Grand River Academy

Grand River Academy is a single K-8 school in Livonia, Michigan, serving 727 students as its own district, with a high-poverty population (80.47% free/reduced lunch) and a chronic absenteeism rate of 48.8%—nearly double the state average.

This school faces significant academic challenges, consistently scoring 10–25 points below state averages across most subjects and grade levels. The 2025-2026 M-Step results show 5th-grade social studies proficiency at just 7.84% (state: 27.5%), and math proficiency ranges from 11.8% (5th grade) to 24.3% (4th grade), all well below state benchmarks. However, there are notable bright spots. English Language Arts improved dramatically year-over-year, with 4th grade jumping from 14.5% to 26.7% proficiency and 3rd grade rising from 19.2% to 27.9%. The 7th-grade cohort is a relative standout, posting an ELA proficiency of 36.7%—just 1.7 points below the state average—and the strongest math scores in the school. Additionally, 8th-grade PSAT ELA proficiency reached 52.7%, the highest rate across any subject and grade combination, suggesting cumulative literacy growth for students who remain enrolled.

For parents, the key takeaway is that Grand River Academy is a 1-star school (bottom fifth in Michigan) where attendance is the single largest barrier to success—nearly half of students miss significant instructional time. The school spends $13,116 per student, slightly above state norms, yet outcomes remain low, raising questions about resource allocation. The most promising strategies are addressing chronic absenteeism, sustaining the recent ELA gains, investigating the 5th-grade social studies collapse, and studying the 7th-grade cohort for replicable practices. The 3rd-grade math decline (26% to 18%) also warrants early intervention. While the overall picture is concerning, the year-over-year improvements in literacy and the strong 7th-grade and 8th-grade results suggest that targeted efforts can yield meaningful progress.