Summary:
Riverside Academy is a public charter elementary school serving 374 students in grades K-5 in Dearborn, Michigan, a predominantly white area. Despite having high per-student spending and a relatively low student-teacher ratio, the school consistently underperforms academically compared to the state and nearby schools.
Riverside Academy's academic performance is a major concern, with proficiency rates in English Language Arts and Math significantly below state averages across all grade levels. For example, in 2023-2024, only 18.2% of 3rd graders, 10.2% of 4th graders, and 25% of 5th graders were proficient or better in ELA, compared to state averages of 39.6%, 43.3%, and 44%, respectively. The school's math proficiency rates are also strikingly low, with only 24.2% of 3rd graders, 4.76% of 4th graders, and 12.3% of 5th graders meeting or exceeding proficiency. In contrast, Iris Becker Elementary, just 0.17 miles away, had significantly higher proficiency rates in both ELA (40-51.7%) and Math (53.1-69.7%) across all grade levels.
Riverside Academy also faces challenges with chronic absenteeism, ranging from 11.2% in 2020-2021 to 23.2% in 2018-2019, which is significantly higher than the state average. Additionally, the school has a 100% free and reduced-price lunch rate, indicating that all students come from low-income households. This is in contrast to the nearby Detroit Public Schools Community District, which has a more diverse student population, with Priest Elementary/Middle School having only 33.33% white students. To improve student outcomes, Riverside Academy may need to implement targeted interventions to address attendance, student engagement, and the specific learning needs of its student population.
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