Uplift Michigan Academy

Uplift Michigan Academy is an alternative public charter virtual school located in Stephenson, Michigan, serving grades K-12 with a total enrollment of 645 students. While the school's unique focus on providing a virtual learning environment aims to meet the needs of its students, it faces some significant challenges in terms of student outcomes.

Uplift Michigan Academy has had lower graduation rates, ranging from 70.0% to 82.8% over the past few years, compared to the state average of around 80%. The school also has higher dropout rates, ranging from 7.6% to 17.1%, and significantly higher chronic absenteeism rates, ranging from 29.5% to 38.5%, compared to state averages. Academically, the school's test scores are consistently lower than the state averages across various subjects and grade levels, with projected proficiency rates in English Language Arts and Math around 12-20%, compared to the state averages of 38-44% in 2024-2025. The school's high percentage of students (80.31%) receiving free or reduced-price lunch suggests a high level of economic disadvantage among its student population.

In comparison, nearby schools such as Menominee Independent School District (ISD) Special Education and Carney-Nadeau Public School have generally higher graduation rates, lower dropout rates, and better test scores. The high student-teacher ratio at Uplift Michigan Academy, ranging from 22 to 29.7 students per teacher, may also contribute to the school's challenges in supporting student success. As an alternative public charter virtual school, Uplift Michigan Academy may face unique challenges in engaging and supporting students in a remote learning environment, which could be an area for further investigation and targeted interventions to improve student outcomes.