Arts Academy in the Woods

Arts Academy in the Woods is a single public charter school in Fraser, Michigan (48026) serving grades 6 through 12 with 327 students, operating as its own district (Arts Academy in the Woods).

This arts-focused school presents a distinctive academic profile. The most striking pattern is a clear split between humanities and quantitative subjects. Students consistently perform at or above state averages in English language arts, social studies, and reading-based assessments—for example, 9th grade PSAT ELA scores hit 67.1% proficiency versus 60.2% statewide, and 8th grade social studies reached 70.2% proficiency in 2024-25, a remarkable 23 points above the state average. However, math is a critical weakness: PSAT math proficiency ranges from just 10.8% to 19.7% across grades 8-10, roughly 15-20 points below state averages. The school also shows strong year-over-year improvement in its state ranking, climbing from the 44th percentile in 2023-24 to the 59th percentile in 2025-26, earning 3 stars.

Despite these academic strengths in language-based subjects, the school faces serious challenges. Chronic absenteeism is alarmingly high at 56.2%—more than double the state average of 27.9%—which likely contributes to a graduation rate of 81.1% (below the state's 84.0%) and a dropout rate of 10.1% (above the state's 7.1%). Test scores also show dramatic year-to-year volatility, with 7th grade ELA plummeting from 40% proficiency to 10.5% between school years, likely due to small cohorts of roughly 47 students per grade. With per-student spending of $16,321 and a favorable 12.3:1 student-teacher ratio, the school has substantial resources, yet math proficiency remains critically low across all grades. For parents considering this school, the takeaway is clear: students who thrive in creative, language-rich environments may excel here, but the school needs urgent, targeted intervention in mathematics and attendance to ensure all students are prepared for college and career.