Summary:
The Lakeshore School District (Berrien) is home to three elementary schools—Roosevelt Elementary School, Stewart Elementary School, and Hollywood Elementary School—all serving grades PK-5 in Stevensville, MI, within a district that ranks in the 90th percentile statewide.
For parents, the standout story is the rise of Hollywood Elementary School, which has jumped 84 spots in state rankings over two years to become the highest-ranked school in the group (188th of 1,492). Despite having the highest poverty rate (37.4% free/reduced lunch), Hollywood leads in 5th-grade math (65.2%) and science (68.1%), proving that economic disadvantage doesn't dictate outcomes. Meanwhile, Roosevelt Elementary School remains the most efficient performer—it spends the least per student ($14,298) yet achieves the lowest chronic absenteeism (9.5%, nearly 3x better than the state average) and strong overall results, including 61.5% proficiency in both 4th-grade ELA and math. The concern is Stewart Elementary School, the only school trending downward, dropping 127 ranking spots largely due to a dramatic collapse in 5th-grade math proficiency from 50.8% to 27.3% in one year—a red flag that needs immediate attention.
Across the district, all three schools outperform state averages in every subject, with social studies being a particular strength (44.4-44.9% proficiency vs. 27.5% statewide). However, notable volatility exists: Roosevelt's 3rd-grade ELA dropped 15 points year-over-year, while Stewart's improved by nearly 7 points, suggesting cohort effects rather than systemic issues. For parents choosing between these schools, Roosevelt offers the best attendance culture and consistency, Hollywood offers the strongest upward momentum and STEM excellence, and Stewart—while still above state averages—requires scrutiny around its 5th-grade math instruction. The district's success suggests strong cross-school collaboration opportunities, particularly in sharing best practices from Roosevelt and Hollywood to help Stewart reverse its decline.
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