New data shows how Michigan school districts compare to districts in top-performing states

LANSING, Mich. – Launch Michigan, a nonprofit organization dedicated to reimagining Michigan’s public education system, today released a dashboard with first-of-its-kind analysis showing how Michigan school districts compare to similar districts in top-performing states in reading and math proficiency, graduation rate and other metrics. Prior to this, Michigan school districts could only be compared against each other.

 Launch Michigan’s analysis shows that Michigan districts are underperforming their national comparison districts in key areas:

• 7 out of 8 Michigan districts do worse than national comparison districts in math.


• 70% of Michigan districts underperform in reading compared to similar districts in top-performing states.

• 71% of Michigan districts underperform their national comparison districts in graduation rate.

Using publicly available data, Launch Michigan worked with AEM Corporation to create the data set and district comparison dashboard tool, which allows people to see how individual school districts in Michigan compare to similar districts in states with high education performance: Connecticut, Florida, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New Jersey, New Hampshire, Utah, Virginia and Wisconsin.

Launch Michigan compared districts to those in other states based on key characteristics like district size, socioeconomic status, race and ethnicity demographics, language learners and students with disabilities, among others.

“It’s important to remember that Michigan didn’t get here overnight,” said Launch Michigan President and CEO Venessa Keesler. “After decades of band-aid fixes and a lack of investment in education, Michigan has fallen far behind most states — not due to a lack of effort from educators but because of a broken system.”

Since the passage of Proposal A in 1994, Michigan ranks last among states in total education revenue growth (Arsen, 2019) and 48th among states in per pupil funding growth (Addonizio and Arsen, 2024). Michigan is also one of only six states with a disjointed K-12 governance model, according to the Education Commission of the States.

“Launch Michigan is pushing for system-level changes, including a stronger focus on career and college readiness and increased resources invested strategically and with a focus on equity to ensure all students have what they need to learn and be successful,” Keesler said. “While critical investments have been made in education in recent years, Michigan needs to build on those early steps and commit to fully reinventing our education system.”

Last April, Launch Michigan transitioned from a coalition of top state business, education, labor, and philanthropic leaders to a formal 501(c)(3) organization. Launch Michigan’s framework includes strategies to improve Michigan’s education system and achieve world-class outcomes through balanced resources, governance and accountability.

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Additional Quotes                                                                      

From Sheila A. Alles, Interim State Superintendent of Public Instruction and Chief Deputy Superintendent, Michigan Department of Education (2017-2021) and Tom Watkins, State Superintendent of Schools (2001-2005):
"Launch Michigan is to be commended for creating the first of its kind data dashboard for Michigan that compares districts in our state to similar districts across the nation.  The aggregate academic and demographic data is easy to view and understand and forms a gauge of how well or how poorly a Michigan district is performing as compared to its national counterpart. It has value for educators, parents, community stakeholders and business leaders. Policy makers must use it to act on system-level changes that are needed to reform education in Michigan so our students are prepared for their future and not our past."

From Brian Calley, president and CEO of the Small Business Association of Michigan and Launch Michigan board member:
“Michigan's underperformance in key areas such as math and reading underscores the urgency of our situation. The misalignment of our system with what our students need to succeed in the jobs of today and the future needs to be treated as an emergency. Launch Michigan's advocacy for system-level changes is essential for driving progress and achieving world-class outcomes in our education system.” 

From Jeff Donofrio, president and CEO of Business Leaders for Michigan and chair of the Launch Michigan board:
“Parents and educators are working hard to help our kids reach their full potential, but the system was designed for a different time.  The data shows the urgent need for reinvention of Michigan’s public K-12 system, which includes strong, accountable leadership, equitable resources, and world-class performance standards.”

From Ryan Fewins-Bliss, executive director of the Michigan College Access Network:
“This data underscores the urgent need for systemic change in our education system. We must work together to strengthen the supports and pathways for students while they are in school, to provide every student in Michigan with a strong toolbox of skills they’ll need for college and beyond.”

From Paul Liabenow, executive director of the Michigan Elementary & Middle School Principals Association:
“Data provides us with a critical sense of whether our kids are learning the things we all agree are important to their development at a foundational level. This dashboard, along with the work Launch Michigan is doing, will help us identify and implement solutions to be competitive with similar districts in leading states.”

From Karen McPhee, education policy and strategic leadership consultant, former intermediate school district superintendent and Launch Michigan board member:
"The dashboard offers a different lens on our schools' performance. Instead of comparing or ranking districts that might differ significantly in size, resources, or demographics, this data offers an 'apples to apples' comparison and will, in some cases, provide our districts with national models to analyze for practices that might benefit students here in Michigan."

From Kylee Wells, executive director of Ballmer Group Southeast Michigan and Launch Michigan board member:
“We must prioritize equitable access to resources and opportunities for all students, regardless of their background or zip code. Launch Michigan is dedicated to advocating for these changes and ensuring that every child in Michigan has the support they need to succeed.”