Below Average
#2591 of 3,192 schools in MI
Besser Elementary School
Elementary School · Alpena Public Schools · Alpena, MI
An Alpena Public Schools elementary school serving grades Kindergarten – 5th.
375 WILSON ST, Alpena, MI 49707
- Math 30% vs MI 37% (2022)
- Reading 43% vs MI 43% (2022)
- 19.7:1 student-teacher ratio
Academics
Full Profile · 3/3 metricsView breakdown
View breakdown
View breakdown
Students at Besser Elementary School score 36% proficient, which is below what's typical for similar communities (expected: 38%).
2022 EdFacts proficiency
Most recent published year. School vs. MI average.
Trend
→ SteadyProficiency is down 55 points across the 14-year record (2009–2022) and has held near 36% recently.
Show all 14 years
Multi-year averages used by the rating model: math 40% (multi-year average, 2009-2022) · reading/ELA 54% (multi-year average, 2009-2022)
* COVID-affected year — test participation was uneven nationwide. This data is weighted at 50% in the Growth score calculation.
Based on 34 test records from MI state assessments and EdFacts (NCES).
Equity & diversity
Shown separately, not included in the overall scoreFree/reduced lunch
57.8%
Students qualifying for federal meal assistance
How we rate schools
A clear 1–10 score built from public data — growth, academics, and learning environment. No hidden criteria, no pay-to-play.
See how we rateThe neighborhood
Where Besser Elementary School sits, and what the surrounding area looks like.
Nearby same-level schools are colored by their score. Pins are locations, not attendance boundaries.
Getting around & local context
- Walk 31Car-Dependent
- Bike 55Bikeable
- City Safety: High1,533/100K
Powered by
FBI Uniform Crime Reporting · 2024 · city context (Alpena), not school-level safety or attendance eligibility. Source details
Source period: 2024. Freshness not available.
Area profileU.S. Census ACS 5-year estimates (ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates)
Median income
$50,699
Median home value
$134,900
Median rent
$642/mo
College educated
18.6%
Homeownership
76.4%
Poverty rate
18.5%
ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates for the ZCTA associated with school ZIP 49707; this is area context, not an attendance boundary.
Compare nearby
Nearby same-level schools
4 from a 5-mile search; district fallback available
| School | Score | Grades | Distance | Enrollment | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Immanuel Lutheran SchoolPrivate · tuition | 4.2private | PK–8 | 0.1 mi | 90 | Compare → |
| Pied Piper SchoolEnrollment path unverified | 7.4 | PK–12 | 0.2 mi | 40 | Compare → |
| Lincoln ElementaryEnrollment path unverified | 4.0 | K–5 | 1.6 mi | 131 | Compare → |
| All Saints Catholic SchoolPrivate · tuition | 3.9private | PK–6 | 1.8 mi | 64 | Compare → |
Distance is proximity only; it is not attendance eligibility.
Private · tuition: Potential private option; tuition and admission requirements have not been verified.
Enrollment path unverified: Potential public school; its attendance or application path has not been classified.
Public and private scores come from different models and are shown side by side, not blended into one ranking.
Alpena Public Schools
- Schools in district
- 9
- Rank in district
- #7 of 9
- District spending per student
- $13,611NCES F-33 · FY 2023 · This annual source is three years behind the current year.
- District child poverty rate
- 19.9%Census SAIPE · 2024
Besser Elementary School is listed in Alpena Public Schools; a district label does not verify attendance for an address.
About Besser Elementary School
Besser Elementary School is a public elementary school in Alpena, MI, part of Alpena Public Schools, serving approximately 493 students in grades Kindergarten-5th with a 19.7:1 student-teacher ratio. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 4.8 out of 10 and ranks #2,591 of 3,192 schools in MI. State assessment records show 40% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022) and 54% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022).
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about Besser Elementary School
What grades does Besser Elementary School serve?
Besser Elementary School serves students in grades Kindergarten through 5th.
How many students attend Besser Elementary School?
Besser Elementary School has an enrollment of approximately 493 students.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Besser Elementary School?
The student-teacher ratio at Besser Elementary School is 19.7:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.
How does Besser Elementary School rank in MI?
Besser Elementary School ranks #2,591 of 3,192 schools in MI.
What is Besser Elementary School's MySchoolScout rating?
Besser Elementary School has a current MySchoolScout rating of 4.8 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 Besser Elementary School?
Based on loaded state assessment records, Besser Elementary School has 40% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022) and 54% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022).
Is Besser Elementary School a charter school?
No, Besser Elementary School is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.
Is Besser Elementary School a Title I school?
No, Besser Elementary School is not currently a Title I school.
What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Besser Elementary School?
57.8% of students at Besser 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.
School factsNCES Common Core of Data (CCD) (SY 2023–24)
- Grades
- Kindergarten – 5th
- Enrollment
- 493
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 19.7:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 25
- Type
- regular
- Setting
- Remote Town
- County
- Alpena County
- Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
- 18.7%
- Phone
- (989) 358-5100
- Area population (ZIP 49707)
- 22,050
- Area average commute
- 15.6 min
- Area median age
- 47.7
Official sources & links
About this school's data
Every number on this page comes from a published source with a stated period. Where a source is partial, aging, or describes a surrounding area rather than the school, that limitation is named below.
- School directory (enrollment, grades, staff, contact)
- NCES Common Core of Data (CCD) · SY 2023–24 · Medium confidence
- Source period: SY 2023–24. A newer release may be available.
- MySchoolScout rating and rank
- MySchoolScout ranking model · Low confidence
- Vintage not available. Do not use this measure alone.
- Derived as a weighted blend of the component scores shown in Academics from state assessment, EdFacts growth, and NCES resource records.
- Math proficiency
- State department of education · 2022 EdFacts · Low confidence
- Older source: 2022 EdFacts. Use as historical context.
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Derived from source records rather than read directly from one field.
- Reading/ELA proficiency
- State department of education · 2022 EdFacts · Low confidence
- Older source: 2022 EdFacts. Use as historical context.
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Derived from source records rather than read directly from one field.
- Student progress (growth)
- NCES EdFacts · Mixed source periods · Low confidence
- Vintage not available. Do not use this measure alone.
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Derived as the fitted year-over-year slope of proficiency from multi-year assessment records.
- Neighborhood (income, housing, education)
- U.S. Census ACS 5-year estimates · ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates · Low confidence
- Older source: ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates. Use as historical context.
- Reported for the ZCTA for ZIP 49707; this does not measure the attendance area.
Evidence periods: Rating mixed/unknown input periods; assessments multi-year average, 2009-2022; directory SY 2023–24
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