Burton Glen Charter Academy

Burton Glen Charter Academy is a single K-8 charter school in Burton, Michigan, serving 709 students within the Burton Glen Charter Academy district, where 94.5% of students qualify for free/reduced lunch and chronic absenteeism runs at 46.5%—nearly double the state average.

For parents, the most important takeaway is that this school shows real momentum despite significant challenges. The school has improved its state ranking for three straight years, moving from the 31st to the 39th percentile. The standout story is 5th grade, where proficiency jumped dramatically across multiple subjects: ELA rose from 25.5% to 42.3% (nearly matching the state's 43.8%), math climbed from 16.4% to 33.8% (now exceeding the state average of 32.2%), and science soared from a very low 7.27% to 28.6%. Math is a relative strength overall, with the school only 3.7 points behind the state average, compared to an 8.2-point gap in ELA. However, science and social studies remain critical weaknesses, trailing the state by 15-18 points, with 5th grade social studies at just 12.9% proficiency.

There are also areas of concern. The 8th grade PSAT ELA score dropped sharply from 59.6% to 42.9%, and 6th grade saw declines in both ELA and math. These swings, along with the dramatic 5th grade gains, suggest small class sizes where individual student performance can heavily shift percentages. Chronic absenteeism is the biggest obstacle—with nearly half of students missing significant school time, it's remarkable the school performs as well as it does. At $13,806 per student, spending is above the state average, yet outcomes remain below par, raising questions about resource allocation. Still, the upward trajectory and the 5th grade success story offer hope that targeted interventions can work, especially if attendance improves.