Summary:
Zip code 48075 in Southfield, Michigan is served by two elementary schools—Dr. Joseph F. Pollack Academic Center of Excellence, a K-8 charter school, and Morris Adler Elementary School, a K-5 traditional public school—both of which face significant challenges with high poverty rates and academic performance in the bottom 15% of Michigan schools.
For parents comparing the two, Morris Adler generally outperforms Pollack Academic Center in most subjects and grade levels, despite serving a smaller student body (355 vs. 520 students) and having a higher student-teacher ratio (19.7:1 vs. 16.2:1). Morris Adler also benefits from substantially higher per-student spending ($18,076 vs. $13,021) and a lower free/reduced lunch rate (65.6% vs. 82.3%). However, both schools struggle mightily with chronic absenteeism—49% at Pollack and 53.2% at Morris Adler, nearly double the state average of 27.9%—which likely undermines academic progress. In 2025-2026 state rankings, Morris Adler placed in the 15th percentile while Pollack ranked in the 9th percentile, with Morris Adler earning 1 star compared to Pollack's 0 stars.
The most striking finding is the dramatic math proficiency collapse at Morris Adler, where proficiency drops from 31.3% in 3rd grade to just 4.35% by 5th grade—an 87% decline that suggests systemic issues with upper-elementary math instruction. Meanwhile, Pollack Academic Center shows a wide gap between 8th grade ELA proficiency (54.8%, approaching the state average) and 8th grade math (13.7%), indicating strong literacy development but severe struggles with quantitative reasoning. Both schools are part of districts with low state rankings—Southfield Public School District ranks in the 35th percentile while Pollack's district ranks in the 12th—and parents should know that addressing chronic absenteeism and providing targeted math intervention may be more impactful than simply increasing funding.
Thank you for your feedback!