Wexford Montessori Magnet School, Lansing MI

Original Research by School Decision on Wexford Montessori Magnet School

Wexford Montessori Magnet School sits on Lansing's south side, serving pre-kindergarten through eighth grade as part of the Lansing Public School District. It is a regular public school operating under a Montessori framework, which means families here are choosing a specific pedagogical approach: mixed-age classrooms, self-directed work cycles, and hands-on materials rather than a traditional instructional model. The enrollment is modest for a school spanning ten grade levels, and the student body is diverse, with Black, white, and multiracial students each making up large shares, alongside a smaller but present Hispanic population. A very high proportion of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, which reflects the economic conditions of the surrounding neighborhoods.

State assessment results from the most recent year paint a mixed picture, with most results landing on the lower end. In math, proficiency rates across third through seventh grade were consistently low, and eighth-grade math on the PSAT fell into the lowest reporting band. English language arts results were somewhat stronger, hovering in the low-to-mid range across most grades, with the standout being eighth-grade ELA on the PSAT, where a clear majority of tested students reached proficiency. Science and social studies results fell in between, with fifth-grade social studies the weakest spot. Taken together, the school's overall proficiency index places it in the bottom quartile relative to districts across Ingham County. A parent weighing this school may want to look into how the Montessori approach aligns with state testing expectations and what support structures are in place for students performing below grade level.

The school does not have a graduation rate, which is expected: it serves only through eighth grade. Data on chronic absenteeism, discipline, course access, staffing, and special populations such as students with IEPs or English learners was not available in the provided materials, so those dimensions of school life remain an open question here. Program offerings were also not included in the data we received.

The surrounding community shapes what families experience. Lansing is Michigan's state capital, a mid-sized city with an economy anchored by state government, insurance companies such as Auto-Owners and Jackson National Life, healthcare systems including Sparrow and McLaren, and General Motors manufacturing. Michigan State University sits in neighboring East Lansing, and Lansing Community College operates within the city. The downtown core has the state Capitol, a riverfront trail system along the Grand River, and cultural institutions like the Impression 5 Science Center and Potter Park Zoo. Walkability is moderate downtown but the city is largely auto-oriented. Housing in the school's zip code is quite affordable relative to state and national benchmarks, with home values well below the Michigan median and rents similarly low. For families, that means housing costs are unlikely to be a barrier to living in the attendance area, though the affordability also reflects the economic pressures many district families face.

The broader district context matters for any family considering this school. Lansing Public School District recently passed a bond for facility improvements, security upgrades, a new early childhood center, and a rebuilt Willow Elementary, all structured without increasing the tax rate. At the same time, the district is publicly reported to be grappling with a budget deficit driven by declining enrollment and the expiration of federal COVID-relief funds. Discussions about potential school consolidation have begun, though no specific buildings have been named. Those financial pressures could eventually affect programming and staffing across the district, and families may want to follow how that unfolds.

Wexford Montessori offers a distinctive educational philosophy within a public school setting, serving a diverse, high-poverty student population in an affordable capital-city neighborhood. Its academic results are currently weak in most tested areas, with eighth-grade ELA a clear bright spot. Families drawn to Montessori education and willing to engage with the school about academic support may find value here, but the proficiency data warrants close attention.

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Academic performance

How students perform on state tests, by grade, set against the district.

Math

Grade 316%

School 16% · District 21% · ▼ 5 pts below district

▼ 25 pts below state median · ▼ 24 pts below county median

Grade 412%

School 12% · District 15% · ▼ 3 pts below district

▼ 27 pts below state median · ▼ 22 pts below county median

Grade 58%

School 8% · District 11% · ▼ 3 pts below district

▼ 24 pts below state median · ▼ 21 pts below county median

Grade 610%

School 10% · District 8% · ▲ 3 pts above district

▼ 18 pts below state median · ▼ 14 pts below county median

Grade 712%

School 12% · District 9% · ▲ 3 pts above district

▼ 17 pts below state median · ▼ 11 pts below county median

English language arts

Grade 320%

School 20% · District 21%

▼ 17 pts below state median · ▼ 17 pts below county median

Grade 423%

School 23% · District 19% · ▲ 4 pts above district

▼ 18 pts below state median · ▼ 17 pts below county median

Grade 528%

School 28% · District 20% · ▲ 8 pts above district

▼ 15 pts below state median · ▼ 15 pts below county median

Grade 623%

School 23% · District 14% · ▲ 8 pts above district

▼ 11 pts below state median · ▼ 7 pts below county median

Grade 723%

School 23% · District 18% · ▲ 5 pts above district

▼ 11 pts below state median · ▼ 6 pts below county median

Grade 865%

School 65% · District 40% · ▲ 25 pts above district

▲ 2 pts above state median · ▲ 4 pts above county median

Science

Grade 525%

School 25% · District 17% · ▲ 9 pts above district

▼ 15 pts below state median · ▼ 11 pts below county median

Grade 832%

School 32% · District 16% · ▲ 16 pts above district

▼ 5 pts below state median · ▼ 4 pts below county median

Social studies

Grade 515%

School 15% · District 10% · ▲ 5 pts above district

▼ 13 pts below state median · ▼ 11 pts below county median

Grade 829%

School 29% · District 17% · ▲ 12 pts above district

▼ 13 pts below state median · ▼ 6 pts below county median

This schoolLansing Public School District, same grade

Graduation rate (ACGR) reflects the federally published Adjusted Cohort Graduation Rate for the most recent year available. We refresh this data annually at the close of each academic year in June. The federal source publishes a banded rate (for example, "90-94%") instead of an exact number for cohorts small enough to risk identifying individual students. The state distribution chart, where shown, plots every school in the state with a published rate or band; schools whose rate is federally suppressed are excluded. Where the federal source publishes a band rather than an exact rate, the school is placed within its band using a stable, ID-derived offset, so its position is consistent across visits.