Island City Academy

Island City Academy is a single K-8 elementary school in Eaton Rapids, Michigan, serving 197 students as its own district, and it has recently climbed to the 61st percentile of Michigan districts with a 4-star rating.

For parents, the most important takeaway is that this school has a clear signature strength in mathematics. In the latest testing year, Island City Academy outperformed the state average in math at every single grade level, with particularly impressive results in 4th grade (66.7% proficient vs. 39.4% statewide) and 6th grade (60% vs. 31.9%). The school also shines in 6th grade English Language Arts, where 66.7% of students are proficient—a remarkable 29-point advantage over the state. However, performance is uneven. The most concerning area is 5th grade ELA, where only 21.1% of students are proficient, a 22.7-point deficit that represents a dramatic drop from that same cohort's 4th grade performance the prior year. Similarly, 8th grade science proficiency fell sharply from 60% to 20% year-over-year, though with only about 20-30 students per grade, these swings can be driven by just a handful of students.

Beyond test scores, the school's attendance is exceptional. With a chronic absenteeism rate of just 5.5%—compared to the state average of 27.9%—students are clearly engaged and present. The school also maintains a favorable 12.5:1 student-teacher ratio and spends $11,206 per student, which is moderate given that nearly 45% of students qualify for free or reduced lunch. While the volatility across grade levels suggests inconsistent instructional alignment, the strong math program and excellent attendance provide a solid foundation. The recent jump of 93 positions in state rankings indicates a positive trajectory, and 8th graders are notably well-prepared for high school math, scoring 60% proficient on the PSAT versus 33.2% statewide.