Addison Elementary School

Addison Elementary School in Addison, MI, serves 328 students from Pre-K through 5th grade as part of the Addison Community Schools district, a small-town school that has earned a 2-star rating and ranks in the 39th percentile of Michigan elementary schools.

One of the most important things for parents to know is that this school shows a dramatic drop in academic performance as students move into the upper grades. In 3rd grade, students actually perform above state averages—with 50.8% proficient in math and 43.8% in English Language Arts, compared to state averages of 42.9% and 38.2%. However, by 5th grade, only 20% of students are proficient in ELA and just 7.27% in math—less than half the state averages. This pattern has persisted for several years, suggesting a real challenge in 4th and 5th grade that parents should be aware of as their children approach those grades. The school's overall ranking has also fallen significantly from the 62nd percentile in 2022-2023 to the 39th percentile today.

On a positive note, chronic absenteeism has dropped from 30.6% to 22.7%, which is now better than both the district and state averages. When compared to nearby schools, Addison outperforms schools with similar economic challenges like Townsend Elementary School—where 3rd-grade ELA proficiency is just 21.9%—but lags well behind schools in more affluent areas like Columbia Upper Elementary School, where 5th-grade ELA proficiency is 54.5%. The school spends a relatively high $15,989 per student, more than several higher-performing nearby schools, which raises questions about how resources are being allocated. With about 49% of students eligible for free or reduced lunch, the school faces moderate economic challenges, but the sharp 5th-grade decline is the most urgent issue for parents to monitor.