Original Research by School Decision on Muskegon Maritime Academy
Muskegon Maritime Academy is a single-school charter district in Muskegon County, Michigan, serving kindergarten through fifth grade. It is a very small enrollment setting, with the student body predominantly Black, along with smaller White, Hispanic, and multiracial populations. The district operates one school under its own charter authorization, meaning the school and the district are effectively the same entity.
The most consequential piece of information for any family considering this school is that it will permanently close. Publicly reported information from the school's own website indicates that Muskegon Maritime Academy will shut its doors in June of 2026. Because this is the only school in the district, that closure eliminates the district's sole public school option. Families already enrolled, as well as anyone looking at it as a future placement, will need to plan for a transition to another school. This single fact shapes everything else about the school's current profile: academic results, absenteeism patterns, and program offerings are all read against a fixed and approaching end date.
On state assessments, the most recent M-STEP results show very low proficiency across every tested grade and subject. In math and English language arts, third and fourth graders fell into the lowest reported proficiency band. Fifth grade results in math, ELA, science, and social studies were reported in a somewhat wider band but still showed no students reaching proficiency. Average scale scores are reported for each grade and subject, but the overall academic picture is one where students are not yet meeting state benchmarks at the rates seen in most surrounding districts. A parent weighing this school would want to ask directly what instructional supports and interventions are in place, particularly given the closure timeline and the question of how students will be prepared for their next placement.
Chronic absenteeism is a serious concern here. Among the districts in Muskegon County, this school's chronic absenteeism rate sits at the very top of the range, placing it in the bottom quartile. High absenteeism at this level means a substantial share of students are missing enough school that academic engagement is disrupted, which compounds the already low proficiency results. This is a pattern a parent would want to understand in conversation with school leadership, as absenteeism at this severity usually reflects a mix of community, transportation, health, and family circumstances rather than a single cause.
Several data points that would help round out a family's understanding are missing. Free and reduced-price lunch information was not reported, so the economic profile of the student body is not available from the data provided. Special education and English learner rates are also missing. No locale brief or community economic context was available, so there is no housing market or demographic backdrop to draw from here. Program offerings, course access, staffing details, and civil rights data were not provided either. The absence of a graduation rate is expected and not a gap, since this school serves only elementary grades.
The school has no middle or high school grades, which means families will need to find a next placement well before the closure date regardless. For a family already in the building, the practical questions are about transition planning and academic readiness. For a family considering enrollment, the closure makes this a difficult school to choose as a long-term option, even before accounting for the academic and attendance challenges reflected in the current data. Among Muskegon County's districts, this school stands out as small, academically struggling, and approaching the end of its operation.
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