KND Elementary

Summary:

KND Elementary is a public magnet elementary school located in Brethren, Michigan, serving grades K-6 with a total enrollment of 289 students. The school is part of the Kaleva Norman Dickson School District, which is ranked 403 out of 610 districts in Michigan and has a 2-star rating from SchoolDigger.

KND Elementary faces significant challenges, including consistently high chronic absenteeism rates, well below average academic performance on state assessments, and a very high percentage of students eligible for free or reduced-price lunch. The school's academic performance, as measured by M-Step test scores, is consistently below the state and district averages across all grade levels and subject areas. For example, in 2023-2024, the percentage of 3rd-grade students proficient or better in English Language Arts and Math was 16.67%, compared to the state averages of 39.6% and 43.4%, respectively. In contrast, nearby schools like Bear Lake Elementary and John F. Kennedy Elementary demonstrate stronger academic performance and lower chronic absenteeism rates.

KND Elementary's declining statewide ranking, from 1,101 out of 1,533 Michigan elementary schools in 2013-2014 to 1,250 out of 1,486 in 2023-2024, suggests that the school is not keeping pace with improvements in other Michigan elementary schools. Additionally, the school's performance on state assessments is particularly low for certain student subgroups, such as female students, white students, and students with special needs. By learning from the practices of nearby higher-performing schools, KND Elementary may be able to identify and implement effective approaches to address these challenges and improve student outcomes.

Detail:

Public, Magnet K-6

4400 Highbridge Rd
Brethren, MI 49619

(231) 477-5353

District: Kaleva Norman Dickson School District

SchoolDigger Rank:
1250^th of 1,486 Michigan Elementary Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures: $14,916

Students who attend KND Elementary usually attend:

Middle:	Brethren Middle School
High:	Brethren High School

Student/teacher ratio: 16.5

Number of students: 281

Racial breakdown:

White:

87.9%

African American:

3.9%

American Indian:

3.9%

Free/discounted lunch recipients: 76.2%

See top rated Michigan elementary schools

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Performance Trends

Compare Details KND Elementary ranks worse than 84.1% of elementary schools in Michigan. (See more...)

Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 14.95. (See more...)

Chronic absenteeism in a school refers to a situation where students repeatedly miss school, with the threshold often defined as missing 10% or more of school days for any reason, excused or unexcused.

Student Body

Compare Details Racial makeup is: White (87.9%), American Indian (3.9%), African American (3.9%). (See more...)

Compare Details 76.2% of students are receiving a free or discounted lunch. (See more...)

Teachers

Compare Details The student/teacher ratio at KND Elementary is 16.5. (See more...)

Compare KND Elementary employs 16.9 full-time teachers.

Finance

Compare Details The average total spent per student at KND Elementary is $14,916.

Schooldigger 2024 Rankings:

KND Elementary:

SchoolDigger ranks KND Elementary 1250^th of 1486 Michigan public elementary schools. (See KND Elementary in the ranking list.)

Elementary School Test Score Ratings by Student Subgroup:

Low Socio Economic Status students:

Female students:

Male students:

White students:

Kaleva Norman Dickson School District:

SchoolDigger ranks Kaleva Norman Dickson School District 403^rd of 610 Michigan school districts. (See district ranking list.)

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Rank History for KND Elementary

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Rank History for all students at KND Elementary

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Elementary Schools	MI State Percentile
2012	33.78	1174^th	1566	25.0%
2013	41.52	1002^nd	1563	35.9%
2014	34.21	1101^st	1533	28.2%
2015	29.47	1166^th	1580	26.2%
2016	20.77	1229^th	1548	20.6%
2017	22.02	1132^nd	1466	22.8%
2018	32.20	1046^th	1448	27.8%
2019	20.01	1138^th	1408	19.2%
2021	19.72	961^st	1153	16.7%
2022	16.72	1123^rd	1344	16.4%
2023	18.94	1172^nd	1470	20.3%
2024	14.95	1250^th	1486	15.9%

See the entire list of Michigan Elementary School Rankings!

Rank History for Special Education students at KND Elementary

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Elementary Schools	MI State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2018	14.50	400^th	403	0.7%

See the entire list of Best Michigan Elementary Schools for Special Education Students!

Rank History for Low Socio Economic Status students at KND Elementary

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Elementary Schools	MI State Percentile
2018	38.53	915^th	1397	34.5%
2019	27.61	872^nd	1134	23.1%
2022	23.68	882^nd	1099	19.7%
2023	17.53	1137^th	1350	15.8%
2024	17.20	1192^nd	1381	13.7%

See the entire list of Best Michigan Elementary Schools for Low Socio Economic Status Students!

Rank History for Female students at KND Elementary

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Elementary Schools	MI State Percentile
2018	30.28	1046^th	1443	27.5%
2019	13.45	1056^th	1171	9.8%
2021	5.97	888^th	902	1.6%
2023	22.14	1029^th	1321	22.1%
2024	14.06	1182^nd	1342	11.9%

See the entire list of Best Michigan Elementary Schools for Female Students!

Rank History for Male students at KND Elementary

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Elementary Schools	MI State Percentile
2018	34.07	1002^nd	1446	30.7%
2019	24.50	939^th	1196	21.5%
2023	17.66	1100^th	1334	17.5%
2024	20.09	1084^th	1347	19.5%

See the entire list of Best Michigan Elementary Schools for Male Students!

Rank History for White students at KND Elementary

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Elementary Schools	MI State Percentile
2018	20.82	1066^th	1253	14.9%
2019	12.38	1048^th	1128	7.1%
2021	19.67	857^th	1005	14.7%
2022	10.36	1045^th	1102	5.2%
2023	11.64	1108^th	1198	7.5%
2024	7.12	1162^nd	1204	3.5%

See the entire list of Best Michigan Elementary Schools for White Students!

Data source: test scores: Michigan Department of Education, rankings: SchoolDigger.com

As you review the school rankings data, please be aware that some of the information from certain demographics is missing. The reason for this omission is that the data has been redacted from the source data itself due to low population samples in these specific demographic groups.

Redacting data from low population samples is a necessary step to ensure the reliability and accuracy of the results, as small sample sizes may not be representative of the broader population. Additionally, this measure helps protect the privacy of individuals belonging to these demographic groups.

Data source: Michigan Department of Education

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Enrollment information for KND Elementary

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Year	White	African American	Asian	Hispanic	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Total
2010	262	5	3	12	4	n/a	n/a	286
2011	255	4	0	10	7	1	3	280
2012	253	2	0	13	6	0	1	275
2013	243	1	0	15	7	0	4	270
2014	234	1	0	20	5	0	9	269
2015	205	1	0	16	5	0	10	237
2016	240	1	0	22	4	0	11	278
2017	247	2	0	14	4	0	15	282
2018	250	3	1	15	7	2	13	291
2019	243	4	0	10	12	1	7	277
2020	245	4	0	9	17	1	3	279
2021	232	10	0	9	17	1	2	271
2022	236	11	0	6	15	1	2	271
2023	255	9	1	8	13	1	2	289
2024	247	11	1	10	11	0	1	281

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Enrollment/Ethnicity

For more information about how the Department of Education defines ethnicity, see Defining Race and Ethnicity Data, National Center for Education Statistics

Students eligible for free or discounted lunch at KND Elementary

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Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
2010	286	19.1	14.9	73.4
2011	280	16.8	16.5	74.3
2012	275	14.9	18.3	72.4
2013	270	11.5	23.4	80.7
2014	269	12.8	20.9	78.1
2015	237	14.0	16.9	75.5
2016	278	12.0	23.1	70.1
2017	282	14.2	19.7	74.1
2018	291	15.3	19.0	76.6
2019	277	15.1	18.3	79.8
2020	279	16.0	17.4	80.6
2021	271	15.2	17.8	81.2
2022	271	16.5	16.3	76
2023	289	16.8	17.2	79.9
2024	281	16.9	16.5	76.2

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Students eligible for discounted/free lunch:

The National School Lunch Program (NSLP) provides low-cost or free meals to students in U.S. public and nonprofit private schools based on household income. Those with incomes below 130% of the poverty line receive free lunch, while those between 130% and 185% qualify for reduced-price lunch. The percentage of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch serves as a marker for poverty, as it reflects the socioeconomic status of families in a given school or district. A higher FRPL rate typically indicates a higher concentration of low-income families, suggesting that the school or district may face additional challenges in providing adequate resources and support for student success.

Student/Teacher Ratio KND Elementary

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Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
2010	286	19.1	14.9	73.4
2011	280	16.8	16.5	74.3
2012	275	14.9	18.3	72.4
2013	270	11.5	23.4	80.7
2014	269	12.8	20.9	78.1
2015	237	14.0	16.9	75.5
2016	278	12.0	23.1	70.1
2017	282	14.2	19.7	74.1
2018	291	15.3	19.0	76.6
2019	277	15.1	18.3	79.8
2020	279	16.0	17.4	80.6
2021	271	15.2	17.8	81.2
2022	271	16.5	16.3	76
2023	289	16.8	17.2	79.9
2024	281	16.9	16.5	76.2

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Student-Teacher Ratio

Student/teacher ratio is calculated by dividing the total number of students by the total number of full-time equivalent teachers. Please note that a smaller student/teacher ratio does not necessarily translate to smaller class size. In some instances, schools hire teachers part time, and some teachers are hired for specialized instruction with very small class sizes. These and other factors contribute to the student/teacher ratio. Note: For private schools, Student/teacher ratio may not include Pre-Kindergarten.

Finances

Per Pupil Expenditures for KND Elementary

Year	Expenditures from Federal Funds	Expenditures from State and Local Funds	Total Expenditures Per Pupil (All Funds)
2019	$1,691 (16.0%)	$8,899 (84.0%)	$10,590
2020	$1,670 (14.2%)	$10,114 (85.8%)	$11,784
2021	$3,036 (23.6%)	$9,817 (76.4%)	$12,853
2022	$2,538 (19.1%)	$10,778 (80.9%)	$13,316
2023	$3,204 (21.5%)	$11,712 (78.5%)	$14,916

Data source: Michigan Department of Education

Pre and Post Pandemic Data

Impact of COVID-19 on KND Elementary

The coronavirus has had a profound impact on education in America. Learning shifted online overnight, attendance numbers dwindled, and enrollment decreased. SchoolDigger.com is making it easier for you to better assess how COVID-19 has impacted your school. Through the collection of pre-pandemic (2019) and current data, SchoolDigger.com is sharing test scores, enrollment numbers and school demographics from schools across the country – and we make it easy to see how impacted schools compare locally and statewide.

Rankings

Rank Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	Rank Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
Ranks 1138^th of 1408 Elementary schools	Ranks 1172^nd of 1470 Elementary schools	1.1%

Test Scores

	% proficient Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	% proficient Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
3rd Grade English Language Arts (KND Elementary)	29.7	20.9	8.8%
3rd Grade English Language Arts (Kaleva Norman Dickson School District)	29.7	20.9	8.8%
3rd Grade English Language Arts (Michigan)	45.1	40.9	4.2%
3rd Grade Math (KND Elementary)	24.3	18.6	5.7%
3rd Grade Math (Kaleva Norman Dickson School District)	24.3	18.6	5.7%
3rd Grade Math (Michigan)	46.7	42.9	3.8%
4th Grade English Language Arts (KND Elementary)	24.2	32.6	8.4%
4th Grade English Language Arts (Kaleva Norman Dickson School District)	24.2	32.6	8.4%
4th Grade English Language Arts (Michigan)	45.8	44.3	1.5%
4th Grade Math (KND Elementary)	18.2	28.6	10.4%
4th Grade Math (Kaleva Norman Dickson School District)	18.2	28.6	10.4%
4th Grade Math (Michigan)	41.8	38.6	3.2%
5th Grade English Language Arts (KND Elementary)	38.6	11.6	27%
5th Grade English Language Arts (Kaleva Norman Dickson School District)	38.6	11.6	27%
5th Grade English Language Arts (Michigan)	46.2	43.9	2.3%
5th Grade Math (KND Elementary)	20.5	7	13.5%
5th Grade Math (Kaleva Norman Dickson School District)	20.5	7	13.5%
5th Grade Math (Michigan)	34.8	31.5	3.3%
6th Grade English Language Arts (KND Elementary)	28.9	31.6	2.7%
6th Grade English Language Arts (Kaleva Norman Dickson School District)	28.9	31.6	2.7%
6th Grade English Language Arts (Michigan)	41.7	37.5	4.2%
6th Grade Math (KND Elementary)	26.3	18.4	7.9%
6th Grade Math (Kaleva Norman Dickson School District)	26.3	18.4	7.9%
6th Grade Math (Michigan)	35.1	29.6	5.5%

Student Body

	Number of students Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	Number of students Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
Total Students	277	289	4.3%
African American	4	9	125%
American Indian	12	13	8.3%
Asian	0	1
Hispanic	10	8	20%
Pacific Islander	1	1
White	243	255	4.9%
Two or More Races	7	2	71.4%
% Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	79.8%	79.9%	0.1%

Schools Near KND Elementary

Choose columns to see: Summary School Students/Teachers Ranking Test Scores Finance All

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2024)				Ranking (2023)				M-Step English Language Arts (2024)				M-Step Math (2024)				M-Step Science (2024)	M-Step Social Studies (2024)	Per Pupil Expenditures (2023)
Name	Type	Grades	Address	City	Zip	County	District	Is Charter	Is Magnet	Is Virtual	Is Title I	Phone	Enrollment	Full-time Teachers	Student/ Teacher Ratio	Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	White	Black	Hispanic	Asian	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Average Standard Score (2024)	Statewide Rank (2024)	State Percentile (2024)	SchoolDigger Rating (2024)	Average Standard Score (2023)	Statewide Rank (2023)	State Percentile (2023)	Rank Change from Previous Year	M-Step English Language Arts 3rd Grade	M-Step English Language Arts 4th Grade	M-Step English Language Arts 5th Grade	M-Step English Language Arts 6th Grade	M-Step Math 3rd Grade	M-Step Math 4th Grade	M-Step Math 5th Grade	M-Step Math 6th Grade	M-Step Science 5th Grade	M-Step Social Studies 5th Grade	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
KND Elementary	Public, Magnet	K-6	4400 Highbridge Rd	Brethren	49619	Manistee County	Kaleva Norman Dickson School District	No	Yes	No	Yes	(231) 477-5353	281	17	16.5	76.2%	247 (87.9%)	11 (3.9%)	10 (3.6%)	1 (0.4%)	11 (3.9%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.4%)	14.9	1250^th of 1486 public elementary schools	15.9%		18.9	1172^nd of 1470 public elementary schools	20.3%	78	16.7	22.0	22.0	9.5	16.7	17.1			31.7		$14,916	$3,204	$11,712
Bear Lake Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-6	7748 Cody St	Bear Lake	49614	Manistee County	Bear Lake Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(231) 864-3133	166	10	16.8	62.0%	142 (85.5%)	2 (1.2%)	22 (13.3%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	70.2	404^th of 1486 public elementary schools	72.8%		54.6	619^th of 1470 public elementary schools	57.9%	215	52.4	52.2	57.1	43.5	61.9	39.1	57.1	17.4	61.9	38.1	$14,210	$3,754	$10,456
Betsie Valley School	Public, Magnet	PK, KG-5	17936 Cadillac Hwy	Thompsonville	49683	Benzie County	Benzie County Central Schools	No	Yes	No	Yes	(231) 378-4164	140	10	14.0	72.9%	126 (90.0%)	2 (1.4%)	2 (1.4%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (1.4%)	0 (0.0%)	8 (5.7%)	18.4	1192^nd of 1486 public elementary schools	19.8%		22.9	1099^th of 1470 public elementary schools	25.2%	93	36.0	22.7	14.3		28.0	13.6			14.3		$17,895	$3,147	$14,748
John F Kennedy Elementary School	Public	3-5	1309 Madison Rd	Manistee	49660	Manistee County	Manistee Area Public Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(231) 723-3271	272	15	18.1	49.6%	236 (86.8%)	3 (1.1%)	11 (4.0%)	1 (0.4%)	4 (1.5%)	0 (0.0%)	17 (6.3%)	46.4	747^th of 1486 public elementary schools	49.7%		48.7	704^th of 1470 public elementary schools	52.1%	43	45.7	40.7	41.7		47.5	45.3	35.9		33.0	7.8	$14,859	$1,872	$12,988
Thomas Jefferson Elementary School	Public	K-2	515 Bryant Ave	Manistee	49660	Manistee County	Manistee Area Public Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(231) 723-9285	281	14	20.3	58.0%	249 (88.6%)	6 (2.1%)	10 (3.6%)	0 (0.0%)	7 (2.5%)	1 (0.4%)	8 (2.8%)								(n/a)											$16,190	$2,011	$14,179
Floyd M Jewett Elementary School	Public	K-5	210 E Mesick Ave	Mesick	49668	Wexford County	Mesick Consolidated Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(231) 885-1207	271	17	15.6	70.5%	251 (92.6%)	5 (1.8%)	5 (1.8%)	1 (0.4%)	4 (1.5%)	0 (0.0%)	5 (1.8%)	39.7	853^rd of 1486 public elementary schools	42.6%		42.4	812^th of 1470 public elementary schools	44.8%	41	32.1	37.5	36.6		43.4	28.1	29.3		36.6		$15,672	$3,092	$12,579

Frequently Asked Questions about KND Elementary

Is KND Elementary a good school?

KND Elementary ranks in the bottom 15.9% of Michigan elementary schools.

What is the racial makeup of KND Elementary?

Students at KND Elementary are 88% White, 4% African American, 4% American Indian, 4% Hispanic.

What schools do graduates of KND Elementary attend?

Students who attend KND Elementary usually go on to attend:

Middle : Brethren Middle School
High : Brethren High School

How many students attend KND Elementary?

In the 2023-24 school year, 281 students attended KND Elementary.

What district is KND Elementary in?

Kaleva Norman Dickson School District

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SchoolDigger data sources: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education, the U.S. Census Bureau and the Michigan Department of Education.

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMERS: Not all boundaries are included. We make every effort to ensure that boundaries are up-to-date. But it's important to note that these are approximations and are for general informational purposes only. To verify legal descriptions of boundaries or school locations, contact your local tax assessor's office and/or school district.