Elms Road Elementary School

Elms Road Elementary School in Swartz Creek, MI, serves 420 students in grades 2 through 5 as part of the Swartz Creek Community Schools district, and it currently holds a 2-star rating with a state ranking in the 30th percentile.

For parents, the most important takeaway is that Elms Road shows a clear split between reading and math. In the most recent school year, 5th-grade English Language Arts proficiency (38.4%) came close to the state average (43.8%), suggesting literacy instruction is relatively solid. However, math is a significant concern—only 17.1% of 5th graders were proficient, compared to the state average of 32.2% and the 26.1% rate at Dieck Elementary School, the district's other grades 2-5 school. Science scores also dropped sharply from 43.7% to 30.8% in one year, falling below the state average. This year-to-year volatility in test scores may indicate inconsistent instructional strategies or varying student needs across cohorts.

Another area of concern is the performance of special education students, who rank in the bottom 5th percentile statewide—a signal that this population may not be receiving adequate support. On a more positive note, chronic absenteeism at Elms Road (21.3%) is better than the district average (27.9%), meaning students are showing up to school. However, when compared to Seymour Elementary School in the neighboring Flushing Community Schools district—which has a 9.5% absenteeism rate and more than double the math proficiency—it's clear that attendance alone isn't driving academic success. For parents considering this school, the key question is whether the district will invest in targeted math interventions and stronger special education services to address these gaps.