The top reported proficiency rate is 59% in Science. The lowest is 44% in Social studies.
Original Research by School Decision on Creekside Intermediate School
Creekside Intermediate School sits in the city of Dexter, a small historic community northwest of Ann Arbor in Washtenaw County. The school serves grades five and six, acting as a bridge between elementary and middle school for families in the Dexter Community School District. Dexter itself grew from a farming village into an incorporated city, with a walkable downtown along Ann Arbor Street where mixed-use buildings house shops and civic functions. The Washtenaw County Border-to-Border Trail runs through town, and two metroparks sit partially within city limits, giving residents easy access to the Huron River and Mill Creek. A community connector bus links Dexter to Ann Arbor, and the city hosts a farmers market, a historical museum, and a local theater company that recently purchased a historic downtown building for a permanent venue.
Academically, Creekside posts solid results on Michigan's M-STEP assessments. In English language arts, well over half of tested students reached proficiency in both fifth and sixth grade, with consistent performance across the two grades. Math tells a slightly different story: sixth-grade proficiency is notably stronger than fifth-grade, suggesting students may gain ground as they move through the school. Science proficiency for fifth graders is strong, while social studies is the weakest area, with fewer than half of fifth graders reaching proficiency. A parent may want to look into this further with the school, particularly how social studies instruction is structured across the two years. Taken together, Creekside's overall proficiency sits above the midpoint among districts in Washtenaw County, a competitive set that includes Ann Arbor and other well-resourced communities.
The school's enrollment is modest for its two-grade span, and the student body is predominantly white. A small share of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, reflecting Dexter's relatively affluent housing market. The median home value in the school's zip code runs well above both state and national benchmarks, and estimated monthly mortgage costs exceed typical rent by a comfortable margin, which speaks to a community where ownership carries a premium. We looked for data on English learners, students with individualized education programs, chronic absenteeism, staffing, and disciplinary patterns, but those fields were not reported for this school. Their absence means a parent would need to ask the district directly for information on special education services, language support, and school climate.
One of the most consequential things a prospective family should know is that Creekside's grade configuration is about to change. A bond issue passed in 2025 will renovate Creekside and relocate grades seven and eight there, while grades five and six will move to Mill Creek Middle School. This means the school as it currently operates, serving the intermediate grades, will be restructured. Families with children currently in or approaching these grades should expect transition planning and potential shifts in building assignment. The district has framed this as a capital investment aimed at improving facilities and better aligning its secondary grade span, and publicly reported information indicates the renovations and moves are part of that broader plan.
Dexter's housing market reflects its appeal as a small city with historic character, outdoor access, and proximity to Ann Arbor. Home values have appreciated modestly year over year, and the community has seen a slight population decline since the 2020 census after a period of growth. The city retains the feel of an old farming village with a defined downtown, and the school district serves both the city and surrounding rural areas in Washtenaw and Livingston counties. For families drawn to a close-knit community with strong academic outcomes, Creekside represents a solid intermediate-level option within a district that is actively investing in its facilities, even as the specific building assignments are in flux.
See more original research from School Decision →