The top reported proficiency rate is 27% in Science. The lowest is 19% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on Mary D Mitchell School
Mary D Mitchell School is a regular public elementary school in the Ann Arbor Public Schools district, serving kindergarten through fifth grade. It sits on Pittsview Drive on the south side of Ann Arbor, a city shaped by the University of Michigan and a high-tech economy that draws startups and offices for companies like Google, Toyota, and Domino's. The surrounding area is walkable near downtown and campus, with parks, the Nichols Arboretum, and bus service connecting neighborhoods to the central business district. Housing in the school's zip code runs well above both state and national benchmarks, with home values and rents that reflect Ann Arbor's status as a desirable university town. Rental costs are somewhat more manageable relative to local incomes than buying, though both carry a premium.
The school's enrollment is moderate for an elementary building, with students spread fairly evenly across the six grade levels. Its student body is diverse in a way that stands out even in a cosmopolitan district. White students make up the largest single group, but Black and Hispanic students each account for a substantial share, and a meaningful portion identify as two or more races. Over half the school's students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, which places Mitchell among the district's higher-need buildings. Data on English learners and students with individualized education programs was not available, so those populations could not be characterized here.
On Michigan's M-STEP assessments for the most recent school year, proficiency rates at Mitchell were low across every tested subject and grade. English language arts results were somewhat stronger than math, and fourth grade tended to outperform third grade, but even the better results left most tested students below the proficient threshold. Third-grade math was the weakest result in the set. Science and social studies, tested only in fifth grade, also showed most students falling short of proficiency. When measured against other districts in Washtenaw County, Mitchell's overall proficiency sits in the bottom quartile. A parent considering this school may want to look into how the building is responding to these results, what interventions are in place, and how the district supports students performing below grade level. The comparison set used here is Washtenaw County districts, and within that group Mitchell's academic results are among the lowest.
Because Mitchell is an elementary school, there is no graduation rate to report, and that metric does not apply to this grade band. Chronic absenteeism data was not available for this school, and information on staffing, course access, discipline, and attendance was absent from the provided data, so those aspects of the school environment could not be assessed.
The broader district context matters for any family looking at Mitchell. Ann Arbor Public Schools is in the midst of a long-term, bond-funded facilities plan that includes a new elementary school and classroom renovations across the district, which could reshape school assignments and learning environments in coming years. At the same time, the district has approved budget reductions for the current year with additional cuts anticipated, driven by structural deficit spending. An operating millage renewal passed in late 2023 is helping stabilize day-to-day funding, but the financial pressure is real and could affect class sizes, programs, and services over multiple years. The district is also exploring a project-based New Tech High School, though that would serve families at the secondary level rather than elementary.
For a family weighing Mitchell, the picture is one of a diverse, higher-need elementary school in a affluent, education-centered community where the school's own assessment results have not kept pace with county peers. The surrounding district offers resources and a track record of community investment, but the academic data at Mitchell points to a building where many students are working below grade level, and where a parent would want to ask direct questions about what supports are in place.
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