Lincoln Elementary School

Lincoln Elementary School in Warren, MI, is a K-5 school in the Van Dyke Public Schools district, serving 378 students in an area where nearly all families (about 98%) qualify for free or reduced lunch.

Lincoln Elementary faces significant challenges. Its academic performance ranks in the bottom 10% of elementary schools statewide, and test scores are well below district and state averages in most subjects and grades. One of the biggest concerns is chronic absenteeism—over half of students (55%) miss enough school to be considered chronically absent, which is nearly double the state average and much higher than nearby McKinley Elementary School (49%) or Marjorie Carlson Elementary School (47%). This attendance gap is a major reason Lincoln lags behind its peers. For example, Marjorie Carlson Elementary, which has a similar high-poverty population, ranks much higher academically (27th percentile vs. Lincoln’s 8th), showing that progress is possible even in challenging circumstances.

There are some bright spots worth noting. In the 2022-2023 school year, Lincoln’s 5th graders achieved a 40.5% ELA proficiency rate—higher than the district average and a standout result for a school with such high poverty. Additionally, African American students at Lincoln performed relatively better than other subgroups, ranking in the 15th percentile statewide. The school also spends more per student ($20,302) than many nearby schools, including May V Peck Elementary School ($15,074), yet outcomes remain low. Test scores also swing widely from year to year, suggesting inconsistent instruction or high student mobility. For parents considering Lincoln, the most urgent issue is attendance—addressing the 55% chronic absenteeism rate would likely be the single most effective step toward improving learning for all students.