Vandenberg Elementary School

Vandenberg Elementary School in Redford, MI, is a small school serving 280 students from Pre-K through 5th grade within the South Redford School District, where a large majority of families (over 80%) qualify for free or reduced lunch.

While the school's overall state ranking has historically been in the bottom quarter of Michigan elementary schools, there are some encouraging signs worth noting. In the most recent testing year, 5th graders achieved a 42.9% proficiency rate in English Language Arts—a dramatic jump from the prior year's 18.5% and nearly matching the state average. The school also shows a notable strength in serving its African American students, who ranked in the 51st percentile statewide, a significant outlier compared to the school's overall 1-star rating. Additionally, 5th graders outperformed their district peers in both Science and Social Studies. However, math proficiency remains a critical concern, with only 11.9% of 5th graders meeting state standards.

One of the biggest challenges facing Vandenberg is chronic absenteeism—37.2% of students missed significant school time, far above the state average of 27.9%. This issue has persisted for years and likely contributes to inconsistent test scores across grades and subjects. It's also worth noting that the school spends a substantial $19,777 per student, yet nearby schools in the Crestwood School District—like Highview Elementary and Hillcrest Elementary, just over a mile away—achieve much higher results despite similar economic challenges. For example, 3rd-grade math proficiency at Vandenberg is 19.1%, compared to 58.9% at Highview. This contrast suggests that improvement is possible and that families may want to explore what those higher-performing neighboring schools are doing differently.