially, the school spends a robust $13,238 per student, yet it has only earned a 2-star rating from the state, ranking in the 43rd percentile. The student-teacher ratio of 17:1 is relatively high for such a small school, which may limit the individualized attention that small class sizes typically promise. About 36% of students qualify for free or reduced lunch, indicating moderate economic diversity. Notably, the school’s own ranking (43rd percentile) is better than its district’s overall ranking (38th percentile), suggesting this campus may be the stronger performer within Britton Deerfield Schools. Year-to-year results are volatile—likely due to small class sizes—so parents should interpret single-year scores with caution and focus on the clear need for stronger 5th grade support and improved attendance.
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