Summary:
Commonwealth Community Development Academy is the only elementary school in the Commonwealth Community Development Academy district, serving grades PK through 8 with 150 students in Hamtramck, MI.
This single-school district serves an extraordinarily high-need population, with nearly 93% of students qualifying for free or reduced lunch. The most pressing challenge is chronic absenteeism: 57.3% of students are chronically absent, more than double the state average of 27.9%. This likely explains much of the academic struggle. Proficiency rates in both English Language Arts and math are well below state averages across every grade level. For example, 3rd grade ELA proficiency is just 12.5% compared to 38.9% statewide, and 8th grade PSAT scores show a dramatic 38-point gap (27.27% vs. 65.3%). The school holds a 1-star rating and ranks in the 13th percentile statewide, a position that has remained stable over three years despite small class sizes.
There is one encouraging trend: ELA proficiency improves steadily as students advance. Scores climb from 12.5% in 3rd grade to 21.1% in 4th, 21.43% in 5th, 23.08% in 6th, and jump to 36.36% in 7th grade—nearly closing the gap with the state average. This suggests that students who attend regularly benefit from effective instruction over time. The school spends $14,064 per student, above the Michigan average, indicating resources are available. However, with only 15-20 students per grade, a few students can dramatically shift percentages year to year. For parents, the key takeaway is that this school faces severe challenges tied to poverty and attendance, but shows real signs of academic growth for students who are consistently present. Addressing absenteeism appears to be the single most impactful step for improving outcomes.
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