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Excellent

#126 of 3,192 schools in MI

Top 4% in state

Alto Elementary School

Elementary School · Lowell Area Schools

6150 BANCROFT AVE SE, Alto, MI 49302

Enrollment

404

Student-Teacher

17.6:1

Score

8.6

Grades

Pre-K – 5th

Data vintage2022-23

How this school compares

Michigan schools

#126 of 3,192

In Alto

#1 of 2

public schools

In district

#1 of 6

Lowell Area Schools

Equity

9.7 / 10

Excellent

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Alto Elementary School

8.6/10

Elementary School in Alto · grades Pre-K – 5th. Start here, then compare fit against nearby and district options.

Kettle Lake Elementary School

8.5/10

4.1 mi away. Use as a geographic alternative in the same move search.

Bushnell Elementary School

7.0/10

6.0 mi away. Use as a geographic alternative in the same move search.

About Alto Elementary School

Alto Elementary School is a public elementary school in Alto, MI, part of Lowell Area Schools. Alto Elementary School serves approximately 404 students, and covers grades Pre-K-5th, and has a 17.6:1 student-teacher ratio. Alto Elementary School has a current MySchoolScout rating of 8.6 out of 10 and ranks #126 of 3,192 schools in MI.

Structured state assessment records for Alto Elementary School show 75% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022) and 79% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022).

How it compares0.9 pts above district
  • This school 8.6 · Excellent
  • District avg 7.7
  • MI avg 6.1

What Parents Should Know

Alto Elementary School sits in a rural area, which can mean longer drives for some families. Rural schools are often community anchors with smaller classes, but check transportation, after-school options, and access to specialized services before you commit.

Score Breakdown

Full Profile · 3/3 metrics
Student Progress8.3Excellent50%
Year-over-year improvement in student test scores.
View breakdown
Years of Data14
Annual Change-1.49 pts/yr
Data Period2009–2022
TrendDeclining
Academics9.5Excellent30%
Student proficiency on state tests, adjusted for community poverty levels.
View breakdown
Math Proficiency71.7% (2022 EdFacts)
Reading/ELA Proficiency71.8% (2022 EdFacts)
Math vs. State Avg+29.8 pts
Reading vs. State Avg+29.9 pts
Overall Proficiency72% (2022 EdFacts, Math+ELA)
Expected (poverty-adj.)60% (model expectation from 2022 EdFacts)
vs. Expected+12.1 pts
Adjusted Percentile92th
Resources & Environment8.2Excellent20%
Student-teacher ratio, per-pupil spending, and attendance.
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio17.6:1
Per-Pupil Spending$13,995
Chronic Absenteeism7.2%

Alto Elementary School — Students at Alto Elementary School score 72% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 60%).

How we calculate scores →

Equity & Diversity

Shown separately, not included in overall score

Free/Reduced Lunch

23.3%

Students qualifying for federal meal assistance

Test Scores MI EDFACTS (2021-22)

Math Proficiency 75.3% (multi-year average, 2009-2022)
School
State
36.6% (2022 EdFacts)
ELA Proficiency 78.5% (multi-year average, 2009-2022)
School
State
43.1% (2022 EdFacts)

Based on 34 test records from MI state assessments. About our data

Proficiency Trend

↓ Declining

Average proficiency (% at or above grade level) across Math & ELA over time.

2009
Math
96%
ELA
97%
2010
Math
96%
ELA
96%
2011
Math
72%
ELA
86%
2012
Math
68%
ELA
85%
2013
Math
76%
ELA
87%
2014
Math
69%
ELA
73%
2015
Math
75%
ELA
74%
2016
Math
74%
ELA
72%
2017
Math
75%
ELA
74%
2018
Math
74%
ELA
79%
2019
Math
74%
ELA
79%
2020*
Math
72%
ELA
72%
2021*
Math
72%
ELA
72%
2022
Math
71.9%
ELA
71.9%

* COVID-affected year — test participation was uneven nationwide. This data is weighted at 50% in the Growth score calculation.

Source: EdFacts (NCES) and state assessment data. Growth score: 8.3/10.

How Alto Elementary School Compares

See how Alto Elementary School performs across key quality dimensions compared to state benchmarks.

Overall Score
8.6/10
96th percentile in MI
Academic
9.5/10
Excellent
Growth
8.3/10
Excellent
Environment
8.2/10
Excellent

Funding & Resources

Free/Reduced Lunch
Students eligible for subsidized meals
23%
Teaching Staff
18:1 student-teacher ratio
23 teachers
Chronic Absenteeism
Students missing 15+ days per year (SY 2022-23)
7.2%

Location

6150 BANCROFT AVE SE, Alto, MI 49302

Nearby Alternatives

Families considering Alto Elementary School may also want to explore other elementary schools in the area. Ada Elementary School (rated 9.2/10, 9.0 miles away, in nearby Ada), which scores slightly higher. Another option is Caledonia Elementary School (rated 9.0/10, 8.5 miles away, in nearby Caledonia), which scores slightly higher. Additionally, Duncan Lake Early Childhood Center (rated 9.0/10, 8.6 miles away, in nearby Caledonia), which scores slightly higher. For more schools in Alto, see our Alto schools guide .

Nearby Schools

20 within 9.4 mi
School Distance Rating
Kettle Lake Elementary School Alto 4.1 mi 8.5
Bushnell Elementary School Lowell 6.0 mi 7.0
Cherry Creek Elementary School Lowell 6.2 mi 7.3
Lowell Middle School Lowell 6.1 mi 7.6
Unity Alternative School Lowell 6.1 mi
Lowell Senior High School Lowell 7.1 mi 7.7
Pine Ridge Elementary School Grand Rapids 6.6 mi 8.3
Thornapple Elementary School Grand Rapids 8.4 mi 8.1
Emmons Lake Elementary School Caledonia 8.0 mi 7.8
Ada Elementary School Ada 9.0 mi 9.2
Ada Vista Elementary School Ada 9.0 mi 5.8
Kraft Meadows Intermediate School Caledonia 8.2 mi 8.0
Caledonia High School Caledonia 8.2 mi 7.6
Duncan Lake Transitions Program Caledonia 8.2 mi
Caledonia Elementary School Caledonia 8.5 mi 9.0
Duncan Lake Early Childhood Center Caledonia 8.6 mi 9.0
Duncan Lake Middle School Caledonia 8.6 mi 7.5
West Michigan Aviation Academy Grand Rapids 8.2 mi 8.4
ST ROBERT CATHOLIC SCHOOL Ada 9.4 mi 6.9
ADA CHRISTIAN SCHOOL Ada 9.4 mi 5.8

Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)

Census data for ZIP 49302 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources

Median Income

$125,264

Median Home Value

$387,100

Median Rent

$1,056/mo

Population

9,657

College Educated

45.1%

Homeownership

96.6%

Avg Commute

22.6 min

Poverty Rate

2.8%

Median Age

39.1

Similar Schools

Schools in the same state with comparable level, size, and ratings

School Rating
Cavanaugh School Lansing, MI 8.6
Cedar Crest Elementary School Greenville, MI 8.6
Dutton Elementary School Caledonia, MI 8.6
Hoover Elementary School Livonia, MI 8.6
Lewis Maire Elementary School Grosse Pointe, MI 8.6
Marshall Elementary School Byron Center, MI 8.6

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about Alto Elementary School

What grades does Alto Elementary School serve?

Alto Elementary School serves students in grades Pre-K through 5th.

How many students attend Alto Elementary School?

Alto Elementary School has an enrollment of approximately 404 students.

What is the student-teacher ratio at Alto Elementary School?

The student-teacher ratio at Alto Elementary School is 17.6:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.

How does Alto Elementary School rank in MI?

Alto Elementary School ranks #126 of 3,192 schools in MI.

What is Alto Elementary School's MySchoolScout rating?

Alto Elementary School has a current MySchoolScout rating of 8.6 out of 10. This score combines the level-appropriate components shown in the rating breakdown; equity data is shown separately for context.

What are the test scores at Alto Elementary School?

Based on loaded state assessment records, Alto Elementary School has 75% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022) and 79% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022).

Is Alto Elementary School a charter school?

No, Alto Elementary School is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.

Is Alto Elementary School a Title I school?

No, Alto Elementary School is not currently a Title I school.

What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Alto Elementary School?

23.3% of students at Alto Elementary School qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. This is a commonly used indicator of economic need and provides important context when interpreting test scores.

11 schools nearby View map →

Neighborhood Context

Walk Score
25 Car-Dependent
Bike Score
29 Somewhat Bikeable

Powered by Walk Score

Quick Facts NCES CCD (SY 2022-23)

Grades
Pre-K – 5th
Enrollment
404
Student-Teacher Ratio
17.6:1
Teachers (FTE)
23
Free/Reduced Lunch
23.3%
Type
regular
Setting
Fringe Rural
County
Kent County
Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
7.2%

District

Lowell Area Schools
District Enrollment
3,436
Schools in District
7
Per-Pupil Spending
$13,995
District Rank
#1 of 6

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