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Excellent

#36 of 460 private schools in MI

Top 8% of private schools

Emerson School

Elementary School

5425 SCIO CHURCH RD, Ann Arbor, MI 48103

Private Estimated Score

Estimated academic score. This school does not have standardized test data. Based on MI statewide data. Learn more

Enrollment

332

Student-Teacher

7.3:1

Score

8.0

Grades

Kindergarten – 8th

Updated 2021-22

How this school compares

In Ann Arbor

#5 of 17

public schools

Michigan elementary schools

#21 of 307

About Emerson School

Emerson School serves 332 students in grades kindergarten through eighth in Ann Arbor's 48103 area, offering an exceptionally personalized learning environment with its remarkable 7.3:1 student-teacher ratio. With 46 full-time equivalent teachers on staff, this regular public elementary school has earned strong recognition, ranking 80th out of 460 schools statewide and receiving a solid 8.3 out of 10 rating from MySchoolScout. The school draws families from an affluent and highly educated community where 76% of residents hold bachelor's degrees or higher, and the median household income reaches $113,829.

This educated population creates a supportive academic environment, with home values averaging $440,600 and a low poverty rate of just 6.6%. The small class sizes allow teachers to provide individualized attention that many families in this accomplished community value. Students benefit from the school's commitment to maintaining low student-teacher ratios, which enables more personalized instruction and stronger relationships between educators and learners.

The K-8 structure allows younger students to learn alongside older peers while maintaining age-appropriate programming. Emerson School sits in a rural setting near town along Scio Church Road, providing students with a peaceful learning environment while remaining accessible to Ann Arbor's broader educational and cultural resources.

What Parents Should Know

With a student-teacher ratio of 7.3:1, Emerson School offers a notably low ratio compared to the national average. This typically means smaller class sizes and more opportunities for one-on-one interaction between students and teachers.

As a private school, Emerson School operates independently from the local public school district. Families considering this school should inquire about tuition costs, financial aid availability, and the admissions process. Private schools are not required to follow the same curriculum standards as public schools, which can be either an advantage or a consideration depending on your priorities.

Located in a rural area, Emerson School may involve longer commutes for some families. Rural schools often serve as community anchors and may have smaller class sizes, but parents should consider transportation logistics, after-school program availability, and access to specialized services.

Financial Overview

Source: IRS Form 990 (2023 filing)

Per-Pupil Spending
Total expenses ÷ enrollment
$27,058
Per-Pupil Revenue
Total revenue ÷ enrollment
$27,760
Financial Health
Revenue-to-expense ratio (>1.0 = surplus)
1.03x — Stable
Tuition Dependency
Share of revenue from program services (tuition, fees)
94%
Total Assets
End-of-year total assets from IRS filing
$13.3M

Financial data from IRS Form 990 filings via ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer. Per-pupil figures based on current enrollment of 332 students. Not all private schools file Form 990.

Compare to Public Schools

Beta

How Emerson School compares to 35 public schools serving similar grades in Ann Arbor, MI

Student-Teacher Ratio
7.3:1
This School
vs
12.9:1
Public Avg
Avg School Size
332
This School
vs
368
Public Avg
Avg School Scout Rating
8.0
This School
vs
7.3
Public Avg

Student Demographics

White 62% vs 0%
Asian 22.3% vs 0%
Hispanic 4.8% vs 0%
Black 3% vs 0%
Emerson School Ann Arbor Public Avg

Nearby Elementary Schools

School Rating
Emerson School (this school) 8.0
High Point School 9.1
Honey Creek Community School 8.0
LocalBased SpecEd Programs
Washtenaw Deaf and Hard of Hearing Program
Lakewood Elementary School 5.4
Dicken Elementary School 6.5
Uriah H Lawton School 8.7
Abbot School 5.2
Eberwhite School 8.4
Haisley Elementary School 7.5
Slauson Middle School 6.7
Bach Elementary School 9.0
Ann Arbor Open at Mack School 7.5
Forsythe Middle School 6.8
Wines Elementary School 8.1
Central Academy 7.0
Progress Park
Burns Park Elementary School 7.1
Angell School 8.0
Pattengill School 5.9

Showing 20 of 35 schools. View all schools in Ann Arbor

Demographics sourced from NCES Private School Survey (PSS) and Common Core of Data (CCD). Comparisons are based on enrollment-weighted averages.

Score Breakdown

What This Rating Measures

This rating reflects classroom size, instructional time, student diversity, community resources, and school characteristics. Private schools are ranked against other private schools in MI.

Classroom Attention
? Student-teacher ratio calibrated against other private schools. Lower ratios mean more individual attention. (30% of overall score)
A 9.2 / 10
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio 7.3:1
Instructional Commitment
? Total annual instructional hours based on school day length and days per year. (15% of overall score)
C 3.3 / 10
View breakdown
School Day Length 6.8 hours
Annual Instructional Hours 1,169.6
Diversity & Inclusion
? Racial and ethnic diversity of the student body using Simpson's diversity index. (20% of overall score)
A+ 9.5 / 10
View breakdown
Diversity Index 55%
Community Context

Data Unavailable

School Profile
? Enrollment size and grade span breadth — indicators of program depth and peer community. (15% of overall score)
A- 8.4 / 10
View breakdown
Enrollment 332
View data sources

Score basis: Private school model

Data coverage: 80% of scoring components had data

Components scored: 4 of 5

Ranking pool: Private schools in MI

Test Scores

Test score data not yet available for this school.

Student Demographics NCES PSS (SY 2021-22)

White 62.0%
Asian 22.3%
Two or More 7.2%
Hispanic 4.8%
Black 3.0%
Native American 0.6%

Source: NCES Private School Survey (PSS)

Location

5425 SCIO CHURCH RD, Ann Arbor, MI 48103

Nearby Alternatives

Families considering Emerson School may also want to explore other elementary schools in the area. DAYCROFT SCHOOL (rated 8.8/10, 3.2 miles away), which scores slightly higher. Another option is Uriah H Lawton School (rated 8.7/10, 3.7 miles away), which scores slightly higher. Additionally, Eberwhite School (rated 8.4/10, 3.9 miles away), which scores slightly higher. For more schools in Ann Arbor, see our Ann Arbor schools guide .

Nearby Schools

20 within 4.6 mi
School Distance Rating
CHRISTIAN MONTESSORI SCHOOL OF ANN ARBOR Ann Arbor 2.3 mi 7.9
Honey Creek Community School Ann Arbor 2.1 mi 8.0
High Point School Ann Arbor 2.1 mi 9.1
Young Adult Programs Ann Arbor 2.1 mi
LocalBased SpecEd Programs Ann Arbor 2.1 mi
Washtenaw Deaf and Hard of Hearing Program Ann Arbor 2.1 mi
DAYCROFT SCHOOL Ann Arbor 3.2 mi 8.8
Lakewood Elementary School Ann Arbor 2.9 mi 5.4
Dicken Elementary School Ann Arbor 3.1 mi 6.5
Abbot School Ann Arbor 3.8 mi 5.2
VERITAS CHRISTI CATHOLIC H.S. Ann Arbor 3.5 mi 3.7
Haisley Elementary School Ann Arbor 4.0 mi 7.5
Uriah H Lawton School Ann Arbor 3.7 mi 8.7
Eberwhite School Ann Arbor 3.9 mi 8.4
Skyline High School Ann Arbor 4.6 mi 9.6
Slauson Middle School Ann Arbor 4.2 mi 6.7
Wines Elementary School Ann Arbor 4.6 mi 8.1
Forsythe Middle School Ann Arbor 4.6 mi 6.8
Pioneer High School Ann Arbor 4.2 mi 9.5
Ann Arbor Open at Mack School Ann Arbor 4.6 mi 7.5

Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)

Census data for ZIP 48103 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources

Median Income

$115,513

Median Home Value

$455,100

Median Rent

$1,760/mo

Population

54,635

College Educated

74.9%

Homeownership

66.2%

Avg Commute

21.4 min

Poverty Rate

8.5%

Median Age

40.2

Community Profile

The community surrounding Emerson School has a median household income of $115,513. It is a well-educated community where 75% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $455,100, with a median rent of $1,760/month. The local poverty rate of 8.5% is relatively low. The average commute for residents is 21 minutes. Source: U.S. Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates.

Similar Schools

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

School Rating
Angell School Ann Arbor, MI 8.0
Avoca Elementary School Avoca, MI 8.0
Brewster Elementary School Rochester Hills, MI 8.0
Bridgman Elementary School Bridgman, MI 8.0
Burton Elementary School Huntington Woods, MI 8.0
Chapman Elementary School Rockwood, MI 8.0

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about Emerson School

What grades does Emerson School serve?

Emerson School serves students in grades Kindergarten through 8th.

How many students attend Emerson School?

Emerson School has an enrollment of approximately 332 students.

What is the student-teacher ratio at Emerson School?

The student-teacher ratio at Emerson School is 7.3:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 11:1 for private schools.

How does Emerson School rank in MI?

Emerson School is ranked #36 out of 460 private schools in MI.

What is Emerson School's MySchoolScout rating?

Emerson School has a composite rating of 8.0 out of 10 on MySchoolScout. This score combines academic performance, student growth, and school environment into a single score. Equity data is shown separately for context.

Is Emerson School a private school?

Yes, Emerson School is a private coeducational school with a Nonsectarian affiliation. Private schools are not required to participate in state standardized testing, so academic performance data may be limited compared to public schools.

Is Emerson School a religious school?

No, Emerson School is a nonsectarian (non-religious) private school.

11 schools nearby View map →

Neighborhood Context

Walk Score
6 Car-Dependent
Bike Score
2 Somewhat Bikeable
City Safety
High (2,024/100K)

Powered by Walk Score

FBI UCR 2024. City-level (Ann Arbor). Data >1 year old.

Quick Facts NCES PSS (SY 2021-22)

Grades
Kindergarten – 8th
Enrollment
332
Gender Split
54% M / 46% F
Student-Teacher Ratio
7.3:1
Teachers (FTE)
46
Type
private
Coed Status
coed
Affiliation
Nonsectarian
School Day
6.8 hours
Days Per Year
172 days
Setting
Fringe Rural
County
WASHTENAW
Data Year
2022–2023

How We Rate Schools

Every school receives a composite score from 1 to 10 based on four pillars: Academic Performance (50%), Student Growth (20%), Equity (15%), and Learning Environment (15%). Scores are built from publicly available data including standardized test results, enrollment figures, and school climate indicators.

Read our full methodology

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