Summary:
Muskegon Montessori Academy for Environmental Change is the sole elementary school serving grades PK through 8 in the Muskegon Montessori Academy for Environmental Change district, located in Norton Shores, MI, with a small enrollment of 154 students and a high poverty rate of 80.52% free/reduced lunch eligibility.
Muskegon Montessori Academy for Environmental Change presents a mixed picture for parents. The school’s overall ranking has been volatile, swinging from a 1-star rating (1060th out of 1486 schools) in 2023-2024 to a 3-star rating (645th) in 2024-2025, before settling at a 2-star rating (801st) in 2025-2026. This instability likely reflects very small class sizes—roughly 17 students per grade—where the performance of a few individuals can dramatically shift percentages. The school’s standout strength is 6th grade English Language Arts, where 54.55% of students are proficient, a remarkable 17 percentage points above the state average of 37.5%. Similarly, 5th grade science excels at 55.6% proficiency versus the state’s 40.0%. However, math is a consistent weakness across all grades, with proficiency rates running 4.4 to 16 points below state averages. For instance, 3rd grade math sits at just 26.9% compared to the state’s 42.9%.
Year-over-year data shows concerning declines in ELA for 4th and 5th grades, dropping from 60% to 42.1% and 57.14% to 38.9%, respectively, though these shifts may be cohort-specific rather than systemic. The school maintains a favorable 13.9:1 student-teacher ratio and spends $12,615 per student, which is reasonable for a small charter needing to cover its own overhead. Chronic absenteeism at 25% is below the state average of 27.9%, a positive sign given the high poverty context. For parents, this school offers pockets of genuine excellence in literacy and science, particularly in upper elementary grades, but the persistent math gaps and ranking volatility suggest a need for careful monitoring. The upward trajectory from 1-star to 2-3 star status indicates potential for continued improvement.
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