McIntyre Elementary School

McIntyre Elementary School is a small K-5 school in Southfield, MI, serving 162 students within the Southfield Public School District, where about 59% of students qualify for free or reduced lunch.

McIntyre has shown a remarkable turnaround recently. After a tough 2024-2025 school year, the school jumped from the 24th to the 42nd percentile statewide in 2025-2026—an 18-point improvement. The most impressive gains came in 3rd-grade English Language Arts, where proficiency surged from 20.9% to 57.9%, far exceeding both district (35.1%) and state (38.2%) averages. The school also stands out for its success with its African American students, earning an 83rd percentile ranking for this group—a 4-star rating that outpaces the school's overall performance and most nearby schools. This suggests that certain instructional approaches are working particularly well for these students.

However, there are challenges. Chronic absenteeism sits at 43.0%, which is high compared to the state average of 27.9%, though notably lower than peer schools like Thompson K8 International Academy (52.7%) and Alice M Birney K8 School (50.7%). The school also shows a concerning drop-off in upper elementary grades—5th-grade ELA proficiency falls to 34.8%, below district and state averages, and 5th-grade science proficiency is just 13.04% compared to 40% statewide. Additionally, McIntyre's small enrollment means performance can swing significantly from year to year. On the positive side, the school spends $25,803 per student—the highest among comparable schools—and maintains a favorable student-teacher ratio of 13.9, providing substantial resources to address these challenges. While University Elementary School Academy, just 0.37 miles away, ranks in the 90th percentile with lower absenteeism, McIntyre's recent gains and targeted successes suggest a school finding ways to make progress despite significant obstacles.