The top reported proficiency rate is 10% in Math. The lowest is 7% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on Keys Grace Academy
Keys Grace Academy is a charter school district in Oakland County, Michigan, operating under authorization through Madison District Public Schools. Publicly reported information confirms the school was re-authorized for a multi-year term in 2021, giving families operational stability going forward. Although the district lists its grade span as kindergarten through twelfth grade, current enrollment data shows all students in kindergarten through eighth grade, with no students registered in grades nine through twelve. This means the high school grades exist on paper but are not yet populated, and the academic picture reflects an elementary and middle school program.
The student body is predominantly white, with a small Black enrollment and a handful of Asian and Hispanic students. The school is small for a district, with roughly even distribution across grade levels from kindergarten through eighth grade. Economic disadvantage data through free or reduced-price lunch counts was not available, and neither special education nor English learner rates were reported, so families should ask the school directly about support services in these areas.
State assessment results from the most recent M-STEP and PSAT administration paint a concerning academic picture. Math proficiency is low across every tested grade, with most grades showing only a small fraction of students reaching proficiency and several grades reporting no proficient students at all. English language arts results are somewhat better but still modest, with proficiency rates ranging from single digits in the lower elementary grades to a higher mark in eighth grade. Science and social studies proficiency follow a similar pattern of low attainment across the tested grades. Average scale scores are reported but do not offset the proficiency picture. A parent weighing this school may want to look into the curriculum, instructional approach, and any interventions the school has planned, as the assessment results suggest students are struggling to reach state benchmarks.
When compared among Oakland County's districts, Keys Grace Academy sits in the bottom quartile for overall proficiency. The county's median proficiency across tested subjects and grades is far higher, and most peer districts outperform this school by a wide margin. Chronic absenteeism is also in the bottom quartile among county districts, with a rate well above the county median, which may partly explain the academic challenges, since students who miss school regularly tend to struggle on state assessments. On the spending side, the district's per-pupil current expenditure sits in the upper range compared with neighboring districts, meaning the school is investing substantially per student relative to its peers. Whether that spending is translating into academic support is a question worth asking.
No graduation rate is reported, which is consistent with the absence of enrolled high school students. No housing or community context was available in the data, so a family considering the area should research the surrounding neighborhood and commute independently. Program offerings such as Advanced Placement, career pathways, dual enrollment, extracurriculars, and specialized electives were not provided, and given the current grade configuration, some of these may not yet apply. No discipline data, course access information, or staffing details were available either.
What the data does show is a small charter school with a stable authorization status, a homogeneous student population, a strong per-pupil investment, and academic results that lag well behind county peers. Families drawn to a smaller charter environment may find appeal here, but the proficiency numbers and absenteeism rate suggest this is a school working through substantial academic challenges. A prospective parent would benefit from asking direct questions about how the school plans to improve instruction, address absenteeism, and build out the upper grades it claims to serve.
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