Summary
Cardinal Elementary is an alternative public magnet school located in Muskegon, Michigan, serving grades K-9 with a total enrollment of 644 students. The school is part of the Orchard View Schools district, which is ranked 522 out of 613 districts in Michigan and has a 1-star rating from SchoolDigger.
Cardinal Elementary faces significant challenges, including consistently high chronic absenteeism rates, ranging from 22.4% to 41.5% over the past few years, which is significantly higher than the state average. The school's academic performance, as measured by M-Step test scores, is also significantly below the state averages across all grade levels and subject areas. For example, in 2024-2025, the school's proficiency rates in English Language Arts, Math, Science, and Social Studies are all below 26%, while the state averages range from 29.8% to 44.4%. Additionally, Cardinal Elementary has a very high percentage of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch, ranging from 81.97% to 86.65% over the past few years, indicating that the school serves a predominantly economically disadvantaged student population.
While Cardinal Elementary has a relatively high per-student spending, ranging from $12,998 to $16,109 over the past few years, the academic performance data suggests that these resources may not be effectively translating into improved student outcomes. Nearby schools, such as Grand Haven Cyber School, White Lake Area Community Education, Oakridge Middle School, Lakeshore Learning Center, and Wesley School, have varying performance and demographic characteristics, but generally perform better than Cardinal Elementary. Addressing the unique factors contributing to the school's underperformance and implementing targeted interventions could be crucial in helping Cardinal Elementary and its students achieve greater success.
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