Summary:
Windemere Park Charter Academy is a single K-8 charter school in Lansing, MI, serving 580 students in a high-poverty area where 86% qualify for free or reduced lunch.
This school presents a fascinating split in performance. In the early grades, students start behind the state average—3rd grade ELA proficiency is 26.5% versus the state’s 38.2%, and math trails by 8 points. However, the school shows remarkable growth by upper elementary and middle school. By 5th grade, ELA proficiency (51.6%) surpasses the state by nearly 8 points, and by 7th grade, the school’s ELA score of 53.3% is almost 15 points above the state average—an exceptional result given the poverty rate. Math follows a similar trajectory, with 6th graders scoring 40.4% proficiency, 8.5 points above the state. This suggests the school’s instructional approach becomes increasingly effective as students advance, particularly in literacy and numeracy.
The biggest red flag is chronic absenteeism at 40%, far exceeding the state’s 27.9%. This likely explains the school’s severe struggles in 8th grade science (22% proficiency vs. 39.2% state) and social studies (34.1% vs. 50.3% state), as well as the weak 3rd grade scores. The school also shows notable year-to-year volatility—the current 7th graders dramatically outperformed the previous 7th grade cohort, which scored just 22.7% in ELA the year before. While the middle school ELA and math success is commendable, parents should be aware that science and social studies instruction lags significantly, and the high absenteeism rate may undermine the school’s ability to sustain its gains. Overall, this is a school that excels in core subjects for older students but struggles with attendance and non-tested subjects.
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