Paris Ridge Elementary

Paris Ridge Elementary is a K-4 public school in Caledonia, MI, serving 303 students as part of the highly-rated Caledonia Community Schools district, which ranks in the 98th percentile statewide.

Paris Ridge is a solid, high-achieving school with a welcoming climate—its chronic absenteeism rate of just 10.4% is less than half the district average and far below the state average, a strong sign that kids enjoy coming to school. The school has consistently earned 4- and 5-star ratings over the past decade, and its overall state ranking has climbed from the 83rd to the 90th percentile in recent years. However, the most recent data shows a notable dip: 3rd-grade reading proficiency fell sharply from 77.8% to 55.3% in one year, which appears to have driven a slight drop in the school's overall state ranking. Meanwhile, 4th-grade scores remained much stronger (63% ELA, 72.2% math), suggesting a possible cohort difference or an area of focus for the school. It's also worth noting that Paris Ridge's performance with students from lower-income families has been inconsistent, though it made a dramatic leap to the 95th percentile in the latest year—a promising sign that new efforts may be taking hold.

For context, Paris Ridge holds its own against nearby schools but faces stiff competition. Its district peers—Dutton Elementary School, Emmons Lake Elementary School, and Caledonia Elementary School—all rank in the 96th-98th percentile, slightly ahead of Paris Ridge's 90th. Just five miles away, Countryside Elementary School in Byron Center Public Schools serves a similar demographic but posts dramatically higher test scores (94% 4th-grade math proficiency vs. Paris Ridge's 72%), offering a nearby benchmark for potential growth. Overall, Paris Ridge is a strong, caring school with excellent attendance—the key question for parents is whether the recent 3rd-grade reading dip is a temporary blip or a trend the school will actively address.