Crescent Academy MiddleHigh School

Crescent Academy MiddleHigh School is a small charter school in Southfield, MI, serving just 145 students in grades 7 through 11, where nearly all students come from economically disadvantaged backgrounds.

The most pressing issue at this school is chronic absenteeism. For the 2024-2025 school year, a staggering 70.1% of students were chronically absent—meaning they missed a significant amount of school. This rate is more than double the state average of 27.9% and has remained above 49% for the past four years. This attendance crisis likely fuels the school's academic struggles. Test scores are consistently far below state averages across all subjects. For example, only 13.8% of 8th graders were proficient in Science, compared to 41.1% statewide, and Social Studies proficiency was just 19% versus the state's 47%. Math scores are especially concerning, with proficiency rates around 5-6% for 6th and 7th graders in a recent year, compared to state averages above 30%.

There are a few bright spots worth noting. English Language Arts scores have shown steady improvement, with 8th-grade PSAT proficiency rising from 22.9% to 43.1% over two years—a sign that literacy interventions may be working. The school also offers a small, intimate environment with a student-teacher ratio of about 17:1. However, the school spends a notably high amount per student—around $25,700 in a recent year—without corresponding academic results, raising questions about how resources are being used. With no other schools within 20 miles, families in this area have limited public school options. While the Crescent Academy district faces similar challenges, this school's absenteeism rate is even higher than the district's overall rate, suggesting its specific student population faces particularly significant barriers to consistent attendance and academic success.