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Cole Academy

Public, Charter Grades K-5

Summary

Cole Academy is a public charter elementary school located in Lansing, Michigan, serving 174 students from kindergarten to 5th grade. The school has a diverse student population, with a racial makeup of 20.11% White, 39.08% African American, 20.11% Hispanic, 1.15% Asian, 1.72% Native American, and 17.82% two or more races.

While Cole Academy's student population is diverse, the school is facing several challenges. It has experienced a significant increase in chronic absenteeism rates, rising from 13.2% in 2018-2019 to 31.1% in 2022-2023, which is notably higher than the state average and the rates of nearby schools like Cavanaugh School (89.0%) and Lyons School (75.8%). Additionally, the school's academic performance, as measured by M-Step proficiency rates, is consistently lower than the state averages across all grade levels and subject areas. For example, in 2023-2024, the school's 3rd-grade English Language Arts proficiency rate was 10.71%, compared to the state average of 39.6%. Furthermore, Cole Academy has a high percentage of students from low-socioeconomic backgrounds, with 66.67% of students qualifying for free or reduced-price lunch in the 2022-2023 school year, significantly higher than the state average and the rates of nearby schools.

Despite the challenges, there are some interesting findings about Cole Academy. While the school's overall performance is low, there are notable disparities in academic performance among different racial groups. For instance, in 2021-2022, the school's African American students ranked 12th out of 158 Michigan elementary schools, indicating strong performance within this subgroup. However, the school's statewide ranking has declined over the years, from being ranked 663 out of 1,408 Michigan elementary schools in 2018-2019 to 1,293 out of 1,486 in 2023-2024, with a consistent 1-star rating from SchoolDigger. When compared to nearby schools, such as Windemere Park Charter Academy, Cole Academy's performance is generally lower across various metrics, including academic achievement, chronic absenteeism, and socioeconomic status.

155

Students ?

25.8

Student/teacher ratio ?

$10,637

Per pupil spending ?

66.5%

Free/discounted lunch ?

1915 W Mount Hope Ave
Lansing, MI 48910-2434

(517) 372-0038

District: Cole Academy

Racial breakdown:

African American:

38.1%

Hispanic:

24.5%

White:

18.7%

See top rated Michigan public schools

Compare Cole Academy to nearby elementary schools!

At a glance

▼ Ranking trend: Declining — 42nd percentile in 2014 → 13th in 2024

Worth a look

!Test scores below the Michigan average (23% vs 41% meeting standards)

!Ranking has slipped — down 29 percentile points since 2014

!English Language Arts scores 18 pts below the Michigan average

Students meeting standards (2024-2025) ?

This school23%

District avg17%

Michigan avg41%

Not ranked this year

Cole Academy did not have enough recent test-score data to be ranked. Check the trend below for past years.

427^th of 613Cole Academy among Michigan districts

Statewide rank percentile over time (100 = the top-ranked school in the state; click a legend item to add a student group)

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Michigan percentile	Rating
2024	12.6	1293 of 1486	13.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	10.5	1306 of 1470	11.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	27.9	959 of 1344	28.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	32.2	789 of 1153	31.6%	★★☆☆☆
2019	50.0	663 of 1408	52.9%	★★★☆☆
2018	60.1	614 of 1448	57.6%	★★★☆☆
2017	49.5	697 of 1466	52.5%	★★★☆☆
2016	44.3	885 of 1548	42.8%	★★☆☆☆
2015	49.6	838 of 1580	47.0%	★★☆☆☆
2014	46.2	895 of 1533	41.6%	★★☆☆☆
2013	47.2	895 of 1563	42.7%	★★☆☆☆
2012	46.5	921 of 1566	41.2%	★★☆☆☆
2011	61.0	756 of 1552	51.3%	★★★☆☆
2010	71.3	472 of 1552	69.6%	★★★☆☆
2009	34.5	1294 of 1589	18.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2008	26.9	1356 of 1577	14.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2007	31.9	1293 of 1565	17.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2006	47.4	1036 of 1545	32.9%	★★☆☆☆

African American

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Michigan percentile	Rating
2022	86.0	12 of 158	92.4%	★★★★★
2018	79.5	54 of 475	88.6%	★★★★☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Michigan percentile	Rating
2024	20.0	1088 of 1342	18.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	14.8	1156 of 1321	12.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	64.2	506 of 1443	64.9%	★★★☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Michigan percentile	Rating
2024	27.1	1042 of 1381	24.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	23.6	884 of 1099	19.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	46.0	614 of 1134	45.9%	★★☆☆☆
2018	58.1	565 of 1397	59.6%	★★★☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Michigan percentile	Rating
2023	32.6	884 of 1334	33.7%	★★☆☆☆
2018	51.8	722 of 1446	50.1%	★★★☆☆

How student groups rank statewide ? (each group's percentile vs the same group at other schools — higher is better; the +/- beside each compares the group with this school's overall percentile)

African American (2022)92nd percentile+64 vs school

Male (2023)34th percentile+23 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2024)25th percentile+12 vs school

Female (2024)19th percentile+6 vs school

By subject vs Michigan (2024-2025) ?

Math25%-18 vs state

English Language Arts21%-18 vs state

4.5

2 ratings · 2 written reviews

5★1

4★1

3★0

2★0

1★0

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What people are saying

by a parent
Monday, September 12, 2016

Great school! Caring teachers/faculty. Challenging curriculum. My Son struggled at his previous school. After enrolling at Cole Academy, his grades improved dramatically and his excitement for school has never been higher. Close Quote

by a parent
Thursday, July 24, 2014

Love this school! The principal, Mr. Shaunessy, is EXCELLENT. My son has had a very positive experience here. Close Quote

Schools Near Cole Academy

Choose columns to see: Summary School Students/Teachers Ranking Test Scores Finance All

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2025)				Ranking (2024)				PSAT English Language Arts (2025)	PSAT Mathematics (2025)	M-Step English Language Arts (2025)					M-Step Math (2025)					M-Step Science (2025)		M-Step Social Studies (2025)		Per Pupil Expenditures (2024)
Name	Type	Grades	Address	City	Zip	County	District	Is Charter	Is Magnet	Is Virtual	Is Title I	Phone	Enrollment	Full-time Teachers	Student/ Teacher Ratio	Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	White	Black	Hispanic	Asian	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Average Standard Score (2025)	Statewide Rank (2025)	State Percentile (2025)	SchoolDigger Rating (2025)	Average Standard Score (2024)	Statewide Rank (2024)	State Percentile (2024)	Rank Change from Previous Year	PSAT English Language Arts 8th Grade	PSAT Mathematics 8th Grade	M-Step English Language Arts 3rd Grade	M-Step English Language Arts 4th Grade	M-Step English Language Arts 5th Grade	M-Step English Language Arts 6th Grade	M-Step English Language Arts 7th Grade	M-Step Math 3rd Grade	M-Step Math 4th Grade	M-Step Math 5th Grade	M-Step Math 6th Grade	M-Step Math 7th Grade	M-Step Science 5th Grade	M-Step Science 8th Grade	M-Step Social Studies 5th Grade	M-Step Social Studies 8th Grade	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
Cole Academy	Public, Charter	K-5	1915 W Mount Hope Ave	Lansing	48910	Ingham County	Cole Academy	Yes	No	No	Yes	(517) 372-0038	155	6	25.8	66.5%	29 (18.7%)	59 (38.1%)	38 (24.5%)	1 (0.6%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	28 (18.1%)								(n/a)			20.8					25.0									$10,637	$2,393	$8,244
Dwight Rich School of the Arts	Public, Magnet	K-8	2600 Hampden Dr	Lansing	48911	Ingham County	Lansing Public School District	No	Yes	No	Yes	(517) 755-1160	562	31	17.9	92.5%	93 (16.5%)	262 (46.6%)	85 (15.1%)	37 (6.6%)	2 (0.4%)	1 (0.2%)	82 (14.6%)	5.6	1454^th of 1488 public elementary schools	2.3%		5.2	1460^th of 1486 public elementary schools	1.7%	6	43.7		8.8	5.9	12.3	7.7	18.3	5.6	5.7	6.0			12.0	14.1	6.0	9.0	$21,030	$5,843	$15,188
Lewton School	Public	PK, KG-8	2000 Lewton Pl	Lansing	48911	Ingham County	Lansing Public School District	No	No	No	Yes	(517) 755-1460	272	19	14.6	70.2%	40 (14.7%)	29 (10.7%)	172 (63.2%)	2 (0.7%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	29 (10.7%)	12.3	1312^th of 1488 public elementary schools	11.8%		8.4	1374^th of 1486 public elementary schools	7.5%	62	69.2	38.5	17.6	18.8				11.8	25.0					61.5		53.9	$18,939	$5,170	$13,769
Holly Park Academy	Public, Charter	K-8	3300 Express Ct	Lansing	48910	Ingham County	Holly Park Academy	Yes	No	No	Yes	(517) 882-9585	478	28	17.0	91.2%	35 (7.3%)	233 (48.7%)	119 (24.9%)	17 (3.6%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	73 (15.3%)	30.9	998^th of 1488 public elementary schools	32.9%		14.5	1253^rd of 1486 public elementary schools	15.7%	255	52.5	20.5	43.4	20.0	34.0	30.4	20.5	45.3	26.0	20.8	19.6	15.9	22.6	27.3	13.0	27.3	$15,078	$2,397	$12,681
Forrest G Averill School	Public	PK, KG-4	3201 Averill Dr	Lansing	48911	Ingham County	Lansing Public School District	No	No	No	Yes	(517) 755-1220	232	19	12.2	90.9%	41 (17.7%)	95 (40.9%)	38 (16.4%)	21 (9.1%)	4 (1.7%)	0 (0.0%)	33 (14.2%)	10.3	1351^st of 1488 public elementary schools	9.2%		7.8	1394^th of 1486 public elementary schools	6.2%	43			18.2	17.5				15.9	10.0								$18,910	$5,778	$13,133
Willow School	Public	PK, KG-5	221 Huron St	Lansing	48915	Ingham County	Lansing Public School District	No	No	No	Yes	(517) 755-1680	273	18	14.9	89.7%	38 (13.9%)	126 (46.2%)	50 (18.3%)	4 (1.5%)	2 (0.7%)	0 (0.0%)	53 (19.4%)	9	1374^th of 1488 public elementary schools	7.7%					(n/a)			10.4	6.4				25.0	8.5								$27,096	$5,854	$21,242
Cavanaugh School	Public	PK, KG-3	300 W Cavanaugh Rd	Lansing	48910	Ingham County	Lansing Public School District	No	No	No	Yes	(517) 755-1250	245	17	14.1	80.8%	55 (22.4%)	78 (31.8%)	62 (25.3%)	7 (2.9%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	43 (17.6%)								(n/a)			41.6					48.1									$19,629	$5,411	$14,218
Lyons School	Public	PK, KG-4	2901 Lyons Ave	Lansing	48910	Ingham County	Lansing Public School District	No	No	No	Yes	(517) 755-1480	242	16	14.9	89.7%	68 (28.1%)	53 (21.9%)	53 (21.9%)	25 (10.3%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	43 (17.8%)	12.8	1304^th of 1488 public elementary schools	12.4%		9.3	1357^th of 1486 public elementary schools	8.7%	53			14.3	26.7				14.3	15.6								$19,240	$4,987	$14,253
Windemere Park Charter Academy	Public, Charter	K-8	3100 W Saginaw St	Lansing	48917	Ingham County	Windemere Park Charter Academy	Yes	No	No	Yes	(517) 327-0700	580	37	15.6	86.4%	73 (12.6%)	201 (34.7%)	164 (28.3%)	14 (2.4%)	2 (0.3%)	1 (0.2%)	125 (21.6%)	50.9	704^th of 1488 public elementary schools	52.7%		47.1	741^st of 1486 public elementary schools	50.1%	37	47.2	13.2	44.4	45.5	44.3	46.8	22.7	47.3	43.9	23.0	27.7	22.7	37.7	34.0	19.7	30.2	$13,720	$1,938	$11,782
Meryl S Colt Early Childhood Education Center	Public	PK-K	4344 W Michigan Ave	Lansing	48917	Eaton County	Waverly Community Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(517) 323-3777	184	22	8.2	73.9%	35 (19.0%)	51 (27.7%)	46 (25.0%)	13 (7.1%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	39 (21.2%)								(n/a)																	$21,032	$3,196	$17,836

Frequently Asked Questions about Cole Academy

What is the racial makeup of Cole Academy?

Students at Cole Academy are 38% African American, 25% Hispanic, 19% White, 18% Two or more races.

What district is Cole Academy in?

Cole Academy

How many students attend Cole Academy?

In the 2024-25 school year, 155 students attended Cole Academy.

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SchoolDigger data sources: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education, the U.S. Census Bureau and the Michigan Department of Education.

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMERS: Not all boundaries are included. We make every effort to ensure that boundaries are up-to-date. But it's important to note that these are approximations and are for general informational purposes only. To verify legal descriptions of boundaries or school locations, contact your local tax assessor's office and/or school district.