Carrollton Elementary School

Carrollton Elementary School in Saginaw, MI, serves 662 students from Pre-K through 5th grade and is part of the Carrollton Public Schools district, which ranks in the bottom 17th percentile statewide.

Carrollton Elementary faces significant academic challenges, with proficiency rates on state tests well below Michigan averages across all subjects and grade levels. For example, 3rd-grade reading proficiency was just 13.7% compared to the state's 38.2%, and 5th-grade math proficiency was 10.1% versus the state's 32.2%. Chronic absenteeism is also a concern, affecting 33.8% of students—higher than the state average of 27.9%. On a positive note, the school has shown a slight upward trend in its state ranking, improving from the 6th percentile in 2021-2022 to the 15th percentile in recent years. There was also a bright spot in 2022-2023 when 5th-grade reading proficiency reached 40.4%, nearly matching the state average and showing that improvement is possible.

One of the most striking comparisons is with Handley School, located just 3.57 miles away. Despite serving a similar community, Handley ranks in the 98th percentile statewide, with 3rd-grade reading proficiency at 87% versus Carrollton's 13.7%. This dramatic gap suggests that low performance isn't inevitable for schools in the area. Another notable finding is that Carrollton spends a substantial $19,349 per student—far more than Weiss Elementary ($13,512) or North Saginaw Charter Academy ($12,579)—yet those schools achieve better test results. This raises important questions about how effectively resources are being used. Additionally, the school's performance varies significantly by grade and subject, suggesting that student success may depend heavily on the specific teacher or instructional approach in a given classroom rather than a consistent school-wide strategy.