Maplewood School

Maplewood School is an elementary school in Vermontville, MI, serving 267 students in grades 3 through 6 as part of the Maple Valley Schools district.

Maplewood faces significant academic challenges, with proficiency rates on state tests consistently below Michigan averages across all subjects and grade levels. For example, in the most recent school year, 4th-grade English Language Arts proficiency was 18.9% compared to the state average of 43.8%, and math proficiency rates were roughly half of state averages. The school has earned a 1-star rating and ranks in the 29th percentile of Michigan elementary schools. Over 61% of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, reflecting a high level of economic disadvantage. A stark contrast can be seen just 12 miles away in the Hastings Area School District, where Star Elementary School and Southeastern Elementary School post significantly higher proficiency rates—for instance, 3rd-grade ELA proficiency at Star Elementary is 55.1% versus Maplewood's 21.1%.

There are some positive signs worth noting. Maplewood's chronic absenteeism rate has improved dramatically, dropping from 39.4% in 2021-2022 to 14.4% in 2024-2025—far better than the district rate of 24.2% and the state rate of 27.9%. Additionally, 6th-grade students show a narrower gap compared to state averages than younger grades, suggesting the school may be more effective as students progress. The school also spends less per student ($13,950) than nearby Fuller Street Elementary ($16,681) and Bellevue Elementary ($17,011). However, math proficiency in the middle grades remains volatile, and the school particularly struggles with economically disadvantaged students. While attendance improvements are encouraging, they have not yet translated into higher academic rankings, indicating that additional academic support is crucial for improving student outcomes.