Willow School

Summary:

Willow School is an elementary school in Lansing, Michigan, serving 202 students in grades PK-5. The school is part of the Lansing Public School District, which has a 1-star rating from SchoolDigger.

Willow School stands out from nearby schools in several key ways. It has a significantly higher percentage of minority students, with 42.57% African American and 27.23% Hispanic enrollment, compared to a more balanced racial mix at other local schools. The school also faces an extremely high chronic absenteeism rate of 91.4%, much higher than the 31.1% to 93.7% range of nearby schools. Academically, Willow School's performance on M-Step tests lags behind state and district averages, with only 35.3% of 3rd-graders proficient in English Language Arts, compared to 40.9% statewide and 18.8% in the Lansing district. Despite this, Willow School has the highest spending per student, at $20,019, among the analyzed schools.

These challenges at Willow School suggest a need for a comprehensive approach to address the root causes of racial segregation, chronic absenteeism, and academic underperformance. Nearby Cole Academy and Windemere Park Charter Academy generally outperform Willow School, raising questions about the effectiveness of the traditional public school model in serving disadvantaged students and the potential role of charter schools in providing alternative educational options.

Detail:

Public PK, KG-5

1012 W Willow St
Lansing, MI 48915-2252

(517) 755-1680

District: Lansing Public School District

Per Pupil Expenditures: $20,019

Students who attend Willow School usually attend:

Middle:	Mt Hope School
	Sheridan Road

Student/teacher ratio: 16.1

Number of students: 293

Racial breakdown:

African American:

39.9%

Hispanic:

23.5%

White:

17.4%

Free/discounted lunch recipients: 92.8%

See top rated Michigan public schools

Compare Willow School to nearby elementary schools!

Performance Trends

Compare Details Willow School is not ranked due for the most recent year due to insufficient test score data. (See more...)

Compare Details In 2023 the calculated Average Standard Score was 21.97. (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 Student population at Willow School is diverse. Racial makeup is: African American (39.9%), Hispanic (23.5%), White (17.4%). (See more...)

Compare Details 92.8% of students are receiving a free or discounted lunch. (See more...)

Teachers

Compare Details The student/teacher ratio at Willow School is 16.1, which is the 7^th best among 13 elementary schools in the Lansing Public School District. (See more...)

Compare Willow School employs 18.1 full-time teachers.

Finance

Compare Details The average total spent per student at Willow School is $20,019, which is the 4^th highest among 13 elementary schools in the Lansing Public School District.

Schooldigger Rankings:

Willow School was not ranked this year due to insufficient test score data.

Lansing Public School District:

SchoolDigger ranks Lansing Public School District 553^rd of 610 Michigan school districts. (See district ranking list.)

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Rank History for Willow School

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Rank History for all students at Willow School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Elementary Schools	MI State Percentile
2006	19.10	1405^th	1545	9.1%
2007	16.04	1443^rd	1565	7.8%
2008	21.91	1394^th	1577	11.6%
2009	46.66	1113^th	1589	30.0%
2010	44.58	1160^th	1552	25.3%
2011	35.36	1241^st	1552	20.0%
2012	15.80	1413^th	1566	9.8%
2023	21.97	1114^th	1470	24.2%

See the entire list of Michigan Elementary School Rankings!

Rank History for Low Socio Economic Status students at Willow School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Elementary Schools	MI State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2023	34.84	889^th	1350	34.1%

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

Rank History for Male students at Willow School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Elementary Schools	MI State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2023	20.08	1063^rd	1334	20.3%

See the entire list of Best Michigan Elementary Schools for Male 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 Willow School

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Year	White	African American	Asian	Hispanic	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Total
1988	211	191	0	85	6	n/a	n/a	493
1989	227	204	0	83	4	n/a	n/a	518
1990	232	222	3	91	8	n/a	n/a	556
1991	204	138	4	103	8	n/a	n/a	457
1992	199	134	12	90	10	n/a	n/a	445
1993	181	123	7	103	9	n/a	n/a	423
1994	170	134	13	86	9	n/a	n/a	412
1995	141	143	2	60	11	n/a	n/a	357
1996	141	143	2	60	11	n/a	n/a	357
1997	129	128	5	37	8	n/a	n/a	307
1998	84	146	0	56	4	n/a	n/a	290
1999	85	123	2	55	4	n/a	n/a	269
2000	69	108	2	44	4	n/a	n/a	227
2001	59	117	2	64	5	n/a	n/a	247
2002	65	132	2	35	4	n/a	n/a	238
2003	65	132	2	35	4	n/a	n/a	238
2004	51	135	3	33	1	n/a	n/a	223
2005	49	132	3	44	1	n/a	n/a	229
2006	54	144	5	78	2	n/a	n/a	283
2007	55	134	4	59	6	n/a	n/a	258
2008	58	131	3	57	10	n/a	n/a	259
2009	71	152	0	45	4	n/a	n/a	272
2010	69	144	0	40	6	n/a	n/a	259
2011	48	155	1	44	4	0	0	252
2012	47	132	3	59	4	0	7	252
2014	35	75	7	39	1	0	17	174
2015	57	95	4	54	1	0	26	237
2016	33	68	3	31	1	0	20	156
2017	33	66	5	35	0	0	16	155
2018	37	65	2	39	0	0	15	158
2019	34	70	3	28	0	0	19	154
2020	35	72	4	40	1	0	15	167
2021	24	58	3	42	1	1	17	146
2022	21	62	4	44	0	1	26	158
2023	27	86	4	55	0	1	29	202
2024	51	117	6	69	1	0	49	293

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 Willow School

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Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
1988	493	n/a	n/a	n/a
1989	518	n/a	n/a	46.3
1990	556	23.0	24.1	48.2
1991	457	n/a	n/a	n/a
1992	445	n/a	n/a	53.5
1993	423	n/a	0.0	67.8
1994	412	18.5	22.3	63.1
1995	357	17.0	21.0	69.5
1996	357	17.0	21.0	69.5
1997	307	17.0	18.1	69.7
1998	290	15.0	19.3	70.7
1999	269	19.0	14.2	74.7
2000	227	17.4	13.0	88.1
2001	247	18.5	13.4	85.8
2002	238	1.0	238.0	87
2003	238	1.0	238.0	87
2004	223	6.0	37.2	94.2
2005	229	18.0	12.7	90
2006	283	21.0	13.5	87.6
2007	258	19.0	13.6	90.7
2008	259	19.6	13.2	86.5
2009	272	18.1	15.0	86
2010	259	18.5	14.0	93.8
2011	252	18.0	14.0	93.7
2012	252	16.0	15.7	77.8
2014	174	16.4	10.5	77
2015	237	18.0	13.1	79.7
2016	156	13.0	12.0	91
2017	155	15.0	10.3	92.3
2018	158	13.2	11.8	90.5
2019	154	14.4	10.6	88.3
2020	167	12.6	13.2	94
2021	146	17.1	8.4	91.1
2022	158	13.6	11.5	89.9
2023	202	15.7	12.8	92.6
2024	293	18.1	16.1	92.8

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 Willow School

Compare

Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
1988	493	n/a	n/a	n/a
1989	518	n/a	n/a	46.3
1990	556	23.0	24.1	48.2
1991	457	n/a	n/a	n/a
1992	445	n/a	n/a	53.5
1993	423	n/a	0.0	67.8
1994	412	18.5	22.3	63.1
1995	357	17.0	21.0	69.5
1996	357	17.0	21.0	69.5
1997	307	17.0	18.1	69.7
1998	290	15.0	19.3	70.7
1999	269	19.0	14.2	74.7
2000	227	17.4	13.0	88.1
2001	247	18.5	13.4	85.8
2002	238	1.0	238.0	87
2003	238	1.0	238.0	87
2004	223	6.0	37.2	94.2
2005	229	18.0	12.7	90
2006	283	21.0	13.5	87.6
2007	258	19.0	13.6	90.7
2008	259	19.6	13.2	86.5
2009	272	18.1	15.0	86
2010	259	18.5	14.0	93.8
2011	252	18.0	14.0	93.7
2012	252	16.0	15.7	77.8
2014	174	16.4	10.5	77
2015	237	18.0	13.1	79.7
2016	156	13.0	12.0	91
2017	155	15.0	10.3	92.3
2018	158	13.2	11.8	90.5
2019	154	14.4	10.6	88.3
2020	167	12.6	13.2	94
2021	146	17.1	8.4	91.1
2022	158	13.6	11.5	89.9
2023	202	15.7	12.8	92.6
2024	293	18.1	16.1	92.8

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 Willow School

Year	Expenditures from Federal Funds	Expenditures from State and Local Funds	Total Expenditures Per Pupil (All Funds)
2019	$5,038 (26.1%)	$14,241 (73.9%)	$19,279
2020	$4,072 (24.6%)	$12,451 (75.4%)	$16,523
2021	$4,347 (23.2%)	$14,416 (76.8%)	$18,763
2022	$5,106 (29.3%)	$12,330 (70.7%)	$17,436
2023	$5,130 (25.6%)	$14,889 (74.4%)	$20,019

Data source: Michigan Department of Education

Pre and Post Pandemic Data

Impact of COVID-19 on Willow 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.

Test Scores

	% proficient Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	% proficient Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
3rd Grade English Language Arts (Willow School)	11.8	35.3	23.5%
3rd Grade English Language Arts (Lansing Public School District)	23.8	18.8	5%
3rd Grade English Language Arts (Michigan)	45.1	40.9	4.2%
3rd Grade Math (Willow School)	14.7	23.5	8.8%
3rd Grade Math (Lansing Public School District)	27.6	18	9.6%
3rd Grade Math (Michigan)	46.7	42.9	3.8%

Student Body

	Number of students Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	Number of students Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
Total Students	154	202	31.2%
African American	70	86	22.9%
American Indian	0	0
Asian	3	4	33.3%
Hispanic	28	55	96.4%
Pacific Islander	0	1
White	34	27	20.6%
Two or More Races	19	29	52.6%
% Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	88.3%	92.6%	4.3%

Schools Near Willow School

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

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2024)				Ranking (2023)				PSAT English Language Arts (2024)	PSAT Mathematics (2024)	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	PSAT English Language Arts 8th Grade	PSAT Mathematics 8th Grade	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 English Language Arts 7th Grade	M-Step Math 3rd Grade	M-Step Math 4th Grade	M-Step Math 5th Grade	M-Step Math 6th Grade	M-Step Math 7th Grade	M-Step Science 5th Grade	M-Step Science 8th Grade	M-Step Social Studies 5th Grade	M-Step Social Studies 8th Grade	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
Willow School	Public	PK, KG-5	1012 W Willow St	Lansing	48915	Ingham County	Lansing Public School District	No	No	No	Yes	(517) 755-1680	293	18	16.1	92.8%	51 (17.4%)	117 (39.9%)	69 (23.5%)	6 (2.0%)	1 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	49 (16.7%)								(n/a)				27.8					5.7								$20,019	$5,130	$14,889
MidMichigan Leadership Academy	Public, Charter	PK, KG-8	730 W Maple St	Lansing	48906	Clinton County	Mid-Michigan Leadership Academy	Yes	No	No	Yes	(517) 485-5379	299	25	11.9	99.3%	21 (7.0%)	194 (64.9%)	24 (8.0%)	0 (0.0%)	8 (2.7%)	0 (0.0%)	52 (17.4%)								(n/a)	28.6		11.5														$13,041	$4,121	$8,920
Gier Park School	Public	PK, KG-4	401 E Gier St	Lansing	48906	Clinton County	Lansing Public School District	No	No	No	Yes	(517) 755-1360	327	19	17.0	94.2%	94 (28.7%)	75 (22.9%)	89 (27.2%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	68 (20.8%)	7.6	1399^th of 1486 public elementary schools	5.9%					(n/a)			12.2	15.8				14.3	10.3								$17,431	$5,789	$11,642
Cumberland School	Public	PK, KG-4	2801 Cumberland Rd	Lansing	48906	Clinton County	Lansing Public School District	No	No	No	Yes	(517) 755-1280	285	20	14.5	91.6%	62 (21.8%)	103 (36.1%)	58 (20.4%)	30 (10.5%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	32 (11.2%)	23.1	1123^rd of 1486 public elementary schools	24.4%		32.4	961^st of 1470 public elementary schools	34.6%	162			20.3	34.6				21.7	30.2								$19,592	$5,149	$14,443
Windemere Park Charter Academy	Public, Charter	K-8	3100 W Saginaw St	Lansing	48917	Eaton County	Windemere Park Charter Academy	Yes	No	No	Yes	(517) 327-0700	612	34	17.9	88.2%	81 (13.2%)	225 (36.8%)	165 (27.0%)	13 (2.1%)	3 (0.5%)	0 (0.0%)	125 (20.4%)	47.1	741^st of 1486 public elementary schools	50.1%		43.8	787^th of 1470 public elementary schools	46.5%	46	66.0	10.6	46.1	38.2	49.2	29.5	37.1	45.5	33.9	36.1	16.4	22.6	36.1	43.5	21.3	26.1	$11,482	$1,380	$10,102
Pattengill School	Public, Magnet	PK, KG-8	815 N Fairview Ave	Lansing	48912	Ingham County	Lansing Public School District	No	Yes	No	Yes	(517) 755-1130	633	38	16.4	90.7%	150 (23.7%)	160 (25.3%)	198 (31.3%)	11 (1.7%)	1 (0.2%)	1 (0.2%)	112 (17.7%)	22.7	1133^rd of 1486 public elementary schools	23.8%		17.2	1203^rd of 1470 public elementary schools	18.2%	70	34.0	13.7	16.2	38.0	27.0	27.2	13.9	18.7	31.0	16.0	15.9	9.8	24.0	18.9		9.4	$17,325	$7,242	$10,083
Meryl S Colt Early Childhood Education Center	Public	PK-K	4344 W Michigan Ave	Lansing	48917	Eaton County	Waverly Community Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(517) 323-3777	172	25	7.0	68.6%	91 (52.9%)	61 (35.5%)	0 (0.0%)	8 (4.7%)	4 (2.3%)	0 (0.0%)	8 (4.7%)								(n/a)																	$19,149	$2,340	$16,810
Post Oak School	Public, Magnet	PK, KG-8	2320 Post Oak Ln	Lansing	48912	Ingham County	Lansing Public School District	No	Yes	No	Yes	(517) 755-1610	383	24	16.1	65.5%	139 (36.3%)	77 (20.1%)	90 (23.5%)	22 (5.7%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	55 (14.4%)	45.2	760^th of 1486 public elementary schools	48.9%		45	767^th of 1470 public elementary schools	47.8%	7	57.1		50.0	58.1	47.3	31.4	31.6	38.6	32.6	23.6	20.0	36.8	38.2	35.7	12.7	28.6	$16,212	$5,005	$11,207
Cole Academy	Public, Charter	K-5	1915 W Mount Hope Ave	Lansing	48910	Ingham County	Cole Academy	Yes	No	No	Yes	(517) 372-0038	151	8	18.8	70.9%	35 (23.2%)	56 (37.1%)	32 (21.2%)	1 (0.7%)	1 (0.7%)	0 (0.0%)	26 (17.2%)	12.6	1293^rd of 1486 public elementary schools	13.0%		10.5	1306^th of 1470 public elementary schools	11.2%	13			10.7	19.2	20.8			17.9	19.2	12.5			25.0				$9,190	$2,008	$7,181
Lewton School	Public	PK, KG-8	2000 Lewton Pl	Lansing	48911	Ingham County	Lansing Public School District	No	No	No	Yes	(517) 755-1460	264	16	16.3	72.3%	48 (18.2%)	30 (11.4%)	156 (59.1%)	2 (0.8%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.4%)	27 (10.2%)	8.4	1374^th of 1486 public elementary schools	7.5%		30	989^th of 1470 public elementary schools	32.7%	385	36.4		22.7	17.4	9.5	17.2	58.3	12.0	11.5			35.7	6.4				$18,393	$6,514	$11,880

Frequently Asked Questions about Willow School

What schools do graduates of Willow School attend?

Students who attend Willow School usually go on to attend:

Middle : Mt Hope School
Middle : Sheridan Road

What district is Willow School in?

Lansing Public School District

What is the racial makeup of Willow School?

Students at Willow School are 40% African American, 24% Hispanic, 17% White, 17% Two or more races, 2% Asian.

How many students attend Willow School?

In the 2023-24 school year, 293 students attended Willow School.

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Schools in Lansing, MI

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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.