Childs Elementary School

Childs Elementary School in Ypsilanti, MI, serves 493 students in Pre-K through 5th grade as part of the Lincoln Consolidated School District, where roughly 53% of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch.

Childs shows a mixed academic picture when compared to its district peers. In 4th grade, the school stands out: 46.3% of students are proficient in ELA, which beats both Bishop Elementary School (27.8%) and Brick Elementary School (23.7%), and even tops the state average of 41.3%. Fourth-grade math tells a similar story, with Childs leading the district at 35.8% proficiency. However, this success doesn't carry into other grades. Third-grade ELA proficiency sits at just 19.5%, roughly half the state average, and 5th-grade math has dropped from 25.3% to 15% over the past two years. This suggests a particularly strong 4th-grade cohort or instructional approach that could be worth studying and replicating in other grades.

On the positive side, Childs has the lowest chronic absenteeism rate among the three Lincoln elementary schools at 28.3%, nearly matching the state average and well below Brick's 41.2%. The school also spends $17,900 per student, higher than the state average. However, a comparison with South Arbor Charter Academy, just 3.44 miles away, highlights significant disparities—South Arbor ranks in the 96th percentile statewide and achieves proficiency rates 2-3 times higher, though it serves a more affluent population. East Arbor Charter Academy, located only 1.25 miles away, offers a more comparable peer with similar academic challenges. For parents considering Childs, the school's strengths in 4th grade and attendance are encouraging, but the inconsistent performance across grade levels and subgroups warrants a closer look at how the school supports students as they advance.