The top reported proficiency rate is 57% in Social studies. The lowest is 41% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on Chrysler Elementary School
Chrysler Elementary School sits on East Lafayette Street in Detroit, part of the Detroit Public Schools Community District. It is a regular public school serving pre-kindergarten through fifth grade, with a small enrollment that gives it the feel of a compact neighborhood building. The student body is almost entirely Black, with a very small number of students identifying as Hispanic, white, or multiracial. A substantial share of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, reflecting the economic conditions of the surrounding community. The school lists a pre-kindergarten grade in its served range, though current enrollment data shows no pre-kindergarten students enrolled, so a parent seeking early childhood placement here should confirm availability directly with the school. Data on individualized education programs and English learner services was not reported, so those figures cannot be described here.
On state assessments, Chrysler shows a mixed but in several areas strong profile for an elementary school of its size. English language arts results climb sharply by grade level. Third-grade proficiency is low, fourth grade reaches a solid majority, and fifth grade shows a strong majority of students testing proficient. Math results are more uneven, with fourth grade the strongest performer, third grade moderate, and fifth grade lower. Fifth-grade science sits in the middle range, and fifth-grade social studies shows a majority proficient. Taken together, the school's overall proficiency across tested subjects and grades places it in the top quartile relative to districts in Wayne County, well above the county median. That is a meaningful strength, especially given that the surrounding district and city face well-documented challenges. The school does not have a graduation rate, because it serves only elementary grades, and those grades are not tracked for graduation. Chronic absenteeism data was not available. Participation rates were also not reported, so it is not possible to confirm how complete the testing population was, though tested counts were small in each grade, which is consistent with the school's overall size.
The surrounding area is Detroit's east side, near Lafayette. Detroit is a major urban center, historically anchored by the American automotive industry, with General Motors, Ford, and Stellantis all maintaining major operations in the metro area. The city has seen years of population decline and disinvestment, but publicly reported data indicates Detroit's population grew for two consecutive years as of 2025, driven by immigration and new housing development. Walkability varies by neighborhood, with the downtown and Midtown areas more navigable on foot and outer neighborhoods more car-dependent. The school's immediate setting is an established residential and industrial corridor rather than a retail-heavy district.
Housing near the school is inexpensive by statewide and national standards. Typical home values in the surrounding zip code sit well below the Michigan benchmark and far below the national benchmark, and values have been declining year over year. Rents are moderate and have risen slightly. The price-to-income ratio suggests that buying a home here is relatively affordable compared with much of the country, though the declining value trajectory is something a family considering a purchase may want to examine more closely. The broader Wayne County market shows a growing inventory of active listings and a softening demand score, pointing to a buyer-leaning market with ample supply.
At the district level, Detroit Public Schools Community District has announced a multi-year facilities improvement plan to renovate and modernize school buildings, funded through capital projects and grants. For a Chrysler family, that could mean building upgrades in coming years, along with possible construction-related disruptions during renovation periods.
Chrysler Elementary stands out for its above-county-median proficiency results, particularly in upper-grade English language arts. A parent evaluating this school would want to look into the lower third-grade ELA and fifth-grade math results, the lack of reported special-population data, and whether the district's planned facility improvements will reach this building.
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