Excellent
#287 of 3,190 schools in MI
Top 9% in state
Nowlin Elementary School
Elementary School · Dearborn City School District
23600 PENN ST, Dearborn, MI 48124
Enrollment
241
Student-Teacher
12.1:1
Score
8.2
Grades
Pre-K – 5th
Enrollment
241
Student-Teacher
12.1:1
Score
8.2
Grades
Pre-K – 5th
Updated
2022-23
Updated 2022-23
How this school compares
In Dearborn
#4 of 37
public schools
Michigan elementary schools
#197 of 1,602
In district
#5 of 36
Dearborn City School District
School environment
9.5 / 10
Exceptional
About Nowlin Elementary School
Nowlin Elementary School is a public elementary school in Dearborn, MI, part of the Dearborn City School District. The school serves approximately 241 students in grades Pre-K – 5th with a student-teacher ratio of 12.1:1. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 8.2/10, placing it in the 91st percentile among MI schools — an above average rating overall.
Students demonstrate 34% proficiency in math, 2 points below the state average and 46% in reading/language arts, 2 points above the state average. The school scores particularly well in school environment (9.5/10). Located in a neighborhood with a median household income of $78,353, where 40% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
The school is situated in a midsize city setting.
Score Breakdown
Full Profile · 3/3 metricsView breakdown
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Nowlin Elementary School — Students at Nowlin Elementary School score 42% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 26%).
Equity & Diversity
Shown separately, not included in overall scoreFree/Reduced Lunch
77.6%
Students qualifying for federal meal assistance
Test Scores MI EDFACTS (2021-22)
Based on 12 test records from MI state assessments. About our data
Proficiency Trend
→ StableAverage proficiency (% at or above grade level) across Math & ELA over time.
* 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: 7.6/10.
How Nowlin Elementary School Compares
See how Nowlin Elementary School performs across key quality dimensions compared to state benchmarks.
Funding & Resources
Performance Trends
Math proficiency has remained stable from 37% (2019) to 36.37% (2022). Reading/ELA proficiency has remained stable from 47% (2019) to 47.3% (2022).
Location
23600 PENN ST, Dearborn, MI 48124
Nearby Alternatives
Families considering Nowlin Elementary School may also want to explore other elementary schools in the area. Duvall Elementary School (rated 9.3/10, 1.2 miles away), which scores notably higher. Another option is Polk Elementary School (rated 7.7/10, 1.5 miles away, in nearby Dearborn Heights), with a comparable rating. Additionally, Daly School (rated 7.2/10, 1.5 miles away, in nearby Inkster), with a comparable rating. For more schools in Dearborn, see our Dearborn schools guide .
Nearby Schools
20 within 1.5 mi| School | Distance | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| Smith Middle School Dearborn | 0.2 mi | 6.5 |
| Pardee School Dearborn Heights | 0.8 mi | 3.6 |
| Long Elementary School Dearborn | 0.8 mi | 5.4 |
| West Village Academy Dearborn | 0.9 mi | 4.5 |
| Oakley W Best Middle School Dearborn Heights | 1.1 mi | 5.5 |
| WhitmoreBolles Elementary School Dearborn | 0.9 mi | 7.1 |
| Duvall Elementary School Dearborn | 1.2 mi | 9.3 |
| DEARBORN EARLY LEARNING CENTER Dearborn | 1.1 mi | — |
| Annapolis High School Dearborn Heights | 1.2 mi | 3.8 |
| Thorne Elementary School Dearborn Heights | 1.2 mi | 6.0 |
| Robichaud Senior High School Dearborn Heights | 1.1 mi | 5.2 |
| Dearborn High School Dearborn | 1.6 mi | 7.2 |
| SACRED HEART SCHOOL Dearborn | 1.5 mi | 6.4 |
| EMMANUEL LUTHERAN SCHOOL Dearborn | 1.5 mi | — |
| Quest Charter Academy Taylor | 1.5 mi | 6.0 |
| Dearborn Heights Virtual Academy Dearborn Heights | 1.5 mi | 5.5 |
| Tomlinson Middle School Inkster | 1.5 mi | 5.9 |
| Polk Elementary School Dearborn Heights | 1.5 mi | 7.7 |
| Daly School Inkster | 1.5 mi | 7.2 |
| Westwood Virtual Academy Inkster | 1.5 mi | 6.4 |
Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)
Census data for ZIP 48124 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources
Median Income
$78,353
Median Home Value
$192,100
Median Rent
$1,280/mo
Population
34,156
College Educated
40.3%
Homeownership
80.1%
Avg Commute
22.1 min
Poverty Rate
8.7%
Median Age
38.9
Community Profile
The community surrounding Nowlin Elementary School has a median household income of $78,353. It is a well-educated community where 40% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $192,100, with a median rent of $1,280/month. The local poverty rate of 8.7% is relatively low. The average commute for residents is 22 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 |
|---|---|
| CABRINI ELEMENTARY & MIDDLE SCHOOL Allen Park, MI | 8.2 |
| CRESCENT ACADEMY INTERNATIONAL Canton, MI | 8.2 |
| Concord Elementary School Concord, MI | 8.2 |
| EB Holman Elementary School Atlantic Mine, MI | 8.2 |
| Frankfort Elementary School Frankfort, MI | 8.2 |
| RUDOLF STEINER SCHOOL OF ANN ARBOR Ann Arbor, MI | 8.2 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about Nowlin Elementary School
What grades does Nowlin Elementary School serve?
Nowlin Elementary School serves students in grades Pre-K through 5th.
How many students attend Nowlin Elementary School?
Nowlin Elementary School has an enrollment of approximately 241 students.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Nowlin Elementary School?
The student-teacher ratio at Nowlin Elementary School is 12.1:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.
How does Nowlin Elementary School rank in MI?
Nowlin Elementary School is ranked #287 out of 3,190 schools in MI.
What is Nowlin Elementary School's MySchoolScout rating?
Nowlin Elementary School has a composite rating of 8.2 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.
What are the test scores at Nowlin Elementary School?
Based on the most recent state assessment data, Nowlin Elementary School has 34.1% math proficiency and 45.8% reading/ELA proficiency.
Is Nowlin Elementary School a charter school?
No, Nowlin Elementary School is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.
Is Nowlin Elementary School a Title I school?
No, Nowlin Elementary School is not currently a Title I school.
What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Nowlin Elementary School?
77.6% of students at Nowlin 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.
Explore More Schools
Neighborhood Context
Powered by 
FBI UCR 2024. City-level (Dearborn). Data >1 year old.
Quick Facts NCES CCD (SY 2022-23)
- Grades
- Pre-K – 5th
- Enrollment
- 241
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 12.1:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 20
- Free/Reduced Lunch
- 77.6%
- Type
- regular
- Setting
- Midsize City
- County
- Wayne County
- Phone
- (313) 827-6900
- Data Year
- 2023–2024
Resources & Links
District
Dearborn City School District- District Enrollment
- 19,621
- Schools in District
- 37
- Per-Pupil Spending
- $18,437
- District Rank
- #5 of 36
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 methodologyRelated reading
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