William C Abney Academy Elementary

Summary:

William C Abney Academy Elementary is a public charter elementary school in Grand Rapids, Michigan that serves 347 students from kindergarten to 6th grade, with a predominantly African American student population.

The school faces significant academic challenges, consistently ranking among the lowest-performing elementary schools in Michigan. In the 2022-2023 school year, only 19.4% of 3rd graders, 15.4% of 4th graders, 9.76% of 5th graders, and 12.2% of 6th graders were proficient or better in English Language Arts on the M-Step assessment. The school's math proficiency rates are also low, with only 21.9% of 3rd graders proficient or better. Additionally, William C Abney Academy Elementary has consistently high rates of chronic absenteeism, reaching as high as 58.5% in the 2020-2021 school year. These academic struggles are in stark contrast to nearby schools like Grand Rapids Child Discovery Center, where 57.8% of 3rd graders, 77.3% of 4th graders, and 65.9% of 5th graders were proficient or better in English Language Arts in 2022-2023, and Lakeside School, where 71.4% of 3rd graders, 85.4% of 4th graders, and 83.1% of 5th graders were proficient or better.

The school's challenges are likely exacerbated by the fact that all of its students come from low-income households, as indicated by the 100% free and reduced-price lunch rate. Despite the school's relatively high spending of $14,573 per student in the 2022-2023 school year, the academic outcomes do not reflect this investment. The data suggests that significant interventions and support are needed to improve student outcomes at William C Abney Academy Elementary, which is struggling to provide a high-quality education to its predominantly African American student population.

Detail:

Public, Magnet, Charter K-6

1435 Fulton St E
Grand Rapids, MI 49503-3853

(616) 454-5541

District: William C. Abney Academy

Per Pupil Expenditures: $14,573

Student/teacher ratio: 14.3

Number of students: 347

Racial breakdown:

African American:

96.5%

Hispanic:

1.7%

White:

1.2%

Free/discounted lunch recipients: 100%

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Performance Trends

Compare Details William C Abney Academy Elementary is not ranked due for the most recent year due to insufficient test score data. (See more...)

Compare Details In 2023 the calculated Average Standard Score was 9.38. (See more...)

Chronic absenteeism in a school refers to a situation where students repeatedly miss school, with the threshold often defined as missing 10% or more of school days for any reason, excused or unexcused.

Student Body

Compare Details Racial makeup is: African American (96.5%), Hispanic (1.7%), White (1.2%). (See more...)

Compare Details 100% of students are receiving a free or discounted lunch. (See more...)

Teachers

Compare Details The student/teacher ratio at William C Abney Academy Elementary is 14.3. (See more...)

Compare William C Abney Academy Elementary employs 24.2 full-time teachers.

Finance

Compare Details The average total spent per student at William C Abney Academy Elementary is $14,573.

Schooldigger Rankings:

William C Abney Academy Elementary was not ranked this year due to insufficient test score data.

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Rank History for William C Abney Academy Elementary

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Rank History for all students at William C Abney Academy Elementary

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Elementary Schools	MI State Percentile
2006	32.37	1281^st	1545	17.1%
2007	51.05	979^th	1565	37.4%
2008	39.50	1203^rd	1577	23.7%
2009	48.65	1083^rd	1589	31.8%
2010	49.19	1080^th	1552	30.4%
2011	27.18	1324^th	1552	14.7%
2012	6.74	1525^th	1566	2.6%
2013	6.13	1515^th	1563	3.1%
2014	8.51	1442^nd	1533	5.9%
2015	9.45	1465^th	1580	7.3%
2016	9.48	1412^th	1548	8.8%
2017	4.04	1444^th	1466	1.5%
2018	9.46	1373^rd	1448	5.2%
2019	5.71	1353^rd	1408	3.9%
2022	4.63	1313^th	1344	2.3%
2023	9.38	1336^th	1470	9.1%

See the entire list of Michigan Elementary School Rankings!

Rank History for Low Socio Economic Status students at William C Abney Academy Elementary

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Elementary Schools	MI State Percentile
2018	13.70	1277^th	1397	8.6%
2019	9.28	1086^th	1134	4.2%
2022	6.39	1074^th	1099	2.3%
2023	13.22	1212^th	1350	10.2%

See the entire list of Best Michigan Elementary Schools for Low Socio Economic Status Students!

Rank History for Female students at William C Abney Academy Elementary

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Elementary Schools	MI State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2018	10.80	1323^rd	1443	8.3%
2023	8.33	1243^rd	1321	5.9%

See the entire list of Best Michigan Elementary Schools for Female Students!

Rank History for Male students at William C Abney Academy Elementary

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Elementary Schools	MI State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2018	9.86	1337^th	1446	7.5%
2023	9.48	1240^th	1334	7.0%

See the entire list of Best Michigan Elementary Schools for Male Students!

Rank History for African American students at William C Abney Academy Elementary

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Elementary Schools	MI State Percentile
2018	33.77	305^th	475	35.8%
2019	19.78	184^th	212	13.2%
2022	17.24	138^th	158	12.7%
2023	26.19	250^th	321	22.1%

See the entire list of Best Michigan Elementary Schools for African American Students!

Data source: test scores: Michigan Department of Education, rankings: SchoolDigger.com

As you review the school rankings data, please be aware that some of the information from certain demographics is missing. The reason for this omission is that the data has been redacted from the source data itself due to low population samples in these specific demographic groups.

Redacting data from low population samples is a necessary step to ensure the reliability and accuracy of the results, as small sample sizes may not be representative of the broader population. Additionally, this measure helps protect the privacy of individuals belonging to these demographic groups.

Data source: Michigan Department of Education

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Enrollment information for William C Abney Academy Elementary

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Year	White	African American	Asian	Hispanic	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Not Specified	Total
1998	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	0	0
1999	1	196	0	20	0	n/a	n/a	0	217
2000	0	169	0	0	0	n/a	n/a	0	169
2001	3	142	0	3	1	n/a	n/a	0	149
2002	0	181	0	8	0	n/a	n/a	1	190
2003	0	181	0	8	0	n/a	n/a	1	190
2004	1	192	0	6	0	n/a	n/a	1	200
2005	3	301	1	10	0	n/a	n/a	1	316
2006	2	361	2	6	0	n/a	n/a	0	371
2007	2	378	2	16	0	n/a	n/a	0	398
2008	1	452	n/a	17	n/a	n/a	n/a	0	470
2009	3	484	1	20	1	n/a	n/a	0	509
2010	4	447	0	22	0	n/a	n/a	0	473
2011	0	439	0	32	0	0	0	0	471
2012	3	390	0	23	0	0	0	0	416
2013	6	340	0	30	0	0	1	0	377
2014	7	365	0	36	0	0	0	0	408
2015	5	334	0	42	0	0	9	0	390
2016	5	321	0	34	1	0	11	0	372
2017	1	295	0	20	1	0	19	0	336
2018	4	302	0	15	2	0	15	0	338
2019	1	321	0	17	1	0	12	0	352
2020	6	315	0	14	1	0	9	0	345
2021	5	302	1	10	1	0	9	0	328
2022	4	316	0	6	0	0	2	0	328
2023	4	335	0	6	0	0	2	0	347

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Enrollment/Ethnicity

For more information about how the Department of Education defines ethnicity, see Defining Race and Ethnicity Data, National Center for Education Statistics

Students eligible for free or discounted lunch at William C Abney Academy Elementary

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Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
1998	0	n/a	0.0	n/a
1999	217	10.0	21.7	59
2000	169	10.5	16.1	90.5
2001	149	10.0	14.9	92.6
2002	190	n/a	n/a	92.6
2003	190	n/a	n/a	92.6
2004	200	10.6	18.9	93.5
2005	316	16.1	19.6	91.7
2006	371	19.0	19.5	90.3
2007	398	19.3	20.6	91.7
2008	470	22.5	20.9	89.6
2009	509	25.6	19.9	88.6
2010	473	24.0	19.6	96.2
2011	471	27.0	17.4	91.9
2012	416	24.0	17.3	94.2
2013	377	27.0	13.9	92.8
2014	408	21.0	19.4	90.7
2015	390	24.0	16.2	93.3
2016	372	17.0	21.8	100
2017	336	17.0	19.7	100
2018	338	24.5	13.7	100
2019	352	25.1	13.9	97.2
2020	345	24.7	13.9	100
2021	328	23.0	14.2	100
2022	328	26.2	12.4	100
2023	347	24.2	14.3	100

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Students eligible for discounted/free lunch:

The National School Lunch Program (NSLP) provides low-cost or free meals to students in U.S. public and nonprofit private schools based on household income. Those with incomes below 130% of the poverty line receive free lunch, while those between 130% and 185% qualify for reduced-price lunch. The percentage of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch serves as a marker for poverty, as it reflects the socioeconomic status of families in a given school or district. A higher FRPL rate typically indicates a higher concentration of low-income families, suggesting that the school or district may face additional challenges in providing adequate resources and support for student success.

Student/Teacher Ratio William C Abney Academy Elementary

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Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
1998	0	n/a	0.0	n/a
1999	217	10.0	21.7	59
2000	169	10.5	16.1	90.5
2001	149	10.0	14.9	92.6
2002	190	n/a	n/a	92.6
2003	190	n/a	n/a	92.6
2004	200	10.6	18.9	93.5
2005	316	16.1	19.6	91.7
2006	371	19.0	19.5	90.3
2007	398	19.3	20.6	91.7
2008	470	22.5	20.9	89.6
2009	509	25.6	19.9	88.6
2010	473	24.0	19.6	96.2
2011	471	27.0	17.4	91.9
2012	416	24.0	17.3	94.2
2013	377	27.0	13.9	92.8
2014	408	21.0	19.4	90.7
2015	390	24.0	16.2	93.3
2016	372	17.0	21.8	100
2017	336	17.0	19.7	100
2018	338	24.5	13.7	100
2019	352	25.1	13.9	97.2
2020	345	24.7	13.9	100
2021	328	23.0	14.2	100
2022	328	26.2	12.4	100
2023	347	24.2	14.3	100

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Student-Teacher Ratio

Student/teacher ratio is calculated by dividing the total number of students by the total number of full-time equivalent teachers. Please note that a smaller student/teacher ratio does not necessarily translate to smaller class size. In some instances, schools hire teachers part time, and some teachers are hired for specialized instruction with very small class sizes. These and other factors contribute to the student/teacher ratio. Note: For private schools, Student/teacher ratio may not include Pre-Kindergarten.

Finances

Per Pupil Expenditures for William C Abney Academy Elementary

Year	Expenditures from Federal Funds	Expenditures from State and Local Funds	Total Expenditures Per Pupil (All Funds)
2019	$2,568 (21.3%)	$9,493 (78.7%)	$12,061
2020	$2,546 (21.5%)	$9,322 (78.5%)	$11,868
2021	$3,647 (28.7%)	$9,068 (71.3%)	$12,715
2022	$5,355 (32.8%)	$10,992 (67.2%)	$16,347
2023	$4,069 (27.9%)	$10,504 (72.1%)	$14,573

Data source: Michigan Department of Education

Pre and Post Pandemic Data

Impact of COVID-19 on William C Abney Academy Elementary

The coronavirus has had a profound impact on education in America. Learning shifted online overnight, attendance numbers dwindled, and enrollment decreased. SchoolDigger.com is making it easier for you to better assess how COVID-19 has impacted your school. Through the collection of pre-pandemic (2019) and current data, SchoolDigger.com is sharing test scores, enrollment numbers and school demographics from schools across the country – and we make it easy to see how impacted schools compare locally and statewide.

Rankings

Rank Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	Rank Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
Ranks 1353^rd of 1408 Elementary schools	Ranks 1336^th of 1470 Elementary schools	5.2%

Test Scores

	% proficient Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	% proficient Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
3rd Grade English Language Arts (William C Abney Academy Elementary)	12.2	19.4	7.2%
3rd Grade English Language Arts (William C. Abney Academy)	12.2	19.4	7.2%
3rd Grade English Language Arts (Michigan)	45.1	40.9	4.2%
3rd Grade Math (William C Abney Academy Elementary)	16.3	21.9	5.6%
3rd Grade Math (William C. Abney Academy)	16.3	21.9	5.6%
3rd Grade Math (Michigan)	46.7	42.9	3.8%
4th Grade English Language Arts (William C Abney Academy Elementary)	19.6	15.4	4.2%
4th Grade English Language Arts (William C. Abney Academy)	19.6	15.4	4.2%
4th Grade English Language Arts (Michigan)	45.8	44.3	1.5%

Student Body

	Number of students Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	Number of students Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
Total Students	352	347	1.4%
African American	321	335	4.4%
American Indian	1	0	100%
Asian	0	0
Hispanic	17	6	64.7%
Pacific Islander	0	0
White	1	4	300%
Two or More Races	12	2	83.3%
% Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	97.2%	100%	2.8%

Schools Near William C Abney Academy Elementary

Choose columns to see: Summary School Students/Teachers Ranking Test Scores Finance All

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2024)				Ranking (2023)				PSAT English Language Arts (2024)	M-Step English Language Arts (2024)				M-Step Math (2024)				M-Step Science (2024)		M-Step Social Studies (2024)	Per Pupil Expenditures (2023)
Name	Type	Grades	Address	City	Zip	County	District	Is Charter	Is Magnet	Is Virtual	Is Title I	Phone	Enrollment	Full-time Teachers	Student/ Teacher Ratio	Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	White	Black	Hispanic	Asian	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Average Standard Score (2024)	Statewide Rank (2024)	State Percentile (2024)	SchoolDigger Rating (2024)	Average Standard Score (2023)	Statewide Rank (2023)	State Percentile (2023)	Rank Change from Previous Year	PSAT English Language Arts 8th Grade	M-Step English Language Arts 3rd Grade	M-Step English Language Arts 4th Grade	M-Step English Language Arts 5th Grade	M-Step English Language Arts 7th Grade	M-Step Math 3rd Grade	M-Step Math 4th Grade	M-Step Math 5th Grade	M-Step Math 7th Grade	M-Step Science 5th Grade	M-Step Science 8th Grade	M-Step Social Studies 5th Grade	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
William C Abney Academy Elementary	Public, Magnet, Charter	K-6	1435 Fulton St E	Grand Rapids	49503	Kent County	William C. Abney Academy	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	(616) 454-5541	347	24	14.3	100.0%	4 (1.2%)	335 (96.5%)	6 (1.7%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (0.6%)								(n/a)			16.7	9.8									$14,573	$4,069	$10,505
Congress Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	940 Baldwin St SE	Grand Rapids	49506	Kent County	Grand Rapids Public Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(616) 819-2201	191	11	18.1	67.0%	71 (37.2%)	52 (27.2%)	53 (27.7%)	7 (3.7%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	8 (4.2%)	52.1	679^th of 1486 public elementary schools	54.3%		58.7	567^th of 1470 public elementary schools	61.4%	112		32.0	48.7	60.0		20.0	41.5	29.0		50.0		21.9	$16,416	$3,567	$12,850
Campus Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	710 Benjamin Ave SE	Grand Rapids	49506	Kent County	Grand Rapids Public Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(616) 819-2535	266	15	17.8	96.6%	16 (6.0%)	196 (73.7%)	29 (10.9%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	25 (9.4%)								(n/a)				14.3									$16,243	$4,399	$11,844
Martin Luther King Leadership Academy	Public	PK, KG-8	645 Logan St SE	Grand Rapids	49503	Kent County	Grand Rapids Public Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(616) 819-2600	296	18	16.4	98.0%	16 (5.4%)	212 (71.6%)	59 (19.9%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	9 (3.0%)								(n/a)			15.0				7.7						$15,912	$4,056	$11,856
Wealthy School	Public	K-5	1961 Lake Dr SE	Grand Rapids	49506	Kent County	East Grand Rapids Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(616) 235-7550	462	27	17.4	8.7%	381 (82.5%)	17 (3.7%)	15 (3.2%)	9 (1.9%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	40 (8.7%)	91.7	84^th of 1486 public elementary schools	94.3%		93.5	59^th of 1470 public elementary schools	96.0%	25		75.7	79.8	56.6		77.1	75.0	55.4		66.7		40.5	$11,902	$788	$11,115
Grand Rapids Child Discovery Center	Public, Charter	PK, KG-5	409 Lafayette Ave SE	Grand Rapids	49503	Kent County	Grand Rapids Child Discovery Center	Yes	No	No	Yes	(616) 459-0330	287	15	19.1	36.2%	187 (65.2%)	25 (8.7%)	39 (13.6%)	1 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (0.7%)	33 (11.5%)	84.3	202^nd of 1486 public elementary schools	86.4%		82.5	222^nd of 1470 public elementary schools	84.9%	20		50.0	65.0	75.0		52.1	57.5	52.3		72.7		43.2	$11,781	$1,124	$10,657
Gerald R Ford Academic Center	Public	PK, KG-8	851 Madison Ave SE	Grand Rapids	49507	Kent County	Grand Rapids Public Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(616) 819-2640	230	16	14.8	88.7%	7 (3.0%)	124 (53.9%)	95 (41.3%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	4 (1.7%)	27	1068^th of 1486 public elementary schools	28.1%		25.3	1067^th of 1470 public elementary schools	27.4%	1	43.8	36.1	21.7	17.9	57.1	41.7			28.6	14.3	18.8		$17,673	$3,832	$13,840
Coit Creative Arts Academy	Public	PK, KG-5	617 Coit Ave NE	Grand Rapids	49503	Kent County	Grand Rapids Public Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(616) 819-2390	242	20	12.1	78.1%	83 (34.3%)	87 (36.0%)	41 (16.9%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (0.8%)	0 (0.0%)	29 (12.0%)	38.2	881^st of 1486 public elementary schools	40.7%		24.8	1082^nd of 1470 public elementary schools	26.4%	201		50.0	33.3	39.0		48.7	12.1	20.0		31.7		15.0	$18,473	$4,108	$14,365
East Leonard Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	410 Barnett St NE	Grand Rapids	49503	Kent County	Grand Rapids Public Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(616) 819-2525	167	13	13.1	91.6%	16 (9.6%)	90 (53.9%)	36 (21.6%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	25 (15.0%)								(n/a)													$19,682	$5,976	$13,706
Lakeside School	Public	K-5	2325 Hall St SE	Grand Rapids	49506	Kent County	East Grand Rapids Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(616) 235-7553	451	23	19.4	5.3%	384 (85.1%)	7 (1.6%)	26 (5.8%)	2 (0.4%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	31 (6.9%)	97.9	14^th of 1486 public elementary schools	99.1%		95.6	42^nd of 1470 public elementary schools	97.1%	28		74.0	82.1	85.7		79.2	75.6	73.8		81.0		70.2	$11,532	$499	$11,034

Frequently Asked Questions about William C Abney Academy Elementary

What is the racial makeup of William C Abney Academy Elementary?

Students at William C Abney Academy Elementary are 97% African American, 2% Hispanic, 1% White.

What district is William C Abney Academy Elementary in?

William C. Abney Academy

How many students attend William C Abney Academy Elementary?

In the 2022-23 school year, 347 students attended William C Abney Academy Elementary.

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SchoolDigger data sources: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education, the U.S. Census Bureau and the Michigan Department of Education.

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMERS: Not all boundaries are included. We make every effort to ensure that boundaries are up-to-date. But it's important to note that these are approximations and are for general informational purposes only. To verify legal descriptions of boundaries or school locations, contact your local tax assessor's office and/or school district.