Francis Reh PSA

Francis Reh PSA is an alternative public school academy in Saginaw, MI, serving 505 students from Pre-Kindergarten through 12th grade, where nearly all students (94%) come from low-income households.

This school faces significant challenges with attendance and academics. Chronic absenteeism has remained very high for years, with 57.5% of students missing substantial school time in the 2024-2025 school year—more than double the state average of 27.9%. Test scores are also well below state averages across all subjects and grade levels. For example, only 15.3% of 3rd graders were proficient in English Language Arts compared to 38.2% statewide, and just 14.3% of 4th graders were proficient in math versus 39.4% statewide. The student-to-teacher ratio is also high at 19.8, meaning students may receive less individual attention. However, there is one bright spot: 8th-grade English Language Arts scores have improved steadily from 18.8% proficiency in 2022-2023 to 40.4% in 2024-2025, suggesting that some middle school interventions may be working.

Compared to nearby alternatives, Francis Reh PSA actually appears to be a more stable option for at-risk students. The Success Academy, just 1.89 miles away, has an even higher chronic absenteeism rate (84.7%), a staggering 78.9% dropout rate, and a student-teacher ratio of 33.6. Meanwhile, Bay City Academy Farragut Campus serves a similarly high-poverty population but achieves much better test scores and has a lower absenteeism rate (45.2%), showing that positive outcomes are possible even with economic challenges. Francis Reh PSA spends a substantial $14,496 per student—more than State Street Academy ($12,268) or Bay City Academy ($12,167)—yet results remain low, suggesting that resources may need to be redirected toward attendance initiatives and intensive academic support to make a real difference.