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Very Good

#475 of 3,192 schools in MI

Top 15% in state

Murray Lake Elementary

Elementary School · Lowell Area Schools

300 HIGH ST, Lowell, MI 49331

Enrollment

427

Student-Teacher

19.4:1

Score

7.8

Grades

Pre-K – 5th

Data vintage2022-23

How this school compares

Michigan schools

#475 of 3,192

In Lowell

#1 of 5

public schools

In district

#2 of 6

Lowell Area Schools

Equity

9.5 / 10

Excellent

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Murray Lake Elementary

7.8/10

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

Lowell Senior High School

7.7/10

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

Cherry Creek Elementary School

7.3/10

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

About Murray Lake Elementary

Murray Lake Elementary is a public elementary school in Lowell, MI, part of Lowell Area Schools. Murray Lake Elementary serves approximately 427 students, and covers grades Pre-K-5th, and has a 19.4:1 student-teacher ratio. Murray Lake Elementary has a current MySchoolScout rating of 7.8 out of 10 and ranks #475 of 3,192 schools in MI.

Structured state assessment records for Murray Lake Elementary show 67% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022) and 76% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022).

How it comparesOn par with district
  • This school 7.8 · Very Good
  • District avg 7.7
  • MI avg 6.1

What Parents Should Know

Murray Lake Elementary 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 Progress7.8Very Good50%
Year-over-year improvement in student test scores.
View breakdown
Years of Data14
Annual Change-1.74 pts/yr
Data Period2009–2022
TrendDeclining
Academics9.2Excellent30%
Student proficiency on state tests, adjusted for community poverty levels.
View breakdown
Math Proficiency65.2% (2022 EdFacts)
Reading/ELA Proficiency71.9% (2022 EdFacts)
Math vs. State Avg+23.4 pts
Reading vs. State Avg+30 pts
Overall Proficiency69% (2022 EdFacts, Math+ELA)
Expected (poverty-adj.)61% (model expectation from 2022 EdFacts)
vs. Expected+7.2 pts
Adjusted Percentile87th
Resources & Environment5.6Average20%
Student-teacher ratio, per-pupil spending, and attendance.
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio19.4:1
Per-Pupil Spending$13,995
Chronic Absenteeism20.6%

Murray Lake Elementary — Students at Murray Lake Elementary score 69% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 61%).

How we calculate scores →

Equity & Diversity

Shown separately, not included in overall score

Free/Reduced Lunch

20.4%

Students qualifying for federal meal assistance

Test Scores MI EDFACTS (2021-22)

Math Proficiency 67.2% (multi-year average, 2009-2022)
School
State
36.6% (2022 EdFacts)
ELA Proficiency 76.0% (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
95%
ELA
98%
2010
Math
95%
ELA
93%
2011
Math
57%
ELA
85%
2012
Math
58%
ELA
85%
2013
Math
61%
ELA
89%
2014
Math
59%
ELA
65%
2015
Math
69%
ELA
75%
2016
Math
66%
ELA
63%
2017
Math
63%
ELA
67%
2018
Math
62%
ELA
70%
2019
Math
62%
ELA
70%
2020*
Math
67%
ELA
72%
2021*
Math
67%
ELA
72%
2022
Math
65.3%
ELA
72%

* 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: 7.8/10.

How Murray Lake Elementary Compares

See how Murray Lake Elementary performs across key quality dimensions compared to state benchmarks.

Overall Score
7.8/10
85th percentile in MI
Academic
9.2/10
Excellent
Growth
7.8/10
Very Good
Environment
5.6/10
Average

Funding & Resources

Free/Reduced Lunch
Students eligible for subsidized meals
20%
Teaching Staff
19:1 student-teacher ratio
22 teachers
Chronic Absenteeism
Students missing 15+ days per year (SY 2022-23)
20.6%

Location

300 HIGH ST, Lowell, MI 49331

Nearby Alternatives

Families considering Murray Lake Elementary may also want to explore other elementary schools in the area. Ada Elementary School (rated 9.2/10, 7.9 miles away, in nearby Ada), which scores notably higher. Another option is Lakes Elementary School (rated 8.5/10, 6.4 miles away, in nearby Rockford), which scores slightly higher. Additionally, Thornapple Elementary School (rated 8.1/10, 8.7 miles away, in nearby Grand Rapids), with a very similar rating. For more schools in Lowell, see our Lowell schools guide .

Nearby Schools

20 within 8.9 mi
School Distance Rating
Lowell Senior High School Lowell 4.9 mi 7.7
Cherry Creek Elementary School Lowell 5.9 mi 7.3
Lowell Middle School Lowell 6.1 mi 7.6
Goodwillie Environmental School Grand Rapids 4.8 mi 6.4
Bushnell Elementary School Lowell 6.3 mi 7.0
Cannonsburg Elementary School Rockford 5.0 mi 8.0
Unity Alternative School Lowell 6.5 mi
Lakes Elementary School Rockford 6.4 mi 8.5
East Rockford Middle School Rockford 6.8 mi 7.4
Link Learning Virtual Program Belding 7.5 mi
Ada Vista Elementary School Ada 7.8 mi 5.8
FAITH COMMUNITY CHRISTIAN SCHOOL Belding 8.1 mi 6.2
Ada Elementary School Ada 7.9 mi 9.2
Woodview Elementary School Belding 7.9 mi 5.7
Thornapple Elementary School Grand Rapids 8.7 mi 8.1
Eastern High School Ada 7.7 mi 8.4
Eastern Middle School Ada 7.7 mi 8.1
ST ROBERT CATHOLIC SCHOOL Ada 8.5 mi 6.9
ROCKFORD CHRISTIAN SCHOOL Rockford 8.3 mi 6.7
ADA CHRISTIAN SCHOOL Ada 8.9 mi 5.8

Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)

Census data for ZIP 49331 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources

Median Income

$92,443

Median Home Value

$293,600

Median Rent

$1,109/mo

Population

17,419

College Educated

39.1%

Homeownership

85.3%

Avg Commute

24.1 min

Poverty Rate

5.1%

Median Age

38.5

Similar Schools

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

School Rating
Blanche Sims Elementary School Lake Orion, MI 7.8
Cedar Trails Elementary School Cedar Springs, MI 7.8
Central Grade School Traverse City, MI 7.8
Copper Island Academy Calumet, MI 7.8
Costello Elementary School Troy, MI 7.8
Emmons Lake Elementary School Caledonia, MI 7.8

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about Murray Lake Elementary

What grades does Murray Lake Elementary serve?

Murray Lake Elementary serves students in grades Pre-K through 5th.

How many students attend Murray Lake Elementary?

Murray Lake Elementary has an enrollment of approximately 427 students.

What is the student-teacher ratio at Murray Lake Elementary?

The student-teacher ratio at Murray Lake Elementary is 19.4:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.

How does Murray Lake Elementary rank in MI?

Murray Lake Elementary ranks #475 of 3,192 schools in MI.

What is Murray Lake Elementary's MySchoolScout rating?

Murray Lake Elementary has a current MySchoolScout rating of 7.8 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 Murray Lake Elementary?

Based on loaded state assessment records, Murray Lake Elementary has 67% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022) and 76% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022).

Is Murray Lake Elementary a charter school?

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

Is Murray Lake Elementary a Title I school?

No, Murray Lake Elementary is not currently a Title I school.

What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Murray Lake Elementary?

20.4% of students at Murray Lake 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.

11 schools nearby View map →

Neighborhood Context

Walk Score
3 Car-Dependent
Bike Score
26 Somewhat Bikeable

Powered by Walk Score

Quick Facts NCES CCD (SY 2022-23)

Grades
Pre-K – 5th
Enrollment
427
Student-Teacher Ratio
19.4:1
Teachers (FTE)
22
Free/Reduced Lunch
20.4%
Type
regular
Setting
Distant Rural
County
Kent County
Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
20.6%

District

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

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