Below Average
#2838 of 3,192 schools in MI
Buchanan Elementary
Elementary School · Grand Rapids Public Schools · Grand Rapids, MI
A Grand Rapids Public Schools elementary school where students score 5 points below what's typical for similar communities.
1775 BUCHANAN AVE SW, Grand Rapids, MI 49507
- Math 7% vs MI 37% (2022)
- Reading 13% vs MI 43% (2022)
- 18.4:1 student-teacher ratio
Academics
Full Profile · 3/3 metricsView breakdown
View breakdown
View breakdown
Students at Buchanan Elementary score 10% proficient, which is below what's typical for similar communities (expected: 15%).
2022 EdFacts proficiency
Most recent published year. School vs. MI average.
Trend
↓ DecliningProficiency has fallen 7 points since 2019, to 10% in 2022, across a 14-year record (2009–2022).
Show all 14 years
Multi-year averages used by the rating model: math 19% (multi-year average, 2009-2022) · reading/ELA 24% (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
95.3%
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 Buchanan 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 72Very Walkable
- Transit 38Some Transit
- Bike 51Bikeable
- 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
$56,578
Median home value
$179,600
Median rent
$1,114/mo
College educated
26.9%
Homeownership
60.6%
Poverty rate
27.3%
ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates for the ZCTA associated with school ZIP 49507; 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Burton ElementaryEnrollment path unverified | 4.7 | PK–5 | 0.5 mi | 380 | Compare → |
| Hope Academy of West MichiganCharter · enrollment unverified | 7.4 | PK–12 | 0.6 mi | 314 | Compare → |
| Cesar E Chavez ElementaryEnrollment path unverified | 3.4 | PK–5 | 0.8 mi | 397 | Compare → |
| Potters House Elementary and Middle SchoolPrivate · tuition | 7.6private | PK–8 | 0.8 mi | 365 | 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.
Private · tuition: Potential private option; tuition and admission requirements have not been verified.
Public and private scores come from different models and are shown side by side, not blended into one ranking.
Grand Rapids Public Schools
- Schools in district
- 51
- Rank in district
- #37 of 47
- District spending per student
- $17,732NCES F-33 · FY 2023 · This annual source is three years behind the current year.
- District child poverty rate
- 19.4%Census SAIPE · 2024
Buchanan Elementary is listed in Grand Rapids Public Schools; a district label does not verify attendance for an address.
About Buchanan Elementary
Buchanan Elementary is a public elementary school in Grand Rapids, MI, part of Grand Rapids Public Schools, serving approximately 387 students in grades Pre-K-5th with a 18.4:1 student-teacher ratio. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 4.2 out of 10 and ranks #2,838 of 3,192 schools in MI. State assessment records show 19% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022) and 24% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022).
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about Buchanan Elementary
What grades does Buchanan Elementary serve?
Buchanan Elementary serves students in grades Pre-K through 5th.
How many students attend Buchanan Elementary?
Buchanan Elementary has an enrollment of approximately 387 students.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Buchanan Elementary?
The student-teacher ratio at Buchanan Elementary is 18.4:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.
How does Buchanan Elementary rank in MI?
Buchanan Elementary ranks #2,838 of 3,192 schools in MI.
What is Buchanan Elementary's MySchoolScout rating?
Buchanan Elementary has a current MySchoolScout rating of 4.2 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 Buchanan Elementary?
Based on loaded state assessment records, Buchanan Elementary has 19% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022) and 24% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022).
Is Buchanan Elementary a charter school?
No, Buchanan Elementary is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.
Is Buchanan Elementary a Title I school?
No, Buchanan Elementary is not currently a Title I school.
What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Buchanan Elementary?
95.3% of students at Buchanan 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
- 387
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 18.4:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 21
- Type
- regular
- Setting
- Midsize City
- County
- Kent County
- Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
- 26.4%
- Phone
- (616) 819-2252
- Area population (ZIP 49507)
- 39,389
- Area average commute
- 20.7 min
- Area median age
- 29.9
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 49507; 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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