The top reported proficiency rate is 29% in Math. The lowest is 6% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on Rawsonville Elementary School
Rawsonville Elementary School is a regular public school in the Van Buren Public Schools district, serving kindergarten through fifth grade. It sits in Ypsilanti, Michigan, on South Grove Street. The school enrolls a mid-sized population for an elementary building, with a fairly even distribution across the early grades. Fifth grade shows no enrolled students in the reported data, which may reflect how the school structures its upper elementary program or how students transition to other buildings. A very substantial share of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. The student body is predominantly Black, with a large White population and smaller Hispanic and multiracial groups. Data on English learners and students with individualized education programs was not available.
On Michigan's M-STEP assessment, the most recent results come from the current school year for grades three and four in math and English language arts. Math proficiency in third grade sits below the middle of the range one might expect, and fourth grade math is lower still. English language arts proficiency in both grades is also modest, with third grade slightly ahead of fourth. A science result exists only from an earlier school year for fourth grade, showing very low proficiency, and the state's science assessment framework has changed since then, so that figure carries limited comparability. Across the tested subjects and grades, the school's overall proficiency lands in the bottom quartile relative to districts in Washtenaw County. The county's district-level proficiency ranges run wide, from modest to quite high, and Rawsonville sits near the lower end of that spectrum. A parent weighing this school may want to ask the administration what improvement strategies are in place for core instruction and how growth is tracked from year to year, since multi-year trend data was not available to show whether results are moving.
Because Rawsonville is an elementary school, there is no graduation rate to report. Chronic absenteeism data was also missing. No information on Title I status, discipline practices, course access, staffing ratios, or specialized programs was provided, so those dimensions cannot be assessed here.
Ypsilanti itself is a college town anchored by Eastern Michigan University, which is the area's dominant employer. The city carries a strong sense of identity through its historic downtown and Depot Town districts, both lined with turn-of-the-century buildings, and the West Cross Street commercial area near campus adds dining and nightlife. The Huron River runs through the city, and the Border-to-Border Trail provides a recreational corridor. Ypsilanti has deep automotive manufacturing roots, but its major GM Powertrain facility ceased production years ago, and the city has been working through redevelopment of vacant parcels near downtown. The city has participated in a state-supported downtown development program and updated its master plan to address vacant properties and economic transition. Publicly reported sources identify Eastern Michigan University as the primary current employer, with little detail on other major private-sector employers.
Housing in the school's zip code is affordable compared with both state and national benchmarks. Home values sit well below the state average, and rents are moderate. The broader county housing market shows a healthy supply of active listings, with homes spending roughly a month and a half on market before going under contract. Mortgage costs at current interest rates run somewhat higher than local rents, which makes renting relatively accessible for families in this area.
At the district level, Van Buren Public Schools is in the midst of facility investment. Voters approved a bond in May 2022 that funds district-wide improvements, including a replacement building for Tyler Elementary, safety and security upgrades, HVAC and roofing repairs, technology, and athletic facility improvements at Belleville High School. Construction on the new Tyler Elementary began in late 2023 and is expected to open in fall 2025. The bond carries a property tax increase for residents, partially offset by a state grant. These changes touch families across the district, including those at Rawsonville, through both tax impact and improved learning environments.
Rawsonville Elementary fits a family looking for a neighborhood public school in an affordable community with strong civic character and university-town amenities. The academic results, as reported, are a soft spot, and families would be well served by asking school leadership directly about instructional supports, intervention programs, and how the district's broader facility investments translate into resources at this building.
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