Cumberland School

Cumberland School is an elementary school (PK-5) in Lansing, MI, serving 308 students within the Lansing Public School District, where nearly 9 in 10 students qualify for free or reduced lunch.

Cumberland stands out as a bright spot within its district. While the school's overall state ranking is modest (36th percentile), it consistently outperforms the district average by a wide margin. For example, 3rd-grade math proficiency is 48.9% at Cumberland, compared to just 25.4% district-wide, and 5th-grade reading proficiency is 38.3% versus 20.3%. This pattern holds across nearly every subject and grade level, making Cumberland one of the stronger elementary options in the district. The school is particularly effective with specific groups of students, earning a 74th percentile ranking statewide for its African American students and a 72nd percentile for English Language Learners—both well above what you'd expect given the school's overall ranking. Cumberland also spends significantly more per student ($22,109) than nearby schools like Pattengill School ($18,089) or Gier Park School ($19,792), and maintains a favorable student-teacher ratio of 14.4:1.

One of the most encouraging trends is the school's recovery from the pandemic. Chronic absenteeism, which spiked to over 94% in 2021-2022, has dropped dramatically to 38.6%—still high, but far better than the district average of 52.8% and much lower than nearby Willow School (64.6%). This improvement coincides with a steady climb in state rankings. However, there is a notable gap between male and female students, with girls performing significantly better on state tests. While Cumberland's results don't match the higher-ranked Windemere Park Charter Academy just a mile away, its strong performance with specific student subgroups and its clear edge over neighboring district schools suggest that school-level leadership and targeted resources are making a real difference for families in this community.