Summary:
Paramount Charter Academy is a single PK-8 charter school in Kalamazoo, Michigan, serving 373 students within the Paramount Charter Academy district, where over 95% of students qualify for free or reduced lunch.
This school showed remarkable progress between the 2024-2025 and 2025-2026 school years, improving its state ranking from the 13th to the 25th percentile. The most dramatic gains appeared in 5th grade English Language Arts (jumping from 16.2% to 34.6% proficiency) and 5th grade science (from 10.8% to 30.8%). Third grade math also improved significantly, rising from 11.4% to 26.8% proficiency. Perhaps most notably, 7th grade ELA proficiency reached 38.5%, essentially matching the state average of 38.4%—the only subject and grade combination where the school meets state performance. Eighth grade PSAT ELA scores also improved by over 12 points, though they still trail the state average by nearly 18 points.
Despite these gains, significant challenges remain. Math proficiency across all grades continues to lag 15-20 percentage points behind state averages, with 5th and 6th grade math hovering around just 15% proficiency. The school also faces a chronic absenteeism rate of 39.9%, well above the state average of 27.9%, which likely hampers cumulative learning. While the school spends a substantial $19,207 per student—above typical Michigan levels—outcomes remain below state averages in most areas. The inconsistent progress across grade levels (5th grade ELA soared while 6th grade declined) suggests teacher effectiveness or cohort-specific factors play a role. For parents, this school demonstrates strong positive momentum and effective interventions taking hold, particularly in ELA and science, but math achievement and attendance remain critical areas needing continued focus.
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