Summary
Ada Elementary School in Ada, MI, is a small, highly regarded PK-4 school with 293 students, part of the top-ranked Forest Hills Public Schools district.
For parents, the headline is simple: this school delivers exceptional, consistent academic results. Ada Elementary has ranked in the top 2% of all Michigan elementary schools for a full decade, never dropping below the 96th percentile. In the most recent school year, roughly 8 out of 10 third and fourth graders were proficient in both reading and math—a rate that is nearly double the state average. The school also boasts very low chronic absenteeism (just 5.1% compared to 29.5% statewide), meaning children are in class and ready to learn. While the community is affluent, with only about 11% of students qualifying for free or reduced lunch, the school's performance is noteworthy even among its high-achieving peers. For instance, it consistently outperforms its near neighbor, Ada Vista Elementary School, which is just a tenth of a mile away, by significant margins in both reading and math.
One point of interest for families is the school's spending. At $19,522 per student, Ada Elementary spends considerably more than other top-tier schools in the area. For example, Breton Downs School in East Grand Rapids achieves similar results while spending about $12,400 per student, and Knapp Forest Elementary School in the same district ranks even higher at a lower cost. This higher spending, paired with a favorable student-teacher ratio of about 12:1, suggests a deep investment in resources, though it raises a question about efficiency. Additionally, while both boys and girls perform exceptionally well, female students have consistently ranked higher statewide than their male counterparts over the past three years. Overall, Ada Elementary offers a proven track record of academic excellence and a stable, supportive environment, making it a standout choice for families in the area.
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