Summary:
The Clarenceville School District operates two elementary schools—Botsford Elementary School and Grandview Elementary School—serving students in Pre-K through 5th grade in Livonia, Michigan, with both schools facing significant economic disadvantage among their student populations.
When comparing the two schools, Grandview Elementary generally outperforms Botsford Elementary across most academic subjects, despite serving a slightly higher percentage of economically disadvantaged students and spending less per pupil. Grandview's 4th grade ELA proficiency (40.3%) nearly matches the state average, and its 5th grade ELA scores exceeded state averages in the prior year. Meanwhile, Botsford shows a remarkable strength in 3rd grade math, where 48.7% of students are proficient—well above both the district and state averages. However, Botsford trails Grandview in upper elementary subjects, particularly in 5th grade science and social studies. Both schools struggle with chronic absenteeism around 28-29%, though the district-wide rate is notably higher at 35.8%.
The most striking pattern is a "5th grade cliff" affecting both schools—proficiency drops dramatically as students advance, especially in math, where Botsford falls from 48.7% proficiency in 3rd grade to just 10.1% by 5th grade. Year-to-year volatility is also significant, with Grandview's 5th grade science scores plummeting from 37.3% to 17.5% in one year. Social studies is a universal weakness, with both schools far below the state average. Interestingly, Botsford spends $727 more per student than Grandview yet generally performs worse, suggesting that instructional quality and school culture matter more than raw funding. For parents, Grandview offers stronger overall academics, particularly in literacy, while Botsford demonstrates that targeted math instruction can yield exceptional results in early grades—though both schools would benefit from addressing the steep decline in upper elementary performance.
Thank you for your feedback!