The top reported proficiency rate is 16% in Social studies. The lowest is 6% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on Richfield Public School Academy
Richfield Public School Academy is a small charter district operating in the Flint area of Genesee County, Michigan. It runs two schools: the main academy building and an early learning center focused on the youngest grades. Together they serve pre-kindergarten through eighth grade, which means this is a purely elementary and middle school environment. There is no high school here, so the district does not report a graduation rate. That absence is a function of the grade band, not a missing or weak result.
The student body is predominantly Black, with a smaller Hispanic population and a still smaller white enrollment. A handful of students identify as multiracial, American Indian or Alaska Native, or Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander. The district's free- and reduced-price lunch data was not available, nor were figures for special education identification or English learner status. These gaps mean a parent looking for information about economic disadvantage or specialized services would need to ask the school directly.
On Michigan's M-STEP and PSAT assessments, the most recent results show proficiency rates that are very low across every tested grade and subject. In math, only a small fraction of students reached proficient or above at each grade level from third through eighth, with fifth and sixth grade reporting essentially no proficient students. English language arts results were somewhat higher but still modest, with eighth grade producing the strongest showing in the district. Science and social studies followed a similar pattern, with eighth grade outperforming the earlier tested grade. Placed among Genesee County's districts, Richfield's overall proficiency sits in the bottom quartile. A parent may want to look into this further with the school, including what instructional supports and interventions are in place and how the school plans to address these results.
Chronic absenteeism is a concern the data does surface. The district's rate sits above the county midpoint, meaning a larger share of students are missing substantial school time than in most neighboring districts. Attendance at this level can compound academic challenges, and it is something a family would want to understand before enrolling. Whether the root causes are transportation, health, family circumstances, or school climate is not clear from the available data.
On the resource side, per-pupil current spending is in the upper range among Genesee County's districts. The district is investing at a level above most of its peers, which raises a fair question about how those dollars are translating into academic growth given the current proficiency picture. The data does not include staffing ratios, course access details, or discipline figures, so there is no way to assess class sizes, program offerings, or school climate from what was provided.
The district brief turned up no evidence of recent referendums, curriculum overhauls, pedagogy shifts, or property-tax changes. The search found only basic directory, fiscal, and enrollment information. No locale brief or community context was available for the surrounding area, so this account cannot speak to housing values, neighborhood character, or local demographics.
What the picture does show is a small, predominantly Black charter district in Flint serving pre-kindergarten through eighth grade, with per-pupil spending above most county peers but state test results in the bottom quartile of Genesee County districts and chronic absenteeism above the county midpoint. Families considering this school would benefit from asking directly about academic intervention plans, attendance supports, and the gap between resource levels and current outcomes.
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