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Elmwood Elementary School

Summary:

Elmwood Elementary School is a public elementary school located in Saint Clair Shores, Michigan, serving grades 3-5 with a student population of 345. The school is part of the South Lake Schools district, which is ranked 536 out of 610 districts in Michigan and has a 1-star rating from SchoolDigger.

Elmwood Elementary faces several challenges, including a higher percentage of African American students (50.43%) compared to the state average, and consistently lower academic performance on M-Step tests across all grade levels and subject areas. For example, in 2023-2024, only 22.1% of 5th-grade students were proficient in English Language Arts, compared to the state average of 44%. The school also has a high chronic absenteeism rate, rising from 17.5% in 2018-2019 to 36.0% in 2022-2023, and a high percentage of students (61.45% in 2022-2023) who qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. Despite the higher spending per student at Elmwood, the school's academic performance remains significantly below the state and district averages, suggesting that additional resources alone may not be enough to improve student outcomes.

Compared to nearby schools, such as Harmon Elementary and Princeton Elementary (both part of the Lakeview Public Schools district), Elmwood's academic performance is significantly lower, with its African American students performing much worse than their White counterparts. The school's high chronic absenteeism rate is also much higher than the nearby schools, indicating a potential need for targeted attendance interventions.


Detail:

Public 3-5

 22700 California St
       Saint Clair Shores, MI  48080-3824

(586) 435-1101

District: South Lake Schools

SchoolDigger Rank:
1112th of 1,486 Michigan Elementary Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures:  $17,611 Help


Students who attend Elmwood Elementary School usually attend:

Middle:    South Lake Middle School
High:    South Lake High School

Student/teacher ratio:  13.5 Help
Number of students:  314

Racial breakdown:

African American:
53.8%
White:
34.4%
Two or more races:
8.0%
more

Free/discounted lunch recipients:  64.6% Help


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Performance Trends
Help
Compare Details Elmwood Elementary School ranks worse than 74.8% of elementary schools in Michigan. (See more...)
Help
Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 23.4. (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
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Compare Details Racial makeup is: African American (53.8%), White (34.4%), two or more races (8%). (See more...)
Help
Compare Details 64.6% of students are receiving a free or discounted lunch. (See more...)
Teachers
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Compare Details The student/teacher ratio at Elmwood Elementary School is 13.5. (See more...)
Help
Compare Elmwood Elementary School employs 23.1 full-time teachers.
Finance
Help
Compare Details The average total spent per student at Elmwood Elementary School is $17,611.
Schooldigger 2024 Rankings:

Elmwood Elementary School:

SchoolDigger ranks Elmwood Elementary School 1112th of 1486 Michigan public elementary schools. (See Elmwood Elementary School in the ranking list.)

Elementary School Test Score Ratings by Student Subgroup:


Low Socio Economic Status students:
Female students:
Male students:
African American students:
White students:


South Lake Schools:

SchoolDigger ranks South Lake Schools 536th of 610 Michigan school districts. (See district ranking list.)


What do you think?

Your rating for Elmwood Elementary School?

Rank History for Elmwood Elementary School

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Compare

Rank History for all students at Elmwood Elementary School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools MI State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2006 72.26 369th 1545 76.1%
2007 69.59 462nd 1565 70.5%
2008 66.19 601st 1577 61.9%
2009 69.52 529th 1589 66.7%
2010 69.95 522nd 1552 66.4%
2011 64.38 641st 1552 58.7%
2012 51.86 801st 1566 48.9%
2013 44.49 940th 1563 39.9%
2014 56.83 701st 1533 54.3%
2015 62.21 577th 1580 63.5%
2016 57.81 644th 1548 58.4%
2017 55.30 588th 1466 59.9%
2018 52.93 742nd 1448 48.8%
2019 40.63 822nd 1408 41.6%
2021 14.03 1031st 1153 10.6%
2022 16.17 1134th 1344 15.6%
2023 26.74 1045th 1470 28.9%
2024 23.40 1112th 1486 25.2%
See the entire list of Michigan Elementary School Rankings!

Rank History for Multi-racial students at Elmwood Elementary School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools MI State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2023 50.74 29th 81 64.2%
See the entire list of Best Michigan Elementary Schools for Multi-racial Students!

Rank History for Special Education students at Elmwood Elementary School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools MI State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2023 32.52 144th 195 26.2%
See the entire list of Best Michigan Elementary Schools for Special Education Students!

Rank History for Low Socio Economic Status students at Elmwood Elementary School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools MI State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 61.29 487th 1397 65.1%
2019 37.17 745th 1134 34.3%
2021 18.15 674th 749 10.0%
2022 22.03 901st 1099 18.0%
2023 30.58 951st 1350 29.6%
2024 27.18 1041st 1381 24.6%
See the entire list of Best Michigan Elementary Schools for Low Socio Economic Status Students!

Rank History for Female students at Elmwood Elementary School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools MI State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 48.16 796th 1443 44.8%
2019 29.42 856th 1171 26.9%
2021 9.10 870th 902 3.5%
2022 8.16 1061st 1106 4.1%
2023 20.73 1052nd 1321 20.4%
2024 21.08 1070th 1342 20.3%
See the entire list of Best Michigan Elementary Schools for Female Students!

Rank History for Male students at Elmwood Elementary School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools MI State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 53.61 694th 1446 52.0%
2019 42.55 691st 1196 42.2%
2021 12.32 858th 915 6.2%
2022 16.31 982nd 1139 13.8%
2023 25.39 980th 1334 26.5%
2024 20.37 1081st 1347 19.7%
See the entire list of Best Michigan Elementary Schools for Male Students!

Rank History for African American students at Elmwood Elementary School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools MI State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 62.46 121st 475 74.5%
2021 27.57 40th 51 21.6%
2022 30.45 107th 158 32.3%
2023 33.43 199th 321 38.0%
2024 42.32 172nd 348 50.6%
See the entire list of Best Michigan Elementary Schools for African American Students!

Rank History for White students at Elmwood Elementary School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools MI State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 60.62 470th 1253 62.5%
2019 51.81 533rd 1128 52.7%
2021 33.25 693rd 1005 31.0%
2022 30.30 785th 1102 28.8%
2023 49.63 586th 1198 51.1%
2024 28.15 886th 1204 26.4%
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.

Elmwood Elementary School Test Scores
Tests: 
  
Grades: 
  
Years: 
  
Group by: 
District Scores:
State Scores:    
  
Subgroup: 
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Data source: Michigan Department of Education

Review counts

All ratings (Avg rating: 4.7)
67%

33%

0%

0%

0%

  

Reviews:
by a parent
Friday, October 19, 2018

Open Quote This school's staff and community create a wonderful learning environment for children. I've been very impressed. Close Quote


by a parent
Tuesday, May 15, 2018

Open Quote I have been part of the South Lake family for many years. The amazing and dedicated staff members put students and learning first. Teachers, parents, administrators and support staff work together to provide positive learning opportunities for all students. Close Quote


by a teacher
Tuesday, May 15, 2018

Open Quote It is an honor to teach with the dedicated, passionate professional teachers in this district. The families we work with are amazing. Close Quote


by a parent
Tuesday, May 15, 2018

Open Quote I can't say enough positive things about this school. Both of my sons are thriving here. The entire staff is committed to student success. I love the family/community feeling of the school and the participation of not only families but community businesses in supporting the school. I am proud to have my children in South Lake Schools. Close Quote


by a student
Tuesday, October 8, 2013

Open Quote I grew up in the South Lake district. I attended Elmwood and later tutored there. Now I help out there when I can while I am in college. I hope to one day teach there. The teachers there are dedicated to their students. Most of the teachers in the district have been teaching there for many years. I cannot think of any reason not to put your children in the South Lake district. It is a caring community of hard workers. Close Quote


by a parent
Sunday, September 19, 2010

Open Quote My daughter is doing very well at Elmwood and their curriculum is fantastic. She's taking Spanish this year and we're all very excited. Great teachers and good energy throughout the school. Don't know much about the new principal but the teachers seem to like her and respect her input so far. Close Quote



Enrollment information for Elmwood Elementary School

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Compare
Year White African American Asian Hispanic American Indian Pacific Islander Two or More Races Not Specified Total
1988 395 0 11 6 23 n/a n/a 0 435
1989 407 1 11 6 20 n/a n/a 0 445
1990 424 1 9 6 16 n/a n/a 0 456
1991 464 1 10 5 9 n/a n/a 0 489
1992 472 1 22 5 8 n/a n/a 0 508
1993 480 1 20 7 5 n/a n/a 0 513
1994 499 3 11 9 6 n/a n/a 0 528
1995 479 3 7 12 5 n/a n/a 0 506
1996 479 3 7 12 5 n/a n/a 0 506
1997 417 1 5 12 10 n/a n/a 0 445
1998 427 5 8 13 12 n/a n/a 0 465
1999 417 4 6 17 9 n/a n/a 0 453
2000 374 2 4 22 7 n/a n/a 0 409
2001 346 19 4 17 8 n/a n/a 0 394
2002 360 5 1 7 2 n/a n/a 18 393
2003 360 5 1 7 2 n/a n/a 18 393
2004 347 16 2 9 5 n/a n/a 11 390
2005 334 19 1 10 2 n/a n/a 6 372
2006 352 29 3 7 4 n/a n/a 4 399
2007 346 17 5 8 3 n/a n/a 17 396
2008 341 30 6 7 3 n/a n/a 7 394
2009 311 31 4 8 3 n/a n/a 15 372
2010 370 51 5 9 2 n/a n/a 0 437
2011 336 53 4 14 3 0 34 0 444
2012 330 81 3 13 3 1 35 0 466
2013 297 85 6 13 4 1 36 0 442
2014 281 74 4 10 4 0 40 0 413
2015 247 82 4 8 0 0 37 0 378
2016 237 79 3 11 0 0 35 0 365
2017 209 85 3 16 0 0 35 0 348
2018 188 85 5 17 0 0 33 0 328
2019 190 71 2 20 0 0 30 0 313
2020 187 59 2 24 0 0 29 0 301
2021 134 172 3 16 1 0 33 0 359
2022 111 170 2 22 0 0 33 0 338
2023 117 174 4 15 0 0 35 0 345
2024 108 169 1 11 0 0 25 0 314

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 Elmwood Elementary School

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Compare
Year # Students Full-time Teachers Student/Teacher ratio % Free/Discounted Lunch
1988 435 n/a n/a n/a
1989 445 n/a n/a 10.6
1990 456 30.0 15.2 8.3
1991 489 n/a n/a n/a
1992 508 n/a n/a 16.5
1993 513 n/a 0.0 12.3
1994 528 24.1 21.9 8.1
1995 506 23.7 21.4 9.9
1996 506 23.7 21.4 9.9
1997 445 22.0 20.2 11.2
1998 465 22.0 21.1 10.3
1999 453 22.0 20.6 10.6
2000 409 20.9 19.6 13.9
2001 394 21.7 18.2 10.9
2002 393 21.5 18.3 19.7
2003 393 21.5 18.3 19.7
2004 390 24.0 16.3 19.8
2005 372 22.0 16.9 22.7
2006 399 22.2 18.0 25.3
2007 396 22.5 17.6 28.8
2008 394 21.5 18.3 30.7
2009 372 19.3 19.3 33.3
2010 437 23.6 18.5 41.6
2011 444 21.1 20.9 47.3
2012 466 24.0 19.3 44.8
2013 442 24.3 18.1 51.8
2014 413 22.6 18.2 52.3
2015 378 21.0 18.0 56.6
2016 365 19.0 19.2 55.3
2017 348 17.3 20.0 58.9
2018 328 16.0 20.4 57.9
2019 313 17.2 18.1 54
2020 301 18.0 16.6 51.8
2021 359 20.6 17.4 52.4
2022 338 20.1 16.8 69.8
2023 345 20.1 17.1 61.4
2024 314 23.1 13.5 64.6

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 Elmwood Elementary School

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Compare
Year # Students Full-time Teachers Student/Teacher ratio % Free/Discounted Lunch
1988 435 n/a n/a n/a
1989 445 n/a n/a 10.6
1990 456 30.0 15.2 8.3
1991 489 n/a n/a n/a
1992 508 n/a n/a 16.5
1993 513 n/a 0.0 12.3
1994 528 24.1 21.9 8.1
1995 506 23.7 21.4 9.9
1996 506 23.7 21.4 9.9
1997 445 22.0 20.2 11.2
1998 465 22.0 21.1 10.3
1999 453 22.0 20.6 10.6
2000 409 20.9 19.6 13.9
2001 394 21.7 18.2 10.9
2002 393 21.5 18.3 19.7
2003 393 21.5 18.3 19.7
2004 390 24.0 16.3 19.8
2005 372 22.0 16.9 22.7
2006 399 22.2 18.0 25.3
2007 396 22.5 17.6 28.8
2008 394 21.5 18.3 30.7
2009 372 19.3 19.3 33.3
2010 437 23.6 18.5 41.6
2011 444 21.1 20.9 47.3
2012 466 24.0 19.3 44.8
2013 442 24.3 18.1 51.8
2014 413 22.6 18.2 52.3
2015 378 21.0 18.0 56.6
2016 365 19.0 19.2 55.3
2017 348 17.3 20.0 58.9
2018 328 16.0 20.4 57.9
2019 313 17.2 18.1 54
2020 301 18.0 16.6 51.8
2021 359 20.6 17.4 52.4
2022 338 20.1 16.8 69.8
2023 345 20.1 17.1 61.4
2024 314 23.1 13.5 64.6

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 Elmwood Elementary School

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YearExpenditures from Federal FundsExpenditures from State and Local FundsTotal Expenditures Per Pupil (All Funds)
2019 $1,096 (8.8%) $11,374 (91.2%) $12,470
2020 $980 (8.0%) $11,236 (92.0%) $12,217
2021 $3,656 (28.6%) $9,145 (71.4%) $12,801
2022 $4,581 (31.5%) $9,961 (68.5%) $14,542
2023 $1,838 (10.4%) $15,772 (89.6%) $17,610

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

Impact of COVID-19 on Elmwood 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 822nd of 1408 Elementary schoolsRanks 1045th of 1470 Elementary schools
 12.7%

Test Scores

% proficient
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)		 % proficient
Post pandemic (2022-2023)		 Change (%)
3rd Grade English Language Arts (Elmwood Elementary School)48.939.3
 9.6%
   3rd Grade English Language Arts (South Lake Schools)38.939.3
 0.4%
   3rd Grade English Language Arts (Michigan)45.140.9
 4.2%
3rd Grade Math (Elmwood Elementary School)44.439.3
 5.1%
   3rd Grade Math (South Lake Schools)32.539.3
 6.8%
   3rd Grade Math (Michigan)46.742.9
 3.8%
4th Grade English Language Arts (Elmwood Elementary School)5224.1
 27.9%
   4th Grade English Language Arts (South Lake Schools)41.324.1
 17.2%
   4th Grade English Language Arts (Michigan)45.844.3
 1.5%
4th Grade Math (Elmwood Elementary School)4216.8
 25.2%
   4th Grade Math (South Lake Schools)28.716.8
 11.9%
   4th Grade Math (Michigan)41.838.6
 3.2%
5th Grade English Language Arts (Elmwood Elementary School)28.334.5
 6.2%
   5th Grade English Language Arts (South Lake Schools)36.834.5
 2.3%
   5th Grade English Language Arts (Michigan)46.243.9
 2.3%
5th Grade Math (Elmwood Elementary School)24.515.5
 9%
   5th Grade Math (South Lake Schools)19.715.5
 4.2%
   5th Grade Math (Michigan)34.831.5
 3.3%

Student Body

Number of students
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)		 Number of students
Post pandemic (2022-2023)		 Change (%)
Total Students313345
 10.2%
African American71174
 145.1%
American Indian00
Asian24
 100%
Hispanic2015
 25%
Pacific Islander00
White190117
 38.4%
Two or More Races3035
 16.7%
% Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients54%61.4%
 7.5%

Schools Near Elmwood Elementary School








Frequently Asked Questions about Elmwood Elementary School

In the 2023-24 school year, 314 students attended Elmwood Elementary School.

Students at Elmwood Elementary School are 54% African American, 34% White, 8% Two or more races, 4% Hispanic.

Students who attend Elmwood Elementary School usually go on to attend:

Middle : South Lake Middle School
High : South Lake High School

Elmwood Elementary School ranks 1112th of 1486 Michigan elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 1 star out of 5.


Rate Elmwood Elementary School!



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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.




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