Kent City Elementary School

Summary:

Kent City Elementary School is a public elementary school serving 563 students in grades PK-5 in Kent City, Michigan, which is part of the Sparta Area Schools district. The school faces several key challenges, including a diverse student population, high poverty rates, low test scores, and declining school rankings compared to other elementary schools in Michigan.

Kent City Elementary has a higher percentage of Hispanic students (18.65%) compared to the state average, and a lower percentage of White students (79.4%). The school has also experienced high chronic absenteeism rates, ranging from 7.4% to 35.3%, which is significantly higher than the state average. Academically, Kent City Elementary's test scores are generally lower than the state averages across all grade levels and subject areas, with only 25% of 3rd graders proficient or better in English Language Arts, compared to the state average of 39.6%. Additionally, the school has a high percentage of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch, ranging from 52.46% to 69.8%, indicating a higher proportion of students from low-income families.

When compared to nearby schools, Kent City Elementary has lower test scores and higher chronic absenteeism rates than higher-performing schools like Chandler Woods Charter Academy and Appleview Elementary School. The school's steady decline in statewide ranking over the years, coupled with its consistently low 2-star rating from SchoolDigger, suggests that Kent City Elementary may be struggling to keep pace with other elementary schools in Michigan. Addressing these challenges will likely require a comprehensive, data-driven approach to improve student outcomes and support the overall success of the school and its community.

Helpful?    

Detail:

Public PK, KG-5

 29 College St
       Kent City, MI  49330-8953


(616) 678-4181

District: Kent City Community Schools

SchoolDigger Rank:
891st of 1,486 Michigan Elementary Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures:  $16,264 Help


Students who attend Kent City Elementary School usually attend:

Middle:    Kent City Middle School
High:    Kent City High School

Student/teacher ratio:  16.5 Help
Number of students:  554

Racial breakdown:

White:
77.6%
Hispanic:
20.8%
Two or more races:
1.1%
more

Free/discounted lunch recipients:  59.6% Help


 See top rated Michigan elementary schools

 Compare Kent City Elementary School to nearby elementary schools!

Performance Trends
Help
Compare Details Kent City Elementary School ranks worse than 60% of elementary schools in Michigan. (See more...)
Help
Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 37.76. (See more...)
Help
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
Help
Compare Details Racial makeup is: White (77.6%), Hispanic (20.8%), two or more races (1.1%). (See more...)
Help
Compare Details 59.6% of students are receiving a free or discounted lunch. (See more...)
Teachers
Help
Compare Details The student/teacher ratio at Kent City Elementary School is 16.5. (See more...)
Help
Compare Kent City Elementary School employs 33.4 full-time teachers.
Finance
Help
Compare Details The average total spent per student at Kent City Elementary School is $16,264.
Schooldigger 2024 Rankings:

Kent City Elementary School:

SchoolDigger ranks Kent City Elementary School 891st of 1486 Michigan public elementary schools. (See Kent City Elementary School in the ranking list.)

Elementary School Test Score Ratings by Student Subgroup:


Low Socio Economic Status students:
Female students:
Male students:
Hispanic students:
White students:


Kent City Community Schools:

SchoolDigger ranks Kent City Community Schools 375th of 610 Michigan school districts. (See district ranking list.)


What do you think?

Your rating for Kent City Elementary School?
Not Rated

Rank History for Kent City Elementary School

Help
Compare

Rank History for all students at Kent City Elementary School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools MI State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2006 61.65 679th 1545 56.1%
2007 56.02 850th 1565 45.7%
2008 55.30 900th 1577 42.9%
2009 61.06 780th 1589 50.9%
2010 59.79 857th 1552 44.8%
2011 66.70 565th 1552 63.6%
2012 61.36 600th 1566 61.7%
2013 56.68 716th 1563 54.2%
2014 43.08 962nd 1533 37.2%
2015 43.36 944th 1580 40.3%
2016 53.08 737th 1548 52.4%
2017 55.04 594th 1466 59.5%
2018 58.30 641st 1448 55.7%
2019 51.63 635th 1408 54.9%
2021 26.78 864th 1153 25.1%
2022 39.82 765th 1344 43.1%
2023 34.21 931st 1470 36.7%
2024 37.76 891st 1486 40.0%
See the entire list of Michigan Elementary School Rankings!

Rank History for English Language Learner students at Kent City Elementary School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools MI State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 34.20 185th 270 31.5%
2019 29.03 84th 117 28.2%
See the entire list of Best Michigan Elementary Schools for English Language Learner Students!

Rank History for Low Socio Economic Status students at Kent City Elementary School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools MI State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 60.83 498th 1397 64.4%
2019 57.94 418th 1134 63.1%
2021 42.08 433rd 749 42.2%
2022 58.61 390th 1099 64.5%
2023 37.22 849th 1350 37.1%
2024 35.39 893rd 1381 35.3%
See the entire list of Best Michigan Elementary Schools for Low Socio Economic Status Students!

Rank History for Female students at Kent City Elementary School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools MI State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 56.61 640th 1443 55.6%
2019 43.67 667th 1171 43.0%
2021 17.70 808th 902 10.4%
2022 34.63 727th 1106 34.3%
2023 31.26 891st 1321 32.6%
2024 28.70 976th 1342 27.3%
See the entire list of Best Michigan Elementary Schools for Female Students!

Rank History for Male students at Kent City Elementary School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools MI State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 57.03 626th 1446 56.7%
2019 48.81 602nd 1196 49.7%
2021 27.94 691st 915 24.5%
2022 40.06 673rd 1139 40.9%
2023 31.97 893rd 1334 33.1%
2024 38.71 802nd 1347 40.5%
See the entire list of Best Michigan Elementary Schools for Male Students!

Rank History for Hispanic students at Kent City Elementary School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools MI State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 55.03 77th 222 65.3%
2019 61.75 26th 86 69.8%
2022 40.16 48th 86 44.2%
2024 16.67 181st 201 10.0%
See the entire list of Best Michigan Elementary Schools for Hispanic Students!

Rank History for White students at Kent City Elementary School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools MI State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 52.76 591st 1253 52.8%
2019 48.20 584th 1128 48.2%
2021 31.25 714th 1005 29.0%
2022 37.10 691st 1102 37.3%
2023 28.79 880th 1198 26.5%
2024 30.78 846th 1204 29.7%
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.

Kent City Elementary School Test Scores
Tests: 
  
Grades: 
  
Years: 
  
Group by: 
District Scores:
ON OFF
State Scores:    
ON OFF
  
Subgroup: 





Data source: Michigan Department of Education

We're sorry, but no reviews have been submitted for Kent City Elementary School.

If you have first-hand knowledge about Kent City Elementary School, submit a rating!

Not Rated

Reviews:
No reviews have been submitted!


Enrollment information for Kent City Elementary School

Help
Compare
Year White African American Asian Hispanic American Indian Pacific Islander Two or More Races Not Specified Total
1988 385 1 0 45 0 n/a n/a 0 431
1989 409 0 0 50 0 n/a n/a 0 459
1990 411 1 1 50 0 n/a n/a 0 463
1991 449 0 3 46 0 n/a n/a 0 498
1992 434 1 3 38 0 n/a n/a 0 476
1993 434 1 3 38 0 n/a n/a 0 476
1995 369 2 1 14 0 n/a n/a 0 386
1996 369 2 1 14 0 n/a n/a 0 386
1997 365 3 1 15 0 n/a n/a 0 384
1998 456 5 1 35 0 n/a n/a 0 497
1999 328 5 0 23 0 n/a n/a 0 356
2000 302 3 0 26 0 n/a n/a 0 331
2001 247 3 0 20 0 n/a n/a 0 270
2002 311 2 0 23 0 n/a n/a 0 336
2003 311 2 0 23 0 n/a n/a 0 336
2004 319 1 0 30 0 n/a n/a 0 350
2005 302 1 0 30 0 n/a n/a 0 333
2006 263 1 0 32 1 n/a n/a 0 297
2007 275 1 0 26 1 n/a n/a 0 303
2008 543 2 n/a 91 1 n/a n/a 0 637
2009 545 3 5 83 1 n/a n/a 1 638
2010 527 2 4 89 3 n/a n/a 0 625
2011 513 3 3 92 0 1 2 0 614
2012 494 1 3 107 1 0 6 0 612
2013 492 2 4 100 1 0 5 0 604
2014 511 7 4 146 2 0 4 0 674
2015 480 5 2 154 2 0 6 0 649
2016 490 2 2 167 0 0 10 0 671
2017 463 3 2 147 1 0 13 0 629
2018 442 5 1 147 0 0 12 0 607
2019 421 5 1 152 0 0 10 0 589
2020 427 1 0 139 0 0 13 0 580
2021 409 4 0 122 0 0 12 0 547
2022 406 3 0 111 0 0 8 0 528
2023 447 2 1 105 1 0 7 0 563
2024 430 0 1 115 2 0 6 0 554

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 Kent City Elementary School

Help
Compare
Year # Students Full-time Teachers Student/Teacher ratio % Free/Discounted Lunch
1988 431 n/a n/a n/a
1989 459 n/a n/a 0
1990 463 31.0 14.9 n/a
1991 498 n/a n/a n/a
1992 476 n/a n/a n/a
1993 476 n/a 0.0 0
1995 386 19.9 19.4 0
1996 386 19.9 19.4 0
1997 384 24.0 16.0 0
1998 497 28.0 17.8 0
1999 356 20.0 17.8 0
2000 331 18.8 17.6 0
2001 270 20.0 13.5 0
2002 336 n/a n/a n/a
2003 336 n/a n/a n/a
2004 350 19.0 18.4 n/a
2005 333 18.0 18.5 n/a
2006 297 17.0 17.5 0
2007 303 18.8 16.1 39.3
2008 637 39.6 16.1 29.4
2009 638 36.6 17.4 20.6
2010 625 41.4 15.0 41.8
2011 614 36.4 16.8 55.7
2012 612 35.5 17.2 55.9
2013 604 37.2 16.2 60.6
2014 674 35.0 19.2 58.5
2015 649 35.0 18.5 45.5
2016 671 36.0 18.6 65
2017 629 31.8 19.7 69.2
2018 607 31.8 19.0 68.5
2019 589 32.0 18.3 66.4
2020 580 32.3 17.9 69.8
2021 547 33.2 16.4 60.1
2022 528 46.3 11.3 52.5
2023 563 35.9 15.6 69.8
2024 554 33.4 16.5 59.6

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 Kent City Elementary School

Help
Compare
Year # Students Full-time Teachers Student/Teacher ratio % Free/Discounted Lunch
1988 431 n/a n/a n/a
1989 459 n/a n/a 0
1990 463 31.0 14.9 n/a
1991 498 n/a n/a n/a
1992 476 n/a n/a n/a
1993 476 n/a 0.0 0
1995 386 19.9 19.4 0
1996 386 19.9 19.4 0
1997 384 24.0 16.0 0
1998 497 28.0 17.8 0
1999 356 20.0 17.8 0
2000 331 18.8 17.6 0
2001 270 20.0 13.5 0
2002 336 n/a n/a n/a
2003 336 n/a n/a n/a
2004 350 19.0 18.4 n/a
2005 333 18.0 18.5 n/a
2006 297 17.0 17.5 0
2007 303 18.8 16.1 39.3
2008 637 39.6 16.1 29.4
2009 638 36.6 17.4 20.6
2010 625 41.4 15.0 41.8
2011 614 36.4 16.8 55.7
2012 612 35.5 17.2 55.9
2013 604 37.2 16.2 60.6
2014 674 35.0 19.2 58.5
2015 649 35.0 18.5 45.5
2016 671 36.0 18.6 65
2017 629 31.8 19.7 69.2
2018 607 31.8 19.0 68.5
2019 589 32.0 18.3 66.4
2020 580 32.3 17.9 69.8
2021 547 33.2 16.4 60.1
2022 528 46.3 11.3 52.5
2023 563 35.9 15.6 69.8
2024 554 33.4 16.5 59.6

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 Kent City Elementary School

Help
Created with Highcharts 9.2.2Year$Kent City Elementary SchoolPer Pupil ExpendituresFederal FundsState/Local FundsOther Funds2019202020212022202305k10k15k20k©2025 schooldigger.com

YearExpenditures from Federal FundsExpenditures from State and Local FundsTotal Expenditures Per Pupil (All Funds)
2019 $1,476 (12.2%) $10,664 (87.8%) $12,141
2020 $1,510 (12.0%) $11,031 (88.0%) $12,541
2021 $2,375 (16.9%) $11,656 (83.1%) $14,031
2022 $2,702 (16.6%) $13,588 (83.4%) $16,290
2023 $2,223 (13.7%) $14,041 (86.3%) $16,264

Data source: Michigan Department of Education
Pre and Post Pandemic Data

Impact of COVID-19 on Kent City Elementary School

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 635th of 1408 Elementary schoolsRanks 931st of 1470 Elementary schools
 18.2%

Test Scores

% proficient
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)
% proficient
Post pandemic (2022-2023)
Change (%)
3rd Grade English Language Arts (Kent City Elementary School)41.831.3
 10.5%
   3rd Grade English Language Arts (Kent City Community Schools)41.831.3
 10.5%
   3rd Grade English Language Arts (Michigan)45.140.9
 4.2%
3rd Grade Math (Kent City Elementary School)45.445.8
 0.4%
   3rd Grade Math (Kent City Community Schools)45.445.8
 0.4%
   3rd Grade Math (Michigan)46.742.9
 3.8%
4th Grade English Language Arts (Kent City Elementary School)47.644.6
 3%
   4th Grade English Language Arts (Kent City Community Schools)47.644.6
 3%
   4th Grade English Language Arts (Michigan)45.844.3
 1.5%
4th Grade Math (Kent City Elementary School)43.239.1
 4.1%
   4th Grade Math (Kent City Community Schools)43.239.1
 4.1%
   4th Grade Math (Michigan)41.838.6
 3.2%
5th Grade English Language Arts (Kent City Elementary School)65.828.9
 36.9%
   5th Grade English Language Arts (Kent City Community Schools)65.828.9
 36.9%
   5th Grade English Language Arts (Michigan)46.243.9
 2.3%
5th Grade Math (Kent City Elementary School)37.321.7
 15.6%
   5th Grade Math (Kent City Community Schools)37.321.7
 15.6%
   5th Grade Math (Michigan)34.831.5
 3.3%
5th Grade Social Studies (Kent City Elementary School)17.87.2
 10.6%
   5th Grade Social Studies (Kent City Community Schools)17.87.2
 10.6%
   5th Grade Social Studies (Michigan)17.418.6
 1.2%

Student Body

Number of students
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)
Number of students
Post pandemic (2022-2023)
Change (%)
Total Students589563
 4.4%
African American52
 60%
American Indian01
Asian11
Hispanic152105
 30.9%
Pacific Islander00
White421447
 6.2%
Two or More Races107
 30%
% Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients66.4%69.8%
 3.4%


Schools Near Kent City Elementary School

Kent City Community Schools
Public PK, KG-5
Distance: 0mi
Rank: 891st of 1486
Students: 554
Sparta Area Schools
Public PK, KG-2
Distance: 5.35mi
Students: 562
Sparta Area Schools
Public 3-5
Distance: 5.54mi
Rank: 466th of 1486
Students: 522
Grant Public School District
Public K-1
Distance: 8.33mi
Students: 225
Grant Public School District
Public 2-4
Distance: 8.41mi
Rank: 926th of 1486
Students: 339
Ravenna Public Schools
Public PK, KG-4
Distance: 9.76mi
Rank: 1096th of 1486
Students: 398
Cedar Springs Public Schools
Public 2-3
Distance: 10.2mi
Students: 433
Cedar Springs Public Schools
Public PK, KG-1
Distance: 10.24mi
Students: 475
Cedar Springs Public Schools
Public 4-5
Distance: 10.67mi
Rank: 581st of 1486
Students: 442
Cedar Springs Public Schools
Public PK
Distance: 10.67mi
Students: 0








Frequently Asked Questions about Kent City Elementary School

Students who attend Kent City Elementary School usually go on to attend:

Middle : Kent City Middle School
High : Kent City High School

Students at Kent City Elementary School are 78% White, 21% Hispanic, 1% Two or more races.

In the 2023-24 school year, 554 students attended Kent City Elementary School.

Kent City Elementary School ranks 891st of 1486 Michigan elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.


Rate Kent City Elementary School!



Sign up for updates!

Be the first to know when there is an update for Kent City Elementary School!




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.





Diagnostics

None retrieved from Database in 108 milliseconds.