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Excellent

#54 of 3,190 schools in MI

Top 2% in state

George Defer Elementary School

Elementary School · Grosse Pointe Public Schools

15425 KERCHEVAL AVE, Grosse Pointe Park, MI 48230

Enrollment

464

Student-Teacher

18.6:1

Score

9.1

Grades

Kindergarten – 4th

Updated 2022-23

How this school compares

In Grosse Pointe Park

#1 of 2

public schools

Michigan elementary schools

#45 of 1,602

In district

#2 of 12

Grosse Pointe Public Schools

Equity

9.8 / 10

Exceptional

About George Defer Elementary School

George Defer Elementary School serves 464 students in kindergarten through fourth grade in Grosse Pointe Park, Michigan. The school earns a composite score of 9.1 out of 10 — labeled Exceptional — driven by an academic score of 9.7 and a growth score of 9.6. Those marks place Defer 54th among 3,190 public schools statewide, meaning it outperforms 98% of Michigan schools regardless of grade level or type.

The school runs as a regular public elementary program with an 18.6-to-1 student-teacher ratio. Narrowing the comparison to elementary peers sharpens the picture further: Defer ranks 45th among Michigan's 1,602 elementary schools, holding its position in the top 3% of the grade-level-specific pool. Academic performance and student growth are both exceptional by that measure — not just relative to a mixed K-12 field.

Within Grosse Pointe Park, Defer ranks first of two public schools, making the local comparison straightforward for families already in the community. Parents considering a move to the area can treat its statewide rank as a reliable signal — Defer consistently performs at the level of Michigan's strongest elementary schools.

Score Breakdown

Full Profile · 3/3 metrics
Student Progress9.6Exceptional50%
Year-over-year improvement in student test scores.
View breakdown
Years of Data3
Annual Change+3.31 pts/yr
Data Period2019–2022
TrendImproving
Academics9.7Exceptional30%
Student proficiency on state tests, adjusted for community poverty levels.
View breakdown
Math Proficiency74.7%
Reading/ELA Proficiency80.2%
Math vs. State Avg+32.9 pts
Reading vs. State Avg+38.2 pts
Overall Proficiency77%
Expected (poverty-adj.)63%
vs. Expected+14.1 pts
Adjusted Percentile96th
College ReadinessNot Available

Data not available for this school

Resources & Environment7.0Very Good20%
Student-teacher ratio, per-pupil spending, and attendance.
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio18.6:1
Per-Pupil Spending$17,147

George Defer Elementary School — Students at George Defer Elementary School score 77% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 63%).

How we calculate scores →

Equity & Diversity

Shown separately, not included in overall score

Free/Reduced Lunch

17.2%

Students qualifying for federal meal assistance

Test Scores MI EDFACTS (2021-22)

Math Proficiency 71.5%
School
State
37.8%
ELA Proficiency 76.6%
School
State
43.3%

Based on 10 test records from MI state assessments. About our data

Proficiency Trend

↑ Improving

Average proficiency (% at or above grade level) across Math & ELA over time.

2019
Math
62%
ELA
72%
2021*
Math
72%
ELA
72%
2022
Math
74.6%
ELA
79.7%

* COVID-affected year — test participation was uneven nationwide. This data is weighted at 50% in the Growth score calculation.

Source: EdFacts (NCES) and state assessment data. Growth score: 9.6/10.

How George Defer Elementary School Compares

See how George Defer Elementary School performs across key quality dimensions compared to state benchmarks.

Overall Score
9.1/10
98th percentile in MI
Academic
9.7/10
9.7/10
Growth
9.6/10
Above average
Environment
7.0/10
Above average

Funding & Resources

Free/Reduced Lunch
Students eligible for subsidized meals
17%
Teaching Staff
19:1 student-teacher ratio
25 teachers

Location

15425 KERCHEVAL AVE, Grosse Pointe Park, MI 48230

Nearby Alternatives

Families considering George Defer Elementary School may also want to explore other elementary schools in the area. Richard Elementary School (rated 9.2/10, 1.8 miles away, in nearby Grosse Pointe Farms), with a very similar rating. Another option is Hamilton Academy (rated 8.1/10, 1.7 miles away, in nearby Detroit), with a comparable rating. Additionally, ST CLARE OF MONTEFALCO SCHOOL (rated 7.9/10, 0.7 miles away), a more accessible option. For more schools in Grosse Pointe Park, see our Grosse Pointe Park schools guide .

Nearby Schools

20 within 2.6 mi
School Distance Rating
Pierce Middle School Grosse Pointe Park 0.1 mi 8.1
Detroit Merit Charter Academy Detroit 0.5 mi 4.4
ST CLARE OF MONTEFALCO SCHOOL Grosse Pointe Park 0.7 mi 7.9
J E Clark Preparatory Academy Detroit 0.8 mi 6.7
Davis Aerospace Technical High School at Golightly Detroit 1.2 mi 6.0
Lewis Maire Elementary School Grosse Pointe 1.1 mi 7.8
Carstens ElementaryMiddle School Detroit 1.5 mi 7.2
Ronald Brown Academy Detroit 1.6 mi 6.3
Diann BanksWilliamson Educational Center Detroit 1.8 mi 8.8
East English Village Preparatory Academy at Finney Detroit 1.8 mi 5.3
Hamilton Academy Detroit 1.7 mi 8.1
Richard Elementary School Grosse Pointe Farms 1.8 mi 9.2
Grosse Pointe South High School Grosse Pointe Farms 1.9 mi 8.0
Pathways Academy Detroit 2.1 mi 5.6
Wayne Elementary School Detroit 2.4 mi 6.5
Detroit Enterprise Academy Detroit 2.1 mi 5.3
Brownell Middle School Grosse Pointe Farms 2.3 mi 7.6
Marquette ElementaryMiddle School Detroit 2.6 mi 6.8
Southeastern High School Detroit 2.2 mi 5.5
Kerby Elementary School Grosse Pointe Farms 2.6 mi 7.1

Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)

Census data for ZIP 48230 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources

Median Income

$131,155

Median Home Value

$448,200

Median Rent

$1,451/mo

Population

17,330

College Educated

72.7%

Homeownership

77.7%

Avg Commute

25 min

Poverty Rate

4.5%

Median Age

41.7

Community Profile

The community surrounding George Defer Elementary School has a median household income of $131,155. It is a well-educated community where 73% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $448,200, with a median rent of $1,451/month. The local poverty rate of 4.5% is relatively low. The average commute for residents is 25 minutes. Source: U.S. Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates.

Similar Schools

Schools in the same state with comparable level, size, and ratings

School Rating
Grant Elementary School Livonia, MI 9.1
Hickory Woods Elementary School Novi, MI 9.1
Pleasant Lake Elementary School West Bloomfield, MI 9.1
Randolph Elementary School Livonia, MI 9.1
Walters Elementary Marshall, MI 9.1
West Holland, MI 9.1

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about George Defer Elementary School

What grades does George Defer Elementary School serve?

George Defer Elementary School serves students in grades Kindergarten through 4th.

How many students attend George Defer Elementary School?

George Defer Elementary School has an enrollment of approximately 464 students.

What is the student-teacher ratio at George Defer Elementary School?

The student-teacher ratio at George Defer Elementary School is 18.6:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.

How does George Defer Elementary School rank in MI?

George Defer Elementary School is ranked #54 out of 3,190 schools in MI.

What is George Defer Elementary School's MySchoolScout rating?

George Defer Elementary School has a composite rating of 9.1 out of 10 on MySchoolScout. This score combines academic performance, student growth, and school environment into a single score. Equity data is shown separately for context.

What are the test scores at George Defer Elementary School?

Based on the most recent state assessment data, George Defer Elementary School has 71.5% math proficiency and 76.6% reading/ELA proficiency.

Is George Defer Elementary School a charter school?

No, George Defer Elementary School is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.

Is George Defer Elementary School a Title I school?

No, George Defer Elementary School is not currently a Title I school.

What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for George Defer Elementary School?

17.2% of students at George Defer Elementary School qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. This is a commonly used indicator of economic need and provides important context when interpreting test scores.

11 schools nearby View map →

Neighborhood Context

Walk Score
70 Very Walkable
Bike Score
50 Bikeable
City Safety
High (1,603/100K)

Powered by Walk Score

FBI UCR 2024. City-level (Grosse Pointe Park). Data >1 year old.

Quick Facts NCES CCD (SY 2022-23)

Grades
Kindergarten – 4th
Enrollment
464
Student-Teacher Ratio
18.6:1
Teachers (FTE)
25
Free/Reduced Lunch
17.2%
Type
regular
Setting
Large Suburb
County
Wayne County
Data Year
2023–2024

District

Grosse Pointe Public Schools
District Enrollment
6,467
Schools in District
12
Per-Pupil Spending
$19,020
District Rank
#2 of 12

How We Rate Schools

Every school receives a composite score from 1 to 10 based on four pillars: Academic Performance (50%), Student Growth (20%), Equity (15%), and Learning Environment (15%). Scores are built from publicly available data including standardized test results, enrollment figures, and school climate indicators.

Read our full methodology

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