PD Graham Elementary School

PD Graham Elementary School in Westland, MI, is a PK-5 school serving 429 students within the Wayne-Westland Community School District, where over half of the student body qualifies for free or reduced lunch.

For parents, the most important takeaway is that PD Graham is a school facing significant challenges, yet it shows some relative strengths when compared to its immediate district peers. While its overall state ranking (25th percentile) places it in the lower-performing tier, it actually outperforms other Wayne-Westland elementary schools, which rank between the 11th and 22nd percentile. This suggests the school may be implementing strategies that yield better results than its neighbors. One clear success is in attendance: chronic absenteeism has dropped from 46.0% to 34.6% over two years, a notable improvement given the district average remains stuck at 46.5%. However, a concerning pattern emerges in academics—while 3rd-grade proficiency is relatively close to state averages, the gap widens dramatically by 5th grade, particularly in math (14.9% proficiency vs. 32.2% statewide), suggesting students may need more support as they advance.

The starkest contrast, however, is with nearby schools in the Plymouth-Canton Community Schools district, just a few miles away. Schools like Hoben Elementary School and Field Elementary School achieve proficiency rates two to three times higher in both ELA and math, despite PD Graham spending significantly more per student ($21,580 vs. roughly $16,000). This disparity highlights how factors beyond funding—such as community resources and socioeconomic conditions—play a critical role in educational outcomes. For parents considering this school, it's essential to understand that while PD Graham is working hard within its district, the broader context of economic need creates hurdles that nearby, more affluent districts do not face to the same degree.