Muskegon Montessori Academy for Environmental Change

Muskegon Montessori Academy for Environmental Change is the sole public charter school serving grades PK-8 in the Muskegon area, with 166 students enrolled. The school has struggled academically, ranking in the bottom quarter of Michigan elementary schools and receiving low ratings from SchoolDigger, despite serving a diverse student population with high poverty rates.

Muskegon Montessori Academy for Environmental Change has a relatively diverse student body, with 56.02% White, 16.87% African American, 14.46% Hispanic, and 12.05% two or more races. However, the school's academic performance on state assessments is well below the Michigan state average across grade levels and subject areas. Only 20% of 3rd graders, 37.5% of 4th graders, 38.46% of 5th graders, and 33.3% of 6th graders are proficient in English Language Arts, while just 18.75% of 4th graders and 14.29% of 6th graders are proficient in Math.

The school also faces challenges with high chronic absenteeism rates of 26.1% and a student population where 75.3% qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. Despite spending $10,091 per student, which is a relatively high amount, the academic results do not seem to reflect this level of funding. Addressing the root causes of the low academic performance, high absenteeism, and effective resource allocation will be crucial for Muskegon Montessori Academy for Environmental Change to improve and better serve its diverse student population.