The top reported proficiency rate is 30% in Math. The lowest is 16% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on Redwood Elementary
Redwood Elementary is a regular public school serving kindergarten through fifth grade in Hartford, a small rural city in Van Buren County. It is part of Hartford Public Schools. The school sits on Woodside Drive, just off the compact Main Street core of a community that describes itself as a small hometown with a family-oriented spirit, set among fruit orchards, farms, and nearby lakes. Interstate 94 runs close by, connecting Hartford to Benton Harbor, Kalamazoo, and beyond, though the town itself has no public transit. Housing here is very affordable relative to state and national levels, with home values sitting well below Michigan's statewide median. The community has been roughly stable to slightly declining in population, with no major new developments identified in publicly reported sources.
The student body is sizeable for an elementary school, with enrollment spread fairly evenly across the six grade levels. A large majority of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, reflecting the broader economic profile of the area. The school's enrollment is predominantly Hispanic, with a substantial white population and very small representation from other racial groups. Data on English learner identification and special education enrollment was not available, so those figures are not characterized here.
On state assessments, Redwood's results show a mixed picture. In math, roughly a third of third and fourth graders reached proficiency, with fifth grade somewhat lower. English language arts proficiency starts lower in third grade and climbs somewhat by fifth, though it remains modest across the board. Science and social studies, tested only in fifth grade, show smaller shares of students meeting the proficiency bar. These are results that sit below the county median on the combined proficiency index, though above the midpoint among Van Buren County districts. A parent may want to look into how the school supports literacy development in the early grades and what intervention resources are available, particularly given the high proportion of students from economically disadvantaged households.
Because Redwood serves only elementary grades, there is no graduation rate to report, and the school does not produce the high school-level metrics that accompany older grade bands. Chronic absenteeism data was not available in the provided sources. Information on discipline, course access, staffing ratios, and attendance was also absent, so those dimensions are left out rather than guessed. Title I status was not reported, though the free-or-reduced lunch rate would typically make a school of this profile eligible.
The broader community context is one where schools are woven into civic life. Hartford residents gather for Friday night football games, the annual Strawberry Festival in early June, and events at Hartford Motor Speedway. The Van Buren Trail has an endpoint within city limits, offering a recreational path. Local industries center on education and healthcare, with agriculture shaping the surrounding landscape. The school district itself is one of the larger local employers. No district-level curriculum, pedagogy, or funding changes meeting a lasting-impact threshold were identified in publicly reported sources.
For a family considering Redwood, the school offers a community-integrated setting in an affordable small town with a young, predominantly Hispanic population. The academic results suggest a school working with a student body that faces economic challenges, with math being a relative bright spot and literacy an area where a parent might ask more questions. The proximity to I-94 gives residents access to larger employment and cultural centers while living in a place where housing costs remain low.
See more original research from School Decision →