Eugene B Elliott Elementary School

Eugene B Elliott Elementary School is a K-5 public school in Westland, MI, serving 386 students as part of the Wayne-Westland Community School District, where about 71% of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch.

One of the biggest challenges facing the school is chronic absenteeism. In the 2024-2025 school year, 47% of students were chronically absent—missing 10% or more of the school year—which is nearly double the state average of 27.9%. While this is concerning, it's actually better than some nearby schools like David Hicks School (62%) and Inkster Preparatory Academy (63.3%), but worse than Douglas Elementary 34 Campus in Garden City (23.1%). The school spends a substantial $19,868 per student—higher than many neighboring schools—yet academic results remain in the bottom 15% of Michigan elementary schools. This suggests that funding alone isn't the issue; attendance and engagement appear to be the primary drivers of achievement.

There are some encouraging signs worth noting. Students who stay at the school through 5th grade tend to perform better than younger students, with 5th grade reading proficiency at 28.3% compared to just 11.5% in 3rd grade—a pattern that suggests cumulative growth. The school also shows relative strength in serving its African American students, who ranked in the 46th percentile statewide in 2025-2026, significantly above the school's overall ranking. However, there's a widening gender gap: female students now rank in the 19th percentile while male students have dropped to the 3rd percentile. For parents considering this school, the most pressing concern is attendance—nearly half of students miss significant school time, which directly impacts learning. The nearby Garden City Public Schools district, just a mile or two away, demonstrates that similar communities can achieve much better outcomes, with Douglas Elementary ranking in the 36th percentile with less than half the chronic absenteeism rate.