Paramount Charter Academy

Summary:

Paramount Charter Academy is a public charter school in Kalamazoo, Michigan, serving 379 students in grades PK-8. The school stands out from nearby schools in several key ways, including its significantly higher percentage of African American students, consistently high chronic absenteeism rates, and consistently lower test scores across all grade levels and subject areas.

Paramount Charter Academy faces significant socioeconomic challenges, with an extremely high percentage of students (92.39% to 93.46%) receiving free or reduced-price lunch. This is much higher than the nearby schools, which range from 32.97% to 96.52%. Despite the school's high spending per student, ranging from $13,343 to $18,833 over the past few years, its performance continues to lag behind the state and nearby school averages. This raises questions about the effective use of resources and the potential need for additional targeted support or interventions.

The stark contrast in performance between Paramount Charter Academy and nearby schools, such as Winchell Elementary School and Angling Road Elementary School, which have significantly higher test scores and lower chronic absenteeism rates, suggests the potential for racial disparities in educational outcomes that warrant further investigation and targeted support. The challenges faced by Paramount Charter Academy may be shared by other schools serving similar populations in the Kalamazoo Public Schools district and the broader Portage Public Schools area.


Detail:

Public, Charter PK, KG-8

 3624 S Westnedge Ave
       Kalamazoo, MI  49008-2969


(269) 553-6400

District: Paramount Charter Academy

SchoolDigger Rank:
1172nd of 1,486 Michigan Elementary Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures:  $18,833 Help


Student/teacher ratio:  14.5 Help
Number of students:  379

Racial breakdown:

African American:
47.8%
White:
22.7%
Two or more races:
20.1%
more

Free/discounted lunch recipients:  93.1% Help


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Performance Trends
Help
Compare Details Paramount Charter Academy ranks worse than 78.9% of elementary schools in Michigan. (See more...)
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Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 19.24. (See more...)
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Compare Details Paramount Charter Academy ranks worse than 67.9% of middle schools in Michigan. (See more...)
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Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 30.7. (See more...)
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Chronic absenteeism in a high 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
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Compare Details Student population at Paramount Charter Academy is diverse. Racial makeup is: African American (47.8%), White (22.7%), two or more races (20.1%). (See more...)
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Compare Details 93.1% of students are receiving a free or discounted lunch. (See more...)
Teachers
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Compare Details The student/teacher ratio at Paramount Charter Academy is 14.5. (See more...)
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Compare Paramount Charter Academy employs 26 full-time teachers.
Finance
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Compare Details The average total spent per student at Paramount Charter Academy is $18,833.
Schooldigger 2024 Rankings:

Paramount Charter Academy:

SchoolDigger ranks Paramount Charter Academy 1172nd of 1486 Michigan public elementary schools. (See Paramount Charter Academy in the ranking list.)

Elementary School Test Score Ratings by Student Subgroup:


Low Socio Economic Status students:
Female students:
Male students:

SchoolDigger ranks Paramount Charter Academy 609th of 897 Michigan public middle schools. (See Paramount Charter Academy in the ranking list.)

Middle School Test Score Ratings by Student Subgroup:


Low Socio Economic Status students:
Female students:
Male students:
African American students:


Paramount Charter Academy:

SchoolDigger ranks Paramount Charter Academy 486th of 610 Michigan school districts. (See district ranking list.)


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Rank History for Paramount Charter Academy

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Compare

Rank History for all elementary school students at Paramount Charter Academy

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools MI State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2006 63.88 621st 1545 59.8%
2007 67.32 535th 1565 65.8%
2008 71.46 449th 1577 71.5%
2009 60.53 790th 1589 50.3%
2010 60.78 830th 1552 46.5%
2011 58.13 831st 1552 46.5%
2012 60.86 611th 1566 61.0%
2013 57.75 692nd 1563 55.7%
2014 66.70 495th 1533 67.7%
2015 66.44 508th 1580 67.8%
2016 25.89 1166th 1548 24.7%
2017 17.49 1202nd 1466 18.0%
2018 18.51 1233rd 1448 14.8%
2019 15.54 1200th 1408 14.8%
2021 4.45 1141st 1153 1.0%
2022 6.32 1286th 1344 4.3%
2023 19.00 1169th 1470 20.5%
2024 19.24 1172nd 1486 21.1%
See the entire list of Michigan Elementary School Rankings!

Rank History for elementary school Low Socio Economic Status students at Paramount Charter Academy

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools MI State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 20.36 1183rd 1397 15.3%
2019 23.32 929th 1134 18.1%
2021 7.60 740th 749 1.2%
2022 8.40 1049th 1099 4.5%
2023 28.11 994th 1350 26.4%
2024 23.85 1090th 1381 21.1%
See the entire list of Best Michigan Elementary Schools for Low Socio Economic Status Students!

Rank History for elementary school Female students at Paramount Charter Academy

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools MI State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 24.00 1127th 1443 21.9%
2019 16.82 1013th 1171 13.5%
2023 19.41 1074th 1321 18.7%
2024 22.08 1055th 1342 21.4%
See the entire list of Best Michigan Elementary Schools for Female Students!

Rank History for elementary school Male students at Paramount Charter Academy

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools MI State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 13.89 1264th 1446 12.6%
2019 14.77 1061st 1196 11.3%
2023 22.14 1041st 1334 22.0%
2024 26.98 971st 1347 27.9%
See the entire list of Best Michigan Elementary Schools for Male Students!

Rank History for elementary school African American students at Paramount Charter Academy

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools MI State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 28.60 354th 475 25.5%
2019 49.63 95th 212 55.2%
See the entire list of Best Michigan Elementary Schools for African American Students!

Rank History for elementary school White students at Paramount Charter Academy

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools MI State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 18.51 1096th 1253 12.5%
See the entire list of Best Michigan Elementary Schools for White Students!

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

Rank History for Paramount Charter Academy

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Rank History for all middle school students at Paramount Charter Academy

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Middle Schools MI State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2006 67.48 297th 806 63.2%
2007 72.12 229th 823 72.2%
2008 70.93 260th 839 69.0%
2009 49.63 565th 847 33.3%
2010 51.77 554th 851 34.9%
2011 51.87 544th 858 36.6%
2012 62.57 314th 900 65.1%
2013 59.61 348th 919 62.1%
2014 61.80 329th 921 64.3%
2015 42.80 544th 919 40.8%
2016 33.44 605th 894 32.3%
2017 20.26 658th 821 19.9%
2018 19.18 707th 838 15.6%
2019 22.30 633rd 792 20.1%
2022 12.76 691st 776 11.0%
2023 28.46 623rd 883 29.4%
2024 30.70 609th 897 32.1%
See the entire list of Michigan Elementary School Rankings!

Rank History for middle school Low Socio Economic Status students at Paramount Charter Academy

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Middle Schools MI State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 22.75 657th 815 19.4%
2019 30.59 497th 672 26.0%
2023 33.36 550th 825 33.3%
2024 38.53 506th 836 39.5%
See the entire list of Best Michigan Elementary Schools for Low Socio Economic Status Students!

Rank History for middle school Female students at Paramount Charter Academy

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Middle Schools MI State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 26.35 595th 794 25.1%
2019 30.05 475th 658 27.8%
2023 25.87 584th 770 24.2%
2024 29.34 551st 771 28.5%
See the entire list of Best Michigan Elementary Schools for Female Students!

Rank History for middle school Male students at Paramount Charter Academy

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Middle Schools MI State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 12.50 708th 797 11.2%
2023 27.16 565th 776 27.2%
2024 51.02 333rd 786 57.6%
See the entire list of Best Michigan Elementary Schools for Male Students!

Rank History for middle school African American students at Paramount Charter Academy

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Middle Schools MI State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 23.29 300th 366 18.0%
2024 62.32 75th 300 75.0%
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.

Paramount Charter Academy Test Scores
Tests: 
  
Grades: 
  
Years: 
  
Group by: 
District Scores:
State Scores:    
  
Subgroup: 








Data source: Michigan Department of Education

Review counts

All ratings (Avg rating: 5)
100%

0%

0%

0%

0%

  

Reviews:
Facebook Profile Picture by a citizen on FaceBook
Thursday, August 2, 2012

Open Quote Paramount Charter Academy is an excellent choice for Y5- 8th grade education in Kalamazoo, MI. Students attending this school strive for a college education and have a solid foundation based on: Academic Excellence, Moral Focus, Student Accountability and Parent Partnership. Each student begins their day with a hand shake, direct eye contact and a morning greeting. The teachers are outstanding, preparing the students for academics and encouraging leadership values. After moving on to High School, Paramount Charter Academy students are eligible for 67% of the KPS Promise if they continue their education within the KPS School District. Why transition a student every 3 years when you can keep them in one place from Kindergarten through Middle School? The best part is the dress code, what a budget saver! And the even better than best part is the time spent in the car each day with your child, sharing their excitment and stories - that time is priceless! Close Quote



Enrollment information for Paramount Charter Academy

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Compare
Year White African American Asian Hispanic American Indian Pacific Islander Two or More Races Not Specified Total
1999 171 60 2 5 2 n/a n/a 0 240
2000 283 101 4 17 7 n/a n/a 0 412
2001 374 110 4 13 9 n/a n/a 0 510
2002 391 106 3 16 6 n/a n/a 0 522
2003 391 106 3 16 6 n/a n/a 0 522
2004 400 125 4 16 3 n/a n/a 0 548
2005 438 137 6 20 3 n/a n/a 0 604
2006 704 158 16 28 1 n/a n/a 10 917
2007 715 128 11 20 2 n/a n/a 42 918
2008 695 138 17 33 5 n/a n/a 9 897
2009 649 168 23 44 12 n/a n/a 7 903
2010 477 149 26 29 12 n/a n/a 0 693
2011 420 101 17 21 3 0 39 0 601
2012 469 102 23 31 1 0 42 0 668
2013 423 95 15 37 1 0 50 0 621
2014 349 100 12 40 1 0 45 0 547
2015 281 114 7 41 0 0 38 0 481
2016 178 104 2 38 0 0 42 0 364
2017 175 182 2 39 0 0 64 0 462
2018 141 217 0 63 0 0 65 0 486
2019 101 206 0 66 1 0 77 0 451
2020 90 210 0 43 1 0 61 0 405
2021 101 216 0 50 0 0 80 0 447
2022 92 225 0 57 1 0 84 0 459
2023 86 181 0 36 0 0 76 0 379

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 Paramount Charter Academy

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Compare
Year # Students Full-time Teachers Student/Teacher ratio % Free/Discounted Lunch
1999 240 13.0 18.5 11.3
2000 412 22.0 18.7 12.6
2001 510 0.0 0.0 13.3
2002 522 n/a n/a 26.4
2003 522 n/a n/a 26.4
2004 548 34.5 15.9 24.6
2005 604 32.5 18.6 32.9
2006 917 29.6 31.0 24.3
2007 918 38.6 23.8 23.3
2008 897 36.6 24.5 23
2009 903 38.0 23.8 33.9
2010 693 36.0 19.2 43.3
2011 601 34.0 17.6 42.1
2012 668 32.9 20.3 46.4
2013 621 34.0 18.2 51.9
2014 547 32.1 17.0 49
2015 481 26.0 18.5 54.9
2016 364 23.0 15.8 68.1
2017 462 25.0 18.4 79.7
2018 486 30.0 16.2 86.4
2019 451 29.0 15.5 92.7
2020 405 28.0 14.4 92.3
2021 447 32.0 13.9 92.4
2022 459 33.0 13.8 93.5
2023 379 26.0 14.5 93.1

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 Paramount Charter Academy

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Compare
Year # Students Full-time Teachers Student/Teacher ratio % Free/Discounted Lunch
1999 240 13.0 18.5 11.3
2000 412 22.0 18.7 12.6
2001 510 0.0 0.0 13.3
2002 522 n/a n/a 26.4
2003 522 n/a n/a 26.4
2004 548 34.5 15.9 24.6
2005 604 32.5 18.6 32.9
2006 917 29.6 31.0 24.3
2007 918 38.6 23.8 23.3
2008 897 36.6 24.5 23
2009 903 38.0 23.8 33.9
2010 693 36.0 19.2 43.3
2011 601 34.0 17.6 42.1
2012 668 32.9 20.3 46.4
2013 621 34.0 18.2 51.9
2014 547 32.1 17.0 49
2015 481 26.0 18.5 54.9
2016 364 23.0 15.8 68.1
2017 462 25.0 18.4 79.7
2018 486 30.0 16.2 86.4
2019 451 29.0 15.5 92.7
2020 405 28.0 14.4 92.3
2021 447 32.0 13.9 92.4
2022 459 33.0 13.8 93.5
2023 379 26.0 14.5 93.1

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 Paramount Charter Academy

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YearExpenditures from Federal FundsExpenditures from State and Local FundsTotal Expenditures Per Pupil (All Funds)
2019 $1,225 (9.2%) $12,121 (90.8%) $13,346
2020 $1,202 (8.1%) $13,688 (91.9%) $14,890
2021 $1,672 (12.5%) $11,670 (87.5%) $13,343
2022 $2,763 (17.4%) $13,112 (82.6%) $15,875
2023 $2,389 (12.7%) $16,444 (87.3%) $18,833

Data source: Michigan Department of Education
Pre and Post Pandemic Data

Impact of COVID-19 on Paramount Charter Academy

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 1200th of 1408 Elementary schoolsRanks 1169th of 1470 Elementary schools
 5.7%
Ranks 633rd of 792 Middle schoolsRanks 623rd of 883 Middle schools
 9.4%

Test Scores

% proficient
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)
% proficient
Post pandemic (2022-2023)
Change (%)
3rd Grade English Language Arts (Paramount Charter Academy)38.510.3
 28.2%
   3rd Grade English Language Arts (Paramount Charter Academy)38.510.3
 28.2%
   3rd Grade English Language Arts (Michigan)45.140.9
 4.2%
3rd Grade Math (Paramount Charter Academy)30.825.6
 5.2%
   3rd Grade Math (Paramount Charter Academy)30.825.6
 5.2%
   3rd Grade Math (Michigan)46.742.9
 3.8%
4th Grade English Language Arts (Paramount Charter Academy)21.729.6
 7.9%
   4th Grade English Language Arts (Paramount Charter Academy)21.729.6
 7.9%
   4th Grade English Language Arts (Michigan)45.844.3
 1.5%
5th Grade English Language Arts (Paramount Charter Academy)33.332
 1.3%
   5th Grade English Language Arts (Paramount Charter Academy)33.332
 1.3%
   5th Grade English Language Arts (Michigan)46.243.9
 2.3%
6th Grade English Language Arts (Paramount Charter Academy)11.921.4
 9.5%
   6th Grade English Language Arts (Paramount Charter Academy)11.921.4
 9.5%
   6th Grade English Language Arts (Michigan)41.737.5
 4.2%
7th Grade English Language Arts (Paramount Charter Academy)38.230.3
 7.9%
   7th Grade English Language Arts (Paramount Charter Academy)38.230.3
 7.9%
   7th Grade English Language Arts (Michigan)42.736.9
 5.8%
8th Grade English Language Arts (Paramount Charter Academy)41.428
 13.4%
   8th Grade English Language Arts (Paramount Charter Academy)41.428
 13.4%
   8th Grade English Language Arts (Michigan)61.959.7
 2.2%

Student Body

Number of students
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)
Number of students
Post pandemic (2022-2023)
Change (%)
Total Students451379
 16%
African American206181
 12.1%
American Indian10
 100%
Asian00
Hispanic6636
 45.5%
Pacific Islander00
White10186
 14.9%
Two or More Races7776
 1.3%
% Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients92.7%93.1%
 0.5%


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Frequently Asked Questions about Paramount Charter Academy

Students at Paramount Charter Academy are 48% African American, 23% White, 20% Two or more races, 9% Hispanic.

Paramount Charter Academy ranks in the bottom 21.1% of Michigan elementary schools.

In the 2022-23 school year, 379 students attended Paramount Charter Academy.


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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.





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