Flushing Community Schools

Flushing Community Schools is a mid-sized Michigan district serving roughly 4,077 students across 8 schools—including five elementary schools, one middle school, and two high schools—in a suburban area with moderate socioeconomic diversity. The district overall earns a 3-star rating, ranking in the 58th percentile statewide, with notable bright spots and significant challenges across its buildings.

For parents, the standout choice is Seymour Elementary School, which leads the district with a 4-star rating and the lowest chronic absenteeism rate (9.5% vs. the district’s 23.8%). Its 5th-grade science proficiency (60.5%) towers 20 points above the state average, and it achieves these results while spending the least per student among traditional elementary schools. Flushing Middle School is also on the rise, jumping from the 61st to 76th percentile in two years, with 8th-grade social studies (60.7%) and PSAT English (75%) well above state averages. In contrast, Raider Virtual Academy is a serious concern—its 45.6% graduation rate, 90% chronic absenteeism, and 1-star rating suggest the virtual model is not serving its students effectively. Springview Elementary School has also slipped to a 2-star rating, with proficiency rates often below district averages.

District-wide, the biggest weakness is high school science: Flushing High School posts just 21% proficiency versus the state’s 35.2%, despite strong elementary science scores. Math also declines sharply by 11th grade (22.7% SAT proficiency). Chronic absenteeism spikes from roughly 14% in elementary schools to 33.1% at the middle school, signaling a transition problem. Meanwhile, Central Elementary School shows puzzling inconsistency—excellent 5th-grade science one year, poor math the next. For families, Seymour and the middle school offer the strongest trajectories, while the virtual academy and high school science warrant careful consideration.