When the Data Shows Up: How One Michigan Elementary School Moved the Needle on Reading
Jesse Slusher, Regional Vice President, Institutional Sales, Varsity Tutors
Michigan principals know the pressure well. Read by Grade Three compliance isn’t optional, M-STEP results are approaching, and MI Kids Back on Track funds must be committed before June 30. Finding an intervention that actually works—one that produces data you can stand behind—is harder than it sounds.
The Challenge
Maplewood Elementary at Maple Valley Schools needed a measurable way to address reading under-performance among upper elementary students. They set a goal of 5% RIT score growth but weren’t sure any intervention could realistically deliver it.
What They Did
Maple Valley partnered with Varsity Tutors to provide small-group ELA tutoring for fourth- and fifth-grade students. Instruction was personalized from day one, built around each student’s diagnostic results, with consistent tutors who developed meaningful relationships over time.
What Happened
- 7–9% increase in average RIT scores, exceeding the district’s goal
- Students with attendance rates above 90% improved an average of 15%
- 85% of students showed measurable improvement
- 12% growth on Varsity Tutors’ platform assessments
Principal Trent Harvey put it simply: “Varsity Tutors has been a wonderful addition to our school community. The program effectively meets the individual learning needs of each student.”
The district is now expanding the program and integrating it into daily instruction.
For Michigan Principals
Varsity Tutors meets ESSA Level III evidence standards and is eligible for MI Kids Back on Track, Section 31a At-Risk, and Title I funding. With the June 30 budget deadline approaching, now is an ideal time to explore what high-dosage tutoring could look like for your students in 2026–27.
Read the full Impact Report for Maplewood Elementary School:
https://www.varsitytutors.com/schools/resources/maplewood-elementary-case-study