LANSING, Mich. (Michigan News Source) – The problem with academic achievement in Michigan isn’t tied to teacher performance, according to some urban school districts.

Public school districts in Flint, Lansing and Pontiac have low student achievement but high teacher evaluations.

MORE NEWS: From Dead End to Daily Pill: U-M Research Helps Rewrite the Outlook for Leukemia Patients

School districts in Michigan went to a new teacher evaluation rating system in 2024-25. The highest rating is now “effective” followed by “developing” and “needing support.”

For example, Flint Community Schools had 95% of its third-grade students not proficient at reading on state standardized tests. It also gave 98% of its teachers the highest “effective” rating.

For Pontiac’s school district, 89% of its students were not proficient at reading and 96% of its teachers were given the highest rating.

At the Lansing School District, 79% of its third graders were not proficient in reading and 97% of its teachers had the highest rating.