Momentum Academy

Momentum Academy is a small public charter school in Waterford, MI, serving 219 students in grades PK through 8, where nearly 9 out of 10 students (87.67%) qualify for free or reduced lunch—a rate far higher than most neighboring schools.

The most pressing challenge at Momentum Academy is chronic absenteeism. In the 2024-2025 school year, 48.4% of students were chronically absent—nearly double the state average of 27.9% and more than triple the rates at nearby Haviland Elementary School (24.3%) and Knudsen Elementary School (14.6%). This pattern has persisted for years, with rates ranging from 43.9% to 61.7% over the past five years. Academically, the school ranks in the bottom 12% of Michigan elementary schools, with proficiency rates typically between 10-25% in core subjects. However, there are bright spots: 52% of 8th graders scored proficient on the PSAT English Language Arts exam—close to the state average—and the school performs relatively well with English Language Learners, ranking in the 39th percentile for that subgroup.

Despite serving a high-need population, Momentum Academy spends $15,169 per student—significantly less than comparable schools like Whitman Elementary School in Pontiac ($25,349) or Alcott School ($29,641), yet achieves similar or slightly better outcomes. The school maintains a reasonable student-teacher ratio of 14.6:1. For parents considering this school, the data suggests that attendance is the single most important factor—students who consistently show up, particularly those who persist into middle school, show meaningful academic gains. The school's small size means individual cohorts can vary significantly year to year, making it important to look at multi-year trends rather than any single year's results.