Herrington School

Herrington School is an elementary school in Pontiac, MI, serving 319 students in grades K-6 within the Pontiac City School District. The school currently ranks at the very bottom of Michigan's elementary schools—1,491st out of 1,492 statewide—with proficiency rates in reading and math that are roughly one-sixth of state averages. For example, only about 6-7% of Herrington students are proficient in 4th grade ELA and math, compared to state averages of 41% and 39%, respectively. Even within its own district, Herrington lags significantly behind Rogers School, located just 2.3 miles away, which achieves an 18th percentile ranking and proficiency rates three to five times higher.

The most pressing challenge facing Herrington is a severe chronic absenteeism crisis. Nearly 70% of students miss 10% or more of the school year—a rate 2.5 times the state average and among the highest in Michigan. This means that on any given day, a substantial portion of the classroom is absent, making consistent instruction nearly impossible. The school has shown it can do better: in 2022-2023, Herrington briefly exceeded district averages in both reading and math, and African American students ranked in the 41st percentile statewide. However, those gains were not sustained, and scores have since regressed to their lowest levels ever recorded.

Herrington spends $22,818 per student—more than many dramatically higher-performing nearby schools, including Eastover Elementary in Bloomfield Hills Schools, which spends a similar amount yet ranks in the 82nd percentile just 4 miles away. This stark contrast highlights that the issue is not a lack of funding but rather how resources are used and the overwhelming barriers created by absenteeism. For parents considering this school, the data suggests that addressing the attendance crisis—where two-thirds of students are regularly missing school—would be the single most critical step toward improving outcomes for the children who do attend.