Hilbert Elementary School

Hilbert Elementary School in Redford, MI, serves 397 students from Pre-K through 6th grade and is part of the Redford Union Schools District No. 1, a district that currently ranks in the 11th percentile statewide.

One of the most striking things about Hilbert is its spending. At $24,210 per student, Hilbert spends significantly more than many nearby schools, including the higher-performing Roosevelt Elementary School ($19,656) and Jane Addams Elementary School ($18,550), and nearly double that of American Montessori Academy Elementary ($13,244). Despite this high level of investment, the school's academic results remain low, with a 1-star rating and a state percentile rank of 13th. This suggests the challenges Hilbert faces are not primarily about a lack of funding. The student body also faces significant economic challenges, with over 80% of students qualifying for free or reduced lunch, a factor that correlates with lower test scores across schools in the area.

There are, however, some encouraging signs. Chronic absenteeism, while still high at 49.7%, has dropped dramatically from 60.2% the previous year—a significant improvement that now puts Hilbert below the district average of 54.5%. Additionally, 6th-grade students showed a remarkable jump in English Language Arts proficiency, reaching 28.6% in 2024-2025, up from just 8.47% the year before and well above the district average of 20.7%. This positive outlier suggests that targeted interventions may be working for that grade level. While Hilbert's overall ranking is low, it is on an upward trajectory, improving from the 11th to the 13th percentile. For parents, this means a school that is investing heavily in its students and showing early signs of progress, even as it continues to face significant hurdles related to poverty and academic achievement.