The top reported proficiency rate is 62% in Science. The lowest is 35% in Social studies.
Original Research by School Decision on Franklin Elementary School
Franklin Elementary School sits on Lester Street in Cadillac, the primary commercial and industrial hub for the surrounding rural stretch of Northern Michigan. It is a regular public school in the Cadillac Area Public Schools district, serving pre-kindergarten through fifth grade. The enrollment is mid-sized for an elementary building in this region, and the student body is predominantly white, with small Hispanic and multiracial populations and a handful of students from other racial backgrounds. A substantial share of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, which reflects the working-class character of much of the community. Data on English learners and students with individualized education programs was not reported, so those population sizes remain unknown here.
On Michigan's M-STEP assessments for the most recent school year, Franklin's results tell a story of growth across the upper elementary grades. Third and fourth grade proficiency in both math and English language arts sits below the middle of the range a parent might hope for, with roughly four in ten students meeting proficiency in those grades. The picture shifts sharply by fifth grade. Math proficiency jumps to a strong majority, English language arts reaches the mid-range, and science results show a solid majority of fifth graders proficient. Social studies is the soft spot, with only about a third of fifth graders reaching proficiency. A parent looking at these patterns might want to ask the school how it supports the earlier grades and what drives the fifth-grade lift, because the trajectory suggests students arrive at a higher level by the time they prepare to leave.
Against the comparison set of districts in Wexford County, Franklin's overall proficiency across tested subjects and grades places it in the top quartile, above the county median. This is a strong relative position for a school with the level of economic need Franklin serves. No graduation rate or chronic absenteeism figures apply to this school because it does not serve high school grades, and absenteeism data was not available in the provided records.
Cadillac itself is a city built around two lakes and a manufacturing base. Boat building, automotive parts, rubber products, iron foundry work, and military hardware anchor the local economy, with tourism and outdoor recreation forming a second pillar driven by Lake Cadillac, Lake Mitchell, the Manistee National Forest, and the nearby Caberfae Ski Area. The White Pine Trail, a long paved rail-trail, terminates in the center of the city. Downtown runs along Mitchell Street, but schools occupy their own separated campuses rather than integrating into the commercial core. The city's population has been stable with only modest growth, and two EPA Superfund sites are noted in publicly reported sources. A recent school bond funded construction across all pre-kindergarten through twelfth grade buildings in the district, with work completed in 2024, which means Franklin likely benefits from refreshed facilities. The district brief turned up no other parent-relevant changes in the recent period.
Housing here is affordable by both state and national standards. The typical home value in the school's zip code sits below the Michigan benchmark and well below the national one, with a price-to-income ratio that suggests a family earning a median income can manage a purchase more feasibly than in many parts of the country. Rent data was not available. Mortgage rates hover in the mid-six range nationally, so financing costs are a factor for any family considering a move.
For a family weighing Franklin, the academic signal is encouraging at the top end and worth probing at the early grades. The community offers lakefront living, trail access, and a manufacturing-rooted economy with steady employers. The housing market is approachable. What is missing from the available data, particularly around special populations and absenteeism, is worth asking about directly.
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