Crestwood School District

The Crestwood School District in Dearborn Heights, Michigan, serves about 3,672 students across five schools—three elementary schools (Kinloch Elementary School, Highview Elementary School, and Hillcrest Elementary School), one middle school (Riverside Middle School), and one high school (Crestwood High School)—spanning grades PK-12.

Kinloch Elementary School is the district's standout, ranking in the 89th percentile statewide. Its 4th grade math proficiency (68.1%) is nearly 30 points above the state average, and it has the lowest chronic absenteeism (10.9%) despite 72% of students qualifying for free/reduced lunch. In contrast, Hillcrest Elementary School spends the most per student ($21,496) yet shows the weakest elementary results, with 4th grade math (36.4%) below the state average (39.4%) and the district's highest chronic absenteeism (23.5%). Highview Elementary School falls in between, with the highest poverty rate (89.37%) but generally solid performance. Riverside Middle School shows dramatic improvement, climbing from the 35th to 50th percentile, with strengths in 6th grade math (40.1% vs. 31.9% state) but notable weaknesses in 5th grade social studies (10.8% vs. 27.5% state) and 8th grade science (26.1% vs. 39.2% state). Crestwood High School excels in graduation metrics—91.9% graduation rate versus 84.0% statewide—but its SAT scores trail state averages in reading (44.1% vs. 52.1%) and math (24.4% vs. 26.5%).

Overall, the district shows a clear pattern of declining performance from elementary to high school, with elementary schools generally exceeding state averages while high school scores fall below. However, the trajectory is positive: all three elementary schools improved their state rankings, and the district's chronic absenteeism (19.1%) is well below the state rate (27.9%). Notably, spending does not correlate with outcomes—Kinloch spends the least but achieves the most, suggesting school culture and instructional quality matter more than resources alone. For parents, Kinloch is the clear academic leader, while Crestwood High School offers strong graduation outcomes despite mixed test scores.