The top reported proficiency rate is 52% in Science. The lowest is 35% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on Leon W Hayes Intermediate School
Leon W. Hayes Intermediate School sits in Grand Ledge, a small Michigan city along the Grand River roughly a short drive west of downtown Lansing. The school serves only grades five and six, making it a transitional bridge between elementary and middle school in the Grand Ledge Public Schools district. This narrow grade band is a deliberate design choice. Beginning in the 2021-22 school year, the district reconfigured its grade levels across all buildings, and Hayes shifted from serving seventh and eighth graders to its current fifth- and sixth-grade role. That reorganization shapes the whole trajectory a child follows through the district: kindergarten is now housed within the elementary schools, which run through fourth grade, then students pass through Hayes for two years before moving on to Beagle Middle School for seventh and eighth.
Grand Ledge itself has a distinct identity. The city takes its name from the sandstone ledges rising above the Grand River, which remain a defining recreational feature. Fitzgerald Park and Island Park sit along the river near the compact historic downtown centered on Bridge Street, and Oak Park offers rock climbing routes on the sandstone cliffs, a rarity in Michigan. The community traces its roots to a resort-town era in the late nineteenth century when the railroad brought tourists to the Seven Islands Resort. Today it functions primarily as a residential community with some commercial and light-industrial employment, including a Lowe's distribution center with an active rail siding. The broader school district stretches well beyond the city limits, encompassing Delta Mills, Mulliken, Wacousta, Eagle, and a large portion of Delta Township, which means the student body at Hayes draws from a mix of small-town and township neighborhoods.
The school's enrollment is moderate for a two-grade building. Its student population is predominantly white, with a Hispanic or Latino share representing the next largest group, followed by students of two or more races. A modest but meaningful portion of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. The data did not include counts for students with individualized education programs or English learners, so those populations could not be characterized here. Title I status was also not reported.
On state assessments, Hayes shows a clear pattern. English language arts results are the strongest area, with roughly half of fifth graders and approaching half of sixth graders scoring proficient. Science proficiency among fifth graders is also relatively solid. Math results are softer, with proficiency in the lower-to-mid range across both grades, and social studies results among fifth graders sit in a similar band. When measured relative to districts in Eaton County, the school's overall proficiency across tested subjects and grades lands above the midpoint, which places it in a reasonably competitive position against its neighbors. Participation rate data was not available, and no multi-year trend information was reported, so it is not possible to say from the data whether performance is improving or declining over time.
Because Hayes serves only fifth and sixth grade, there is no graduation rate to report, and chronic absenteeism data was not provided. No civil-rights data, course-access information, staffing details, or discipline figures were available in the data provided.
Housing in the school's zip code sits below the national typical home value but above the Michigan state benchmark, and values have been rising modestly year over year. Rents are affordable relative to local incomes. At current mortgage rates, renting costs less per month than carrying a mortgage on a typical home in the area, which may factor into housing decisions for families considering a move into the attendance zone.
The district has invested in its facilities recently. A new Wacousta Elementary building opened in fall 2024 as part of a multi-phase bond, and the same bond funded a track and field complex, a weight room, and a performing arts addition at Grand Ledge High School. While those projects touch other buildings, they reflect a district actively maintaining and upgrading its physical plant.
For a parent evaluating Hayes, the school represents a focused two-year intermediate experience in a district that has recently reorganized its grade structure and invested in facilities. Academic results are mixed across subjects, with relative strength in English language arts and science and softer outcomes in math. A parent may want to look into math instruction and support further with the school. The community offers a distinct small-town character with riverfront parks and a compact downtown, all within commuting distance of Lansing.
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