Roosevelt Elementary School

Roosevelt Elementary School in Stevensville, MI, is a top-performing PK-5 school with 412 students, nestled in the highly-rated Lakeshore School District (Berrien), which ranks in the 90th percentile statewide.

Roosevelt stands out as the highest-ranked elementary school in its district, earning a 4-star rating for five consecutive years and ranking in the 87th percentile of Michigan elementary schools. What truly sets it apart is its remarkable academic growth model: students entering 3rd grade with 50% proficiency in English Language Arts leap to 75.4% proficiency by 5th grade, with similar gains in math (from 52.7% to 63.1%). This upward trajectory outpaces both district and state averages by wide margins and suggests the school excels at building on foundational skills. The school also shines in science and social studies, with 5th-grade proficiency rates (63.1% and 44.6%, respectively) far exceeding state averages. Perhaps most telling is the school's exceptionally low chronic absenteeism rate of just 9.5%—less than half the state average of 27.9%—which strongly correlates with its academic success. Even more impressive, Roosevelt's low-income students perform in the 75th percentile statewide, demonstrating the school effectively supports all learners regardless of background.

Compared to nearby schools, Roosevelt's efficiency is notable. It spends less per student ($14,298) than Hollywood Elementary ($16,319) yet achieves better outcomes, and it dramatically outperforms schools in the neighboring Benton Harbor Area Schools district, where proficiency rates often fall in the single digits. While Lincoln School in St. Joseph shows declining math scores from 3rd to 5th grade, Roosevelt's scores climb steadily. After a slight dip during the pandemic, the school has recovered strongly, with chronic absenteeism dropping from a high of 25.9% to its current low—clear evidence that Roosevelt has successfully navigated post-pandemic challenges and is on a strong upward trajectory.