Very Good
#1061 of 3,190 schools in MI
Top 33% in state
Shepherd Elementary School
Elementary School · Shepherd Public Schools
301 SOUTH 4TH ST, Shepherd, MI 48883
Enrollment
560
Student-Teacher
16.5:1
Score
7.0
Grades
Pre-K – 5th
Enrollment
560
Student-Teacher
16.5:1
Score
7.0
Grades
Pre-K – 5th
Updated
2022-23
Updated 2022-23
How this school compares
In Shepherd
#1 of 4
public schools
Michigan elementary schools
#631 of 1,602
In district
#2 of 5
Shepherd Public Schools
Academic growth
7.7 / 10
Very strong
About Shepherd Elementary School
Shepherd Elementary School is a regular public elementary school located in the rural community of Shepherd, Michigan. Serving students from pre-kindergarten through fifth grade, the school has an enrollment of 560 students and maintains a student-teacher ratio of 16.5:1 with 34 full-time equivalent teachers. Shepherd Elementary School’s academic performance is rated at 5.6 out of 10 by MySchoolScout, placing it in the 54th percentile among Michigan schools based on its state ranking of #1460 out of 3204 schools.
Students show proficiency rates of 41% for ELA/reading and 31% for math, indicating areas where further development could be beneficial. Shepherd Elementary School is situated in a rural area with a tight-knit community atmosphere. The school focuses on providing a supportive environment that nurtures its students' growth and well-being.
What Parents Should Know
Located in a rural area, Shepherd Elementary 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.
Score Breakdown
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Shepherd Elementary School — Students at Shepherd Elementary School score 37% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 36%).
Equity & Diversity
Shown separately, not included in overall scoreFree/Reduced Lunch
60.7%
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: 7.7/10.
How Shepherd Elementary School Compares
See how Shepherd Elementary School performs across key quality dimensions compared to state benchmarks.
Funding & Resources
Performance Trends
Math proficiency has remained stable from 34% (2019) to 32% (2022). Reading/ELA proficiency has remained stable from 41% (2019) to 41.84% (2022).
Location
301 SOUTH 4TH ST, Shepherd, MI 48883
Nearby Alternatives
Families considering Shepherd Elementary School may also want to explore other elementary schools in the area. Ganiard School (rated 7.7/10, 7.5 miles away, in nearby Mount Pleasant), which scores slightly higher. Another option is Pine Avenue Elementary School (rated 7.5/10, 9.4 miles away, in nearby Alma), which scores slightly higher. Additionally, Vowles School (rated 7.3/10, 6.5 miles away, in nearby Mount Pleasant), with a very similar rating. For more schools in Shepherd, see our Shepherd schools guide .
Nearby Schools
20 within 9.4 mi| School | Distance | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| Shepherd High School Shepherd | 0.1 mi | 6.3 |
| Shepherd Middle School Shepherd | 0.1 mi | 4.9 |
| Odyssey MiddleHigh School Mount Pleasant | 5.2 mi | 6.6 |
| SAGINAW CHIPPEWA ACADEMY Mount Pleasant | 5.6 mi | 7.2 |
| WAY Oasis Mount Pleasant | 5.6 mi | 7.7 |
| Isabella Day Treatment Mount Pleasant | 5.6 mi | — |
| Renaissance Public School Academy Mount Pleasant | 6.1 mi | 4.1 |
| Mt Pleasant Senior High School Mount Pleasant | 6.0 mi | 6.3 |
| Mary McGuire School Mount Pleasant | 6.7 mi | 6.1 |
| Pullen Elementary School Mount Pleasant | 6.6 mi | 7.2 |
| Fancher School Mount Pleasant | 6.5 mi | 6.6 |
| Vowles School Mount Pleasant | 6.5 mi | 7.3 |
| SACRED HEART ACADEMY Mount Pleasant | 7.0 mi | 6.8 |
| Ganiard School Mount Pleasant | 7.5 mi | 7.7 |
| Donald L Pavlik Middle School Alma | 8.9 mi | 5.0 |
| Mt Pleasant Middle School Mt. Pleasant | 7.7 mi | 6.4 |
| Carrie Knause Early Childhood Learning Center Saint Louis | 8.4 mi | 6.3 |
| Alma Senior High School Alma | 9.2 mi | 6.7 |
| GIRESD Center Programs Ithaca | 9.2 mi | 6.8 |
| Pine Avenue Elementary School Alma | 9.4 mi | 7.5 |
Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)
Census data for ZIP 48883 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources
Median Income
$66,364
Median Home Value
$154,600
Median Rent
$841/mo
Population
6,755
College Educated
21.6%
Homeownership
88.3%
Avg Commute
22.7 min
Poverty Rate
13.1%
Median Age
41.8
Community Profile
The community surrounding Shepherd Elementary School has a median household income of $66,364. It is a community where 22% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $154,600, with a median rent of $841/month. The area has a poverty rate of 13.1%. The average commute for residents is 23 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 |
|---|---|
| Borland Elementary School Imlay City, MI | 7.0 |
| Boyne City Elementary School Boyne City, MI | 7.0 |
| Cherry Creek Elementary School Marquette, MI | 7.0 |
| Collins Elementary School Houghton Lake, MI | 7.0 |
| Dresden Elementary School Sterling Heights, MI | 7.0 |
| Hugger Elementary School Rochester, MI | 7.0 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about Shepherd Elementary School
What grades does Shepherd Elementary School serve?
Shepherd Elementary School serves students in grades Pre-K through 5th.
How many students attend Shepherd Elementary School?
Shepherd Elementary School has an enrollment of approximately 560 students.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Shepherd Elementary School?
The student-teacher ratio at Shepherd Elementary School is 16.5:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.
How does Shepherd Elementary School rank in MI?
Shepherd Elementary School is ranked #1061 out of 3,190 schools in MI.
What is Shepherd Elementary School's MySchoolScout rating?
Shepherd Elementary School has a composite rating of 7.0 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.
What are the test scores at Shepherd Elementary School?
Based on the most recent state assessment data, Shepherd Elementary School has 31.0% math proficiency and 41.5% reading/ELA proficiency.
Is Shepherd Elementary School a charter school?
No, Shepherd Elementary School is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.
Is Shepherd Elementary School a Title I school?
No, Shepherd Elementary School is not currently a Title I school.
What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Shepherd Elementary School?
60.7% of students at Shepherd 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
- City Safety
- Average (664/100K)
FBI UCR 2024. City-level (Shepherd). Data >1 year old.
Quick Facts NCES CCD (SY 2022-23)
- Grades
- Pre-K – 5th
- Enrollment
- 560
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 16.5:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 34
- Free/Reduced Lunch
- 60.7%
- Type
- regular
- Setting
- Distant Rural
- County
- Isabella County
- Phone
- (989) 828-6601
- Data Year
- 2023–2024
Resources & Links
District
Shepherd Public Schools- District Enrollment
- 1,768
- Schools in District
- 5
- Per-Pupil Spending
- $12,837
- District Rank
- #2 of 5
Other Schools in This District
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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