Summary:
Oakland Academy is a single K-8 school in Portage, Michigan, operating as its own district with 149 students and a favorable 13.8:1 student-teacher ratio.
As the only school in the Oakland Academy district, this small school has maintained a consistent 3-star state rating over three years, placing it near the middle of Michigan schools (53rd percentile in 2025-2026). The standout story is a remarkable 5th-grade science turnaround, jumping from 33.3% proficiency in 2024-2025 to 56.3% in 2025-2026—well above the state average of 40%. However, performance varies significantly by grade and subject. Early elementary ELA is a strength, with 3rd and 4th graders meeting or exceeding state averages, but 5th-grade ELA (31.3% vs. 43.8% state) and math scores across upper grades lag notably. Math is a consistent weakness, with 4th-grade proficiency at just 30% and 5th-grade at 25% in 2025-2026, both below state averages. Social studies remains the lowest-performing subject at 25% proficiency, slightly under the state's 27.5%.
Chronic absenteeism is a significant concern, affecting 35.4% of students—7.5 percentage points above the state average—which likely contributes to the upper-grade struggles. The school spends $12,231 per student, a robust figure that hasn't translated into above-average overall results. With only 149 students, test scores can swing dramatically year-to-year due to small cohort sizes, so parents should interpret single-year changes cautiously. The school's mid-range ranking masks these internal disparities, but the strong science improvement and early-grade ELA success suggest targeted interventions in math, 5th-grade support, and attendance could help elevate Oakland Academy from solidly average to above-average performance.
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