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Understanding issues Metro Detroit students face in 2026

Michigan 3rd graders recorded lowest English Language Arts score in 10 years

Students are halfway through the school year, and the numbers show the challenges they’re facing.

The latest national report card revealed that only 24% of fourth graders were proficient in reading in 2024, with 37% proficient in math.

In Michigan, third graders recorded their lowest English Language Arts scores in over 10 years.

With students still struggling to recover from the pandemic and a high-stakes governor’s race ahead, the pressure to improve is high.

New leadership in Detroit is promising to address issues such as transportation and after-school programs, but other challenges continue to impact students.

Lori Higgins with Chalkbeat, a nonprofit news organization that covers education, joined Local 4 Live on Friday to talk about the issues many students face in Metro Detroit. You can watch the full interview at the beginning of this article.


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