Summary:
Commonwealth Community Development Academy is the only school in the Commonwealth Community Development Academy district, a small elementary school serving grades PK–8 in Hamtramck, MI, with 150 students and a very high rate of economic disadvantage (92.67% free/reduced lunch).
This school faces serious challenges that parents should know about. Chronic absenteeism is at crisis levels—57.3% of students are chronically absent, more than double the state average of 27.9%—which makes consistent learning nearly impossible for many children. Academically, the school ranks in the bottom 12–18% of Michigan schools across recent years, earning just 1 star. Test scores lag significantly behind state averages in most grades and subjects. For example, 3rd grade ELA proficiency is 12.5% versus the state's 38.9%, and 8th grade PSAT ELA shows the largest gap at 27.3% proficiency compared to 65.3% statewide. Math scores are similarly low, with 3rd grade at 16.7% versus 42.7% statewide. On a positive note, the school spends a substantial $14,064 per student and maintains a favorable student-teacher ratio of 15.5:1, which could support more personalized instruction if attendance improves.
There are a few encouraging signs. The school's state percentile ranking improved from the 12th percentile in 2024–2025 to the 18th percentile in 2025–2026, and 7th grade ELA proficiency (36.4%) nearly matches the state average (39.2%), suggesting some students catch up by middle school. However, the 8th grade PSAT gap is alarming and indicates students may be underprepared for high school. For parents, the key takeaway is that this school has high needs and significant obstacles, but the combination of small class sizes, above-average spending, and a slight upward trend offers a foundation for improvement—if attendance becomes the top priority and targeted literacy and math interventions are implemented, especially in early grades.
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