Madison-Carver Academy

The MadisonCarver Academy, the sole elementary public charter school serving grades K-8 in the Madison-Carver Academy district in Detroit, Michigan, is struggling to provide a high-quality education for its 421 students. The school's performance on standardized tests, such as the M-Step and PSAT, is significantly below the state averages across multiple grade levels and subject areas, with proficiency rates ranging from as low as 6.52% in 5th grade Social Studies to 35.5% in 7th grade English Language Arts.

The school's chronic absenteeism rate is also a major concern, standing at an alarmingly high 41.9% for the 2022-2023 school year. This high rate of chronic absenteeism is often linked to lower academic achievement, further exacerbating the school's struggles. Additionally, the school's student-teacher ratio of 28:1 is on the higher end, which may impact the level of individual attention and support students receive.

While the school spends $18,271 per student, which is higher than the state average, the data does not indicate that these funds are being effectively utilized to support student learning and achievement. The school's performance has declined over the past few years, with its statewide ranking dropping from 1239 out of 1344 Michigan elementary schools in 2021-2022 to 1342 out of 1486 in 2023-2024. This concerning trend suggests that the school may need to implement significant changes and interventions to improve student outcomes and provide a high-quality education for its predominantly African American student population, all of whom are eligible for free or reduced-price lunch.