Summary:
The Brandon School District in Ortonville, Michigan, is home to two elementary schools—Harvey Swanson Elementary School and Oakwood Elementary School—both serving grades PK-5 in a suburban community where the district overall earns a 3-star rating (63rd percentile statewide).
For parents comparing the two, Oakwood Elementary School is the clear academic leader. It ranks in the 60th percentile (3 stars) versus Harvey Swanson Elementary School's 45th percentile (2 stars), and outperforms its counterpart in 12 of 16 subject/grade test comparisons. The math gap is especially striking—in 5th grade, Oakwood posts 48.4% proficiency versus Harvey Swanson's 24.7%, a nearly 24-point difference. Oakwood also has dramatically lower chronic absenteeism (16.6% vs. 27.8%) and a smaller share of students eligible for free/reduced lunch (34.5% vs. 43.8%). Notably, Oakwood spends about $1,082 more per student, though this may reflect economies of scale given Harvey Swanson's larger enrollment (548 vs. 371 students).
However, both schools face challenges. In the 2025-2026 school year, each experienced notable year-over-year declines—Oakwood's 3rd-grade math fell from 54.8% to 41.3%, and its 5th-grade science dropped from 50.6% to 35.9%. Harvey Swanson's chronic absenteeism rate (27.8%) nearly matches the state average and is 67% higher than Oakwood's, likely contributing to its lower scores. Yet there are bright spots: Harvey Swanson actually exceeds both Oakwood and the district average in 5th-grade science (38.8%), and both schools beat the state average in 4th-grade ELA. The district's 3rd-grade math average (33.1%) trails the state (42.9%), signaling an area for urgent attention. For parents, Oakwood offers stronger academics and attendance, while Harvey Swanson shows pockets of strength worth exploring despite its demographic challenges.
Thank you for your feedback!