Gardner International School

Gardner International School is a large public school in Lansing, MI, serving 874 students from Pre-K through 8th grade within the Lansing Public School District, where over 88% of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch.

Gardner faces significant academic challenges, with state test scores well below state averages in most subjects. However, there are encouraging signs of progress. The school's overall state ranking has climbed from the 2nd percentile to the 12th percentile over the past few years, and chronic absenteeism has dropped dramatically from 91% to 36%—a positive trend that often precedes academic gains. One notable strength is upper elementary English Language Arts, where Gardner's 4th through 7th grade proficiency rates actually exceed the district average. The school also shows a strong bright spot in 8th grade Social Studies, with a 28.7% proficiency rate that beats the district average. Mathematics remains the most urgent area of need, with proficiency rates in grades 5-7 hovering in the single digits—less than half the district average and far below the state rate of 33%.

Compared to nearby schools, Gardner stands out for its size and its upward trajectory. While neighbors like Attwood School and North School have remained stagnant in the low single digits of state rankings, Gardner is climbing. The contrast with Cavanaugh School, located just 0.6 miles away, is striking—Cavanaugh ranks in the 73rd percentile with 3rd-grade reading and math proficiency rates above 56%, more than triple Gardner's rates, despite serving a similar demographic. Gardner's per-student spending of $19,576 is also higher than higher-performing nearby charters like Holly Park Academy ($15,781) and Cole Academy ($10,638). This suggests the school has resources to work with, and the recent improvements in attendance and state ranking indicate that efforts to turn things around may be gaining momentum.