Summary:
Mill Creek Academy is the sole elementary school in the Mill Creek Academy district, serving 233 students in grades K-5 in Williamsburg, MI, a small community where only about 24% of students qualify for free or reduced lunch.
This school stands out for its exceptional early-grade performance. Third-grade math proficiency is a remarkable 74.5%, which is 31.6 percentage points above the state average, and third-grade ELA proficiency hits 63.8%, outpacing the state by 25.6 points. Fifth-grade science (50%) and math (46.7%) also exceed state averages. The school’s chronic absenteeism rate is strikingly low at just 9.3% compared to the state’s 27.9%, indicating strong student engagement and family involvement. With a student-teacher ratio of 17:1 and per-student spending of $10,270, the school appears to allocate resources efficiently. Overall, Mill Creek Academy earns a 3-star rating, ranking 459th out of 1,492 Michigan elementary schools (69th percentile).
The most notable concern is a dramatic “4th-grade slump.” Proficiency in both math and ELA drops to 34.9% in 4th grade—falling below state averages (39.4% for math, 41.3% for ELA) and representing a 39.6-point drop in math and a 28.9-point drop in ELA from 3rd grade. This pattern suggests a possible cohort effect or a transition issue between grade levels rather than a subject-specific weakness, since scores are identical across both subjects. Fifth-grade social studies (26.7%) also trails the state average slightly (27.5%). For parents, this means the school excels in early elementary years and maintains strong attendance, but the current 4th-grade class may need additional support. The school’s leadership should investigate curriculum alignment and instructional strategies for this grade level to ensure all students maintain the high standards seen in 3rd grade.
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