Renaissance Public School Academy

Renaissance Public School Academy is a single K-8 public charter school in Mount Pleasant, Michigan, serving 428 students as its own district, and it has consistently earned a 2-star rating while ranking in the lower third of Michigan schools over the past three years.

For parents considering this school, the most striking concern is mathematics. In the 2025-2026 school year, 3rd-grade math proficiency plummeted to just 6.5%—a staggering 36-point gap below the state average of 42.9%—and 8th-grade PSAT math fell to 10% proficiency versus 33.2% statewide. The only bright spot is 6th-grade math, where 34.7% of students scored proficient, slightly exceeding the state’s 31.9%. Reading scores are comparatively stronger but still lag in most grades; for example, 7th-grade ELA sits at 25.5% versus 38.4% statewide, though 8th graders previously achieved 77.3% on PSAT ELA in 2024-2025, far above the state average. Science and social studies also trail state benchmarks, with 5th-grade science at 26% (state: 40%) and 8th-grade social studies at 38% (state: 50.3%).

Notably, the school’s chronic absenteeism rate of 22.7% is better than the state’s 27.9%, suggesting attendance isn’t the core issue. With nearly 59% of students qualifying for free/reduced lunch, the school serves a predominantly low-income population, yet it maintains a favorable 15.4:1 student-teacher ratio and spends $12,800 per student. The extreme year-over-year volatility—such as 8th-grade science dropping from 53.3% to 28%—points to small cohorts where individual class dynamics heavily skew results. While there are isolated successes, the overall pattern shows decline in upper grades, raising questions about instructional consistency. Parents should weigh the school’s resource availability and attendance strengths against the persistent math crisis and uneven academic outcomes when making enrollment decisions.