North AdamsJerome Elementary School

North AdamsJerome Elementary School is a small, rural school in North Adams, MI, serving 138 students from Pre-K through 5th grade as the sole school in the North Adams-Jerome Public Schools district.

For parents, the most important thing to know is that this school faces significant challenges, but it also has some notable strengths. Academically, the school has consistently ranked in the bottom quarter of Michigan elementary schools over the past decade, with proficiency rates well below state averages. For example, 5th-grade reading proficiency was just 15% compared to the state average of 43.8%. However, there's a bright spot: 4th-grade reading proficiency reached 40% in the most recent school year, nearly matching the state average of 41.3%. This suggests that a particular teacher or grade-level approach may be making a real difference for students at that age. The school also maintains a favorable student-teacher ratio of 13:1, which is better than many nearby schools like HanoverHorton Elementary (18.5:1) and Reynolds Elementary (17.6:1), meaning your child would likely receive more individual attention.

The most pressing concern is chronic absenteeism. In the 2024-2025 school year, 36% of students were chronically absent—meaning they missed 10% or more of school days—compared to the state average of 27.9%. This rate is dramatically higher than nearby HanoverHorton Elementary (14.8%) and Williams Elementary (11.6%). Interestingly, the school spends a relatively high $14,606 per student—more than higher-performing neighbors like Lincoln Elementary ($13,284)—which suggests that resources alone aren't driving outcomes. Test scores also fluctuate significantly from year to year due to small class sizes, making it hard to spot clear trends. If you're considering this school, it's worth asking about attendance support programs and what's working in the 4th-grade classroom.