Fisher Elementary School

Fisher Elementary School in Redford, MI, serves 341 students in grades PK-5 and is part of the South Redford School District, where nearly 79% of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch.

Fisher faces real academic challenges, ranking in the bottom quartile of Michigan elementary schools overall. However, the picture is more nuanced than a single star rating suggests. The school shows a notable strength in early literacy: 32.6% of 3rd graders were proficient in English Language Arts, which is above the district average and close to the state average. This advantage fades by 4th and 5th grades, though, suggesting that sustained support is needed as students advance. Math is a bigger concern, with only 12.1% of 5th graders proficient compared to 32.2% statewide—a gap that widens significantly from 3rd to 5th grade. Chronic absenteeism is also a major hurdle, with 39.5% of students missing too much school, though this is an improvement from a post-pandemic high of 56.3%.

One of the most striking findings is the contrast with schools just a couple of miles away. Hillcrest Elementary School in the Crestwood School District serves a similar percentage of low-income students (83%) yet ranks in the 72nd percentile with much higher ELA proficiency rates. This suggests that poverty alone doesn't determine outcomes. Fisher does outperform nearby charter options like Washington-Parks Academy and Global Heights Academy, both of which rank in the 5th percentile. The school also spends more per student ($17,444) than higher-performing Cleveland Elementary School in Livonia, indicating that resources alone aren't the issue. On a positive note, Fisher has shown recent improvement in 3rd-grade scores and a declining absenteeism rate, suggesting recovery efforts may be taking hold.