Bedford School

Bedford School is an elementary school in Dearborn Heights, MI, serving 389 students in grades PK-5 within the Dearborn Heights School District #7, where a large majority of students (82-89%) qualify for free and reduced lunch.

Bedford School has shown a clear upward trend in recent years, climbing from the 17th percentile statewide in 2021-2022 to the 40th percentile in 2025-2026. The school's most remarkable achievement is its work with African American students, who rank in the 88th percentile statewide for academic growth and performance—a standout result that far exceeds the school's overall ranking. Bedford is also the clear academic leader within its own district, ranking 898th in the state compared to Pardee School (1,229th) and Polk Elementary (1,264th). A particularly bright spot is 3rd-grade math, where 55.4% of students are proficient—nearly double the district average and well above the state average of 42.9%.

Despite these strengths, Bedford faces significant challenges. Chronic absenteeism affects 45.3% of students, far exceeding the state average of 27.9%, and this remains a major barrier to learning. There is also a notable gender gap, with female students ranking in the 48th percentile while male students rank in the 24th percentile—a disparity that has widened considerably since 2023-2024. Additionally, academic performance declines sharply as students advance: math proficiency drops from 55.4% in 3rd grade to just 18.6% by 5th grade. While Bedford spends more per student ($20,067) than nearby Arno Elementary School in Allen Park Public Schools ($15,396) and has a better student-teacher ratio, the high-poverty and high-absenteeism environment makes progress harder to sustain. Still, the school's recent upward trajectory suggests its strategies are beginning to work, and with continued focus on attendance and upper-grade support, Bedford has real momentum for further improvement.