Ypsilanti International Elementary School, Ypsilanti MI

Original Research by School Decision on Ypsilanti International Elementary School

Ypsilanti International Elementary School sits on Oak Street in the heart of a college town shaped by Eastern Michigan University. The school serves pre-kindergarten through fifth grade as part of Ypsilanti Community Schools, and its enrollment is moderate for an elementary building in this area. The surrounding city carries a distinct identity: a compact grid of historic turn-of-the-century architecture, two commercial districts in downtown and Depot Town, and the Huron River running through with the Border-to-Border Trail alongside it. Publicly reported sources describe Ypsilanti as having the second-largest contiguous historic district in Michigan, with EMU's campus interwoven among the commercial and civic spaces rather than set apart. The city sits roughly thirty miles west of Detroit with direct access to I-94, and its economy has shifted from automotive manufacturing toward education and services, with EMU as the dominant employer. A redevelopment area near downtown and participation in a state downtown-revitalization program signal ongoing efforts to fill vacant parcels and attract growth.

The school's student body reflects a mixed community. A slim majority of students identify as white, with a substantial Black population and a meaningful share of students identifying as two or more races. A smaller Hispanic group and a very small number of Asian and American Indian or Alaska Native students round out the enrollment. A moderate share of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. Data on English learners and students with individualized education programs was not reported, so those populations cannot be characterized here. A parent interested in special education services or language support may want to ask the school directly about what is available.

On Michigan's M-STEP assessments, the school's results paint a mixed but generally encouraging picture for an elementary program. English language arts stands out as the stronger area, with fifth-grade proficiency reaching the midpoint of tested students and third and fourth grades landing above a third. Math results are more modest across all three tested grades, hovering around a third of students meeting proficiency. Fifth-grade science and social studies results land above the math levels, suggesting older students at the school are building broader academic footing as they prepare to transition to middle school. Compared to districts across Washtenaw County, the school's overall proficiency sits above the midpoint, a solid standing in a county that includes some of the state's higher-performing districts.

No multi-year trend data was available, so it is not possible to say whether these results represent improvement, decline, or stability. Participation rates were also missing from the state data. The school does not have a graduation rate, and chronic absenteeism figures were not reported, which is consistent with its elementary grade band.

The housing market around the school is relatively accessible by regional standards. Home values in the zip code sit well below both the state and national benchmarks, and rents are modest. Estimated monthly mortgage costs run somewhat above typical rent, and the price-to-income ratio suggests buying here is more attainable than in many nearby Washtenaw County communities, though current mortgage rates remain elevated. For a family weighing where to settle, this area offers historic character, university-adjacent amenities, and a lower cost of entry than much of the surrounding county.

Ypsilanti International Elementary School fits a family looking for a diverse, mid-sized elementary program in a walkable, historic college town, with academic results that are respectable for the region and particular strength in reading and writing. A parent concerned about math outcomes, or wanting to understand special education and English-learner supports, would benefit from sitting down with school staff to get the full picture.

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Academic performance

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

Math

Grade 334%

School 34% · District 15% · ▲ 20 pts above district

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

Grade 432%

School 32% · District 11% · ▲ 21 pts above district

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

Grade 539%

School 39% · District 12% · ▲ 27 pts above district

▲ 7 pts above state median · ▼ 9 pts below county median

English language arts

Grade 342%

School 42% · District 19% · ▲ 23 pts above district

▲ 4 pts above state median · ▼ 3 pts below county median

Grade 438%

School 38% · District 15% · ▲ 22 pts above district

▼ 3 pts below state median · ▼ 9 pts below county median

Grade 550%

School 50% · District 19% · ▲ 31 pts above district

▲ 8 pts above state median · even with county median

Science

Grade 546%

School 46% · District 18% · ▲ 28 pts above district

▲ 6 pts above state median · ▼ 5 pts below county median

Social studies

Grade 542%

School 42% · District 13% · ▲ 29 pts above district

▲ 14 pts above state median · even with county median

This schoolYpsilanti Community Schools, 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.

Proficiency by household income

English language arts

Grade 3Lower-income13%Higher-income57%44 pp gap

Grade 4Lower-income15%Higher-income51%36 pp gap

Grade 5Lower-income17%Higher-income74%57 pp gap

Mathematics

Grade 3Lower-income13%Higher-income46%33 pp gap

Grade 4Lower-income11%Higher-income44%33 pp gap