Very Good
#597 of 3,192 schools in MI
Top 19% in state
Bowen Elementary
Elementary School · Kentwood Public Schools · Grand Rapids, MI
A Kentwood Public Schools elementary school where students score 18 points above what's typical for similar communities.
4483 KALAMAZOO AVE SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49508
- Math 41% vs MI 37% (2022)
- Reading 48% vs MI 43% (2022)
- 14.5:1 student-teacher ratio
Academics
Full Profile · 3/3 metricsView breakdown
View breakdown
View breakdown
Students at Bowen Elementary score 44% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 26%).
2022 EdFacts proficiency
Most recent published year. School vs. MI average.
Trend
→ SteadyProficiency is down 43 points across the 14-year record (2009–2022) and has held near 44% recently.
Show all 14 years
Multi-year averages used by the rating model: math 42% (multi-year average, 2009-2022) · reading/ELA 50% (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
78.2%
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 Bowen Elementary 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 59Somewhat Walkable
- Bike 54Bikeable
- City Safety: High3,416/100K
Powered by
FBI Uniform Crime Reporting · 2024 · city context (Grand Rapids), 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
$65,328
Median home value
$257,900
Median rent
$1,179/mo
College educated
33.2%
Homeownership
61.1%
Poverty rate
11.6%
ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates for the ZCTA associated with school ZIP 49508; 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Meadowlawn ElementaryEnrollment path unverified | 7.1 | PK–5 | 0.8 mi | 351 | Compare → |
| Sherwood Global Studies AcademyEnrollment path unverified | 7.4 | PK–6 | 0.9 mi | 131 | Compare → |
| New Branches Charter AcademyCharter · enrollment unverified | 4.4 | K–8 | 1.0 mi | 359 | Compare → |
| Excel Charter AcademyCharter · enrollment unverified | 6.3 | K–12 | 1.1 mi | 783 | Compare → |
Distance is proximity only; it is not attendance eligibility.
Enrollment path unverified: Potential public school; its attendance or application path has not been classified.
Charter · enrollment unverified: Potential charter option; enrollment requirements have not been verified.
Kentwood Public Schools
- Schools in district
- 16
- Rank in district
- #2 of 16
- District spending per student
- $15,114NCES F-33 · FY 2023 · This annual source is three years behind the current year.
- District child poverty rate
- 16.0%Census SAIPE · 2024
Bowen Elementary is listed in Kentwood Public Schools; a district label does not verify attendance for an address.
About Bowen Elementary
Bowen Elementary is a public elementary school in Grand Rapids, MI, part of Kentwood Public Schools, serving approximately 348 students in grades Pre-K-5th with a 14.5:1 student-teacher ratio. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 7.6 out of 10 and ranks #597 of 3,192 schools in MI. State assessment records show 42% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022) and 50% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022).
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about Bowen Elementary
What grades does Bowen Elementary serve?
Bowen Elementary serves students in grades Pre-K through 5th.
How many students attend Bowen Elementary?
Bowen Elementary has an enrollment of approximately 348 students.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Bowen Elementary?
The student-teacher ratio at Bowen Elementary is 14.5:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.
How does Bowen Elementary rank in MI?
Bowen Elementary ranks #597 of 3,192 schools in MI.
What is Bowen Elementary's MySchoolScout rating?
Bowen Elementary has a current MySchoolScout rating of 7.6 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 Bowen Elementary?
Based on loaded state assessment records, Bowen Elementary has 42% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022) and 50% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022).
Is Bowen Elementary a charter school?
No, Bowen Elementary is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.
Is Bowen Elementary a Title I school?
No, Bowen Elementary is not currently a Title I school.
What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Bowen Elementary?
78.2% of students at Bowen Elementary 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
- Pre-K – 5th
- Enrollment
- 348
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 14.5:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 24
- Type
- regular
- Setting
- Small City
- County
- Kent County
- Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
- 30.7%
- Phone
- (616) 455-5220
- Area population (ZIP 49508)
- 41,924
- Area average commute
- 20.9 min
- Area median age
- 35.6
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 49508; 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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