Blair Moody Elementary School

Blair Moody Elementary School in Taylor, MI, serves 317 students in Kindergarten through 5th grade and is part of the Taylor School District, a district facing significant economic challenges with 79% of students eligible for free or reduced lunch.

One of the most striking findings is that Blair Moody achieves exceptional results with its African American students, ranking in the 83rd percentile statewide for this group—a stark contrast to its overall ranking in the 30th percentile. This suggests the school has developed effective strategies for supporting this specific population, even as overall test scores remain in the bottom third of Michigan schools. The school also spends significantly more per student than nearby districts—$23,355 annually compared to roughly $15,000 at higher-performing Allen Park Public Schools like Arno Elementary—yet this higher investment does not translate into higher overall proficiency rates. In fact, Arno students achieve ELA and Math proficiency rates that are often 30-40 percentage points higher, highlighting a spending-versus-performance paradox that parents may find puzzling.

There is encouraging news on attendance: chronic absenteeism has dropped dramatically from 62.3% in 2021-2022 to 39.8% in 2024-2025, bringing the school much closer to the state average of 27.9%. Additionally, the current 3rd-grade class shows real promise, with 44.1% proficiency in both ELA and Math—more than double the district average and slightly above the state average. However, scores fluctuate significantly year to year, and science proficiency remains a clear weakness, with only 12.8% of 5th graders proficient compared to the 40% state average. For parents, this school offers a mixed picture: strong support for African American students, improving attendance, and a standout 3rd-grade cohort, but overall academic performance that lags behind neighboring districts like Allen Park Public Schools.