McGrath Elementary School

McGrath Elementary School in Grand Blanc, MI, serves 380 students in grades 2 through 5 and is part of the highly-rated Grand Blanc Community Schools district, though the school itself has historically struggled to match its district's overall success.

For parents, the most important takeaway is that McGrath has shown significant improvement in the most recent school year. After three years ranked in the bottom quarter of Michigan schools, McGrath jumped to the 43rd percentile in 2025-2026, earning a 2-star rating. This turnaround is especially visible in 3rd-grade reading, where proficiency more than doubled from roughly 22% to 43% in one year. However, the school still trails its district peers considerably. For example, in 5th-grade math, only about 14% of McGrath students are proficient, compared to 43% district-wide. Nearby Indian Hill Elementary, just over two miles away, posts dramatically higher scores in science (57% vs. 39%) and social studies (61% vs. 27%).

Two other factors stand out. First, chronic absenteeism is a serious concern—nearly 30% of McGrath students miss too many school days, far exceeding the district average of 24% and much higher than Indian Hill's 17%. Second, McGrath serves a higher-needs population, with 68% of students qualifying for free or reduced lunch, compared to 45% at Indian Hill and 46% at Reid Elementary. Notably, McGrath spends more per student ($14,651) than higher-performing peers like Brendel Elementary ($13,723), suggesting resources alone aren't the issue. The persistent weakness in upper-elementary math remains the most critical area for improvement, but the recent gains in reading offer genuine hope that targeted interventions are beginning to work.