George Washington Carver Middle School

George Washington Carver Middle School is a small public school in Highland Park, MI, serving 155 students in grades 5 through 8, where nearly all families (99%) qualify for free or reduced lunch, reflecting the extreme economic challenges in the surrounding community.

This school stands out for its very small size—averaging only about 39 students per grade—which allows for a favorable student-teacher ratio of 12.8:1, better than many nearby schools. However, academic performance remains a significant concern. In the most recent school year, Carver ranked in the bottom 5th percentile of Michigan middle schools, a sharp drop from the prior year's 15th percentile ranking. Test scores show that while 8th grade students demonstrated relative strength in English Language Arts (35.5% proficient on the PSAT), 5th and 7th grade ELA proficiency rates were extremely low (11.8% and 8.6%, respectively). When compared to nearby schools serving similar populations, the picture is mixed: Blackwell Institute, located just 5 miles away in Detroit, serves a similarly high-poverty student body but achieves dramatically better results, ranking in the 43rd percentile statewide with 8th grade ELA proficiency at 46.7%. Meanwhile, PD Chatterton Middle School and Hazel Park Junior High School also outperform Carver in 8th grade ELA, though Carver's attendance has improved significantly.

There are encouraging signs worth noting. Chronic absenteeism has fallen dramatically from a staggering 80.8% in 2020-2021 to 35.8% in 2024-2025—a 45-point improvement that now actually beats several nearby schools like Greenfield Union ElementaryMiddle School (64.5%) and University Preparatory Middle School (58.1%). However, funding disparities remain a concern. The George Washington Carver Academy district reports spending of just $12,883 per student (2021-2022), well below the $34,014 that Detroit Public Schools Community District invests at Blackwell Institute. This resource gap may help explain why Carver, despite its smaller class sizes and improving attendance, continues to struggle academically. For parents, this school offers a close-knit environment with dedicated attention, but families should be aware that significant academic challenges remain and that the school will likely need substantial additional support to improve outcomes.