The top reported proficiency rate is 17% in Science. The lowest is 9% in Social studies.
Original Research by School Decision on Bennett Elementary School
Bennett Elementary School sits on Mullane Street in southwest Detroit, in the 48209 zip code, and serves pre-kindergarten through fifth grade as part of the Detroit Public Schools Community District. It is a regular public school, neither a charter nor a magnet, and it draws a largely Hispanic student body. The surrounding neighborhood is part of a city that has seen decades of disinvestment but is now in a period of renewed population growth and redevelopment, with residential construction concentrated in areas like Midtown, Corktown, and the East Riverfront. For families considering this school, the housing market nearby is among the most affordable in the region. Typical home values in this zip code run well below both the state and national benchmarks, and rents are modest. The broader Wayne County housing market has been cooling somewhat, with median listing prices drifting down and homes sitting longer than they did a year ago, which may give buyers more room to negotiate.
The school enrolls a moderate number of students for an elementary building, with the largest cohorts in kindergarten and first grade. A substantial share of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, which reflects the economic conditions of the surrounding community. The student population is predominantly Hispanic, with smaller Black and White populations. Data on English learners and students with individualized education programs was not reported, so those figures are absent from the picture. A parent may want to ask the school directly about special education services and English-learner support, since both are relevant in a community with this demographic profile.
On state testing, Bennett's results from the most recent M-STEP administration show proficiency rates that are low across every tested subject and grade. In math, the share of students scoring proficient or above declines from third grade through fifth grade. English language arts follows a similar pattern in the middle grades, though fifth grade shows a modest uptick. Science and social studies, both tested only in fifth grade, also reflect low proficiency. When measured against other districts in Wayne County, Bennett's overall proficiency index falls in the bottom quartile. The county's median proficiency across tested subjects and grades sits well above where Bennett stands. These results are a factual soft spot, and a parent weighing this school should look into what academic interventions and supports the school has in place, particularly in the early grades where building foundational skills matters most.
Several categories of school-level data were not available. There is no information on chronic absenteeism, discipline, course access, staffing ratios, or attendance. Title I status was also not reported. Because this is an elementary school, there is no graduation rate to report, and that metric simply does not apply to a building that does not serve high school grades. Multi-year trend data was not available, so it is not possible to say from the provided data whether proficiency is improving or declining over time.
At the district level, Detroit Public Schools Community District announced a multi-year facilities improvement plan aimed at renovating and modernizing school buildings across the city, funded through capital projects and grants. For a family at Bennett, this could mean improvements to the building environment, though it may also bring disruptions during construction. The district's headquarters are in the New Center area, and its schools are distributed across the city's neighborhoods rather than on a single campus.
Detroit itself is a major urban center, historically the heart of the American automotive industry, with General Motors, Ford, and Stellantis all operating in the metro area. The city has a dense downtown core, a riverfront that has been redeveloped into a pedestrian and cycling path, and cultural institutions like the Detroit Institute of Arts and the Detroit Public Library clustered in Midtown. Walkability varies sharply by neighborhood, with some errands manageable on foot in denser areas but many trips requiring a car. The city has recently reversed decades of population decline, growing for two consecutive years, which publicly reported sources attribute to increased immigration and new housing development.
For a family looking at Bennett Elementary, the school offers a neighborhood setting in an affordable part of a city undergoing visible change. The academic results are a real concern and warrant direct conversation with school leadership about what supports exist for students performing below grade level.
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