Summary
Palmer School is an elementary school located in Grand Rapids, Michigan, serving grades PK-5 with a total enrollment of 184 students. The school is part of the Grand Rapids Public Schools district, which is ranked 462 out of 613 districts in Michigan and has a 1-star rating from SchoolDigger. Palmer School has consistently ranked in the bottom quarter of Michigan elementary schools, with a ranking between 1024 and 1283 out of around 1,500 schools over the past 10 years, and a 1-star rating from SchoolDigger.
Palmer School faces significant challenges, particularly with regards to chronic absenteeism, academic achievement, and serving its predominantly disadvantaged student population. The school has had very high chronic absenteeism rates, ranging from 29.5% to 42.0% over the past few years, which is significantly higher than the state and district averages. Additionally, Palmer School's academic performance, as measured by M-Step test scores, is well below state and district averages across all grade levels and subject areas. For example, in 2024-2025, only 13.5% of 3rd graders were proficient in English Language Arts, compared to 38.9% statewide and 19.6% in the district.
When comparing Palmer School to other nearby schools in the Grand Rapids Public Schools district, it becomes clear that Palmer is one of the lowest-performing schools in the area. For instance, North Park Montessori Academy, which is just 2.11 miles away, significantly outperforms Palmer School on academic measures, with much higher proficiency rates in English Language Arts and Math. Despite the school's poor performance, Palmer School spends a relatively high amount per student, with spending ranging from $16,845 to $19,536 per student over the past few years, suggesting that the issue may not be a lack of resources, but rather how those resources are being utilized to support student learning and achievement.
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