Elementary Schools in North Adams-Jerome Public Schools

North Adams-Jerome Elementary School is the sole elementary school in the North Adams-Jerome Public Schools district, serving grades PK through 5 in a small, rural Michigan community with just 138 students and a 13:1 student-teacher ratio.

This school serves a predominantly low-income population, with 74.64% of students qualifying for free or reduced lunch, and per-student spending is high at $14,606. Academically, the school faces significant challenges, with proficiency rates in ELA and math generally falling below state averages across most grade levels. For instance, in the most recent 2025-2026 school year, 5th grade ELA proficiency was just 15% compared to the state's 43.8%, while 4th grade ELA was a much stronger 40% versus the state's 41.3%. There are bright spots, however: in 2024-2025, 3rd grade math proficiency reached 43.8%, actually exceeding the state average of 42.7%. The school's state ranking has fluctuated, improving from the 13th percentile in 2023-2024 to the 30th percentile in 2024-2025, before settling at the 25th percentile in 2025-2026, placing it in the bottom quartile statewide.

One of the most pressing concerns is chronic absenteeism, which stands at 36%—8.1 percentage points above the state average of 27.9%. With roughly one in three students missing significant school days, this likely contributes to the academic struggles. Given the very small cohort sizes (often just 15-25 students per grade), year-to-year test scores can swing dramatically based on just a few students, making comparisons noisy. For example, the difference between 15% and 40% proficiency in ELA could represent only 3-4 students. While the school spends well above typical Michigan levels per pupil and offers a personalized learning environment, financial resources alone have not closed the achievement gap. The combination of high poverty, elevated absenteeism, and small-cohort volatility suggests that targeted interventions for attendance and early literacy, rather than just funding, will be key to improving outcomes.