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Plainwell Community Schools

600 School Dr
Plainwell, MI 49080-1582
(District boundaries shown in map)
7/
10
Top 50%

Top Rankings

Plainwell Community Schools 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 2026 school year, there are 5 public elementary schools serving 1,864 students in Plainwell Community Schools. 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 have an average math proficiency score of 36% (versus the Michigan public elementary school average of 35%), 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
2,541 Schools
# Students
2,769 Students
953,504 Students
# Teachers
156 Teachers
58,876 Teachers
Student-Teacher Ratio
18:1
18:1

Student By Grade

District Rank

Plainwell Community Schools, which is ranked within the top 50% of all 845 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.
This School District
State Average (MI)
#261 out of 862 school districts
(Top 50%)
37%
35%
48%
45%
46%
38%
82%
81%

Students by Ethnicity:

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 $18,512. The school district revenue/student has grown by 12% over four school years.
The school district's spending/student of $14,409 is less than the state median of $17,694. The school district spending/student has grown by 31% over four school years.
This School District
This State (MI)
Total Revenue
$40 MM
$25,476 MM
Spending
$40 MM
$24,351 MM
Revenue / Student
$14,265
$18,512
Spending / Student
$14,409
$17,694

Best Plainwell Community Schools Public Elementary Schools (2026)

School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Quick Facts
Rank: #11.
Gilkey Elementary School
(Math: 45-49% | Reading: 60-64%)
Rank:
9/
10
Top 20%
707 S Woodhams St
Plainwell, MI 49080
(269) 685-2424
Gr: PK-5 | 399 students Student-teacher ratio: 16:1 Minority enrollment: 11%
Rank: #22.
Cooper Elementary School
(Math: 45-49% | Reading: 45-49%)
Rank:
7/
10
Top 50%
7559 N 14th St
Kalamazoo, MI 49009
(269) 349-2674
Gr: PK-5 | 292 students Student-teacher ratio: 18:1 Minority enrollment: 7%
Rank: #33.
Plainwell Middle School
(Math: 32% | Reading: 47%)
Rank:
6/
10
Top 50%
720 Brigham St
Plainwell, MI 49080
(269) 685-5813
Gr: 6-8 | 587 students Student-teacher ratio: 17:1 Minority enrollment: 13%
Rank: #44.
Starr Elementary School
(Math: 31% | Reading: 35-39%)
Rank:
5/
10
Bottom 50%
601 School Dr
Plainwell, MI 49080
(269) 685-5835
Gr: PK-5 | 451 students Student-teacher ratio: 16:1 Minority enrollment: 18%
Rank: #55.
Plainwell Virtual School
(Math: 20-29% | Reading: 30-39% )
Rank:
4/
10
Bottom 50%
600 School Dr
Plainwell, MI 49080
(269) 873-4848
Gr: K-12 | 135 students Student-teacher ratio: 19:1 Minority enrollment: 20%

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Quick Facts (2026)

  • District size: 7 schools
  • Grades: PK-12
  • Enrollment: 2,769 students
  • Student-Teacher Ratio: 18:1
  • Minority Enrollment: 13%
  • : 82% (Top 50% in MI)
  • : Top 50%
  • : 37% (Top 30%)
  • : 48% (Top 50%)
  • : 46% (Top 30%)
  • Source: National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), MI Dept. of Education

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