Top Rankings
Plainwell Community Schools School District ranks among the top 20% of public school district in Michigan for:
Category
Attribute
Community Size
Largest student body (number of students) (Top 1%)
For the 2025 school year, there are 5 public elementary schools serving 1,864 students in Plainwell Community Schools School District. This district's average elementary testing ranking is 7/10, which is in the top 50% of public elementary schools in Michigan.
Public Elementary Schools in Plainwell Community Schools School District have an average math proficiency score of 37% (versus the Michigan public elementary school average of 34%), and reading proficiency score of 47% (versus the 44% statewide average).
Minority enrollment is 13% of the student body (majority Hispanic), which is less than the Michigan public elementary school average of 38% (majority Black).
Overview
This School District
This State (MI)
# Schools
7 Schools
2,544 Schools
# Students
2,769 Students
953,641 Students
# Teachers
156 Teachers
58,885 Teachers
Student : Teacher Ratio
18:1
18:1
Student By Grade
District Rank
Plainwell Community Schools School District, which is ranked within the top 50% of all 851 school districts in Michigan (based off of combined math and reading proficiency testing data) for the 2022-2023 school year.
The school district's graduation rate of 82% has decreased from 84% over five school years.
Overall District Rank
#282 out of 866 school districts
(Top 50%)
(Top 50%)
Math Test Scores (% Proficient)
(22-23)37%
35%
Reading/Language Arts Test Scores (% Proficient)
48%
45%
Science Test Scores (% Proficient)
46%
38%
Graduation Rate
(22-23)82%
81%
Students by Ethnicity:
Diversity Score
0.24
0.57
% American Indian
n/a
1%
% Asian
1%
4%
% Hispanic
6%
9%
% Black
2%
18%
% White
87%
62%
% Hawaiian
n/a
n/a
% Two or more races
4%
6%
All Ethnic Groups
District Revenue and Spending
The revenue/student of $14,265 in this school district is less than the state median of $18,510. The school district revenue/student has stayed relatively flat over four school years.
The school district's spending/student of $14,409 is less than the state median of $17,693. The school district spending/student has stayed relatively flat over four school years.
Total Revenue
$40 MM
$25,476 MM
Spending
$40 MM
$24,351 MM
Revenue / Student
$14,265
$18,510
Spending / Student
$14,409
$17,693
Best Plainwell Community Schools School District Public Elementary Schools (2025)
School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Grades
Students
Rank: #11.
Gilkey Elementary School
(Math: 55-59% | Reading: 60-64%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
707 S Woodhams St
Plainwell, MI 49080
(269) 685-2424
Plainwell, MI 49080
(269) 685-2424
Grades: PK-5
| 399 students
Rank: #22.
Cooper Elementary School
(Math: 35-39% | Reading: 45-49%)
Rank:
Rank:
6/
Top 50%10
7559 N 14th St
Kalamazoo, MI 49009
(269) 349-2674
Kalamazoo, MI 49009
(269) 349-2674
Grades: PK-5
| 292 students
Rank: #33.
Plainwell Middle School
(Math: 34% | Reading: 47%)
Rank:
Rank:
6/
Top 50%10
720 Brigham St
Plainwell, MI 49080
(269) 685-5813
Plainwell, MI 49080
(269) 685-5813
Grades: 6-8
| 587 students
Rank: #44.
Starr Elementary School
(Math: 30-34% | Reading: 35-39%)
Rank:
Rank:
5/
Bottom 50%10
601 School Dr
Plainwell, MI 49080
(269) 685-5835
Plainwell, MI 49080
(269) 685-5835
Grades: PK-5
| 451 students
Rank: #55.
Plainwell Virtual School
(Math: 20-29% | Reading: 30-39%)
Rank:
Rank:
4/
Bottom 50%10
600 School Dr
Plainwell, MI 49080
(269) 873-4848
Plainwell, MI 49080
(269) 873-4848
Grades: K-12
| 135 students
Recent Articles

Can Naviance Succeed Improve College and Career Readiness?
Learn about a new student assessment system, Naviance Succeed, which provides tools and support to increase student college and career readiness. A number of school districts are using the tool this year in hopes of improving student performance through more accurate assessment process than are currently available.

Do You Need After School Day Care? 51爆料s May Be the Solution
Learn about how your child's public school may be the best source of after school and vacation day care.

The Link Between Education and Incarceration: The NAACP Report
Education and the rate of incarceration have been linked in a recent NAACP report. Learn about the report and the troubling findings.