Elementary Schools in Saginaw School District of the City of

The Saginaw School District of the City of Saginaw, Michigan, is home to 10 elementary schools serving students from diverse backgrounds. While the district faces significant challenges, including low academic performance and high chronic absenteeism rates, two standout magnet schools, Handley School and Arthur Eddy Academy, demonstrate that high-quality education is possible even in this underserved area.

Handley School consistently ranks among the top elementary schools in Michigan, with exceptional academic performance and a relatively low chronic absenteeism rate. In contrast, many of the other district schools struggle, with proficiency rates well below state averages. For example, at Stone School, only 7-20% of students were proficient in core subjects, compared to state averages of 39-44%. The high spending per student at Handley School suggests that increased funding may be necessary to support student success across the district.

The data also reveals that the Saginaw School District serves a predominantly minority and economically disadvantaged population, with high concentrations of African American students and students receiving free or reduced-price lunch. This underscores the need for a comprehensive, multi-faceted approach to improving educational outcomes, which could involve strategies such as expanding access to high-performing magnet schools and implementing targeted interventions to address chronic absenteeism.