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Average

#352 of 460 private schools in MI

St Joseph Elementary School

Elementary School

935 W HOUGHTON AVE, West Branch, MI 48661

Private Estimated Score

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

Enrollment

69

Student-Teacher

10.1:1

Score

5.4

Grades

Pre-K – 8th

Updated 2021-22

How this school compares

Michigan elementary schools

#237 of 307

About St Joseph Elementary School

St Joseph Elementary School serves 69 students in grades pre-K through 8 in West Branch, Michigan. This small public school maintains an excellent 10.1:1 student-teacher ratio with 7 full-time equivalent teachers, allowing for personalized attention and close relationships between educators and students. The school has earned impressive recognition, ranking #19 out of 460 elementary schools statewide and placing in the 96th percentile with a strong 8.3 out of 10 MySchoolScout rating.

This exceptional performance demonstrates the school's commitment to academic excellence despite its small size. The intimate school environment creates opportunities for multi-age learning and strong community connections that larger schools often cannot provide. With such low enrollment, students likely benefit from individualized instruction and the ability to participate in various activities and leadership roles.

St Joseph Elementary draws families from the surrounding West Branch community, where the median household income is $56,349 and median home value is $151,100. About 19% of area residents hold bachelor's degrees or higher, while the local poverty rate stands at 13.5%. The school is situated in a remote rural setting, serving families who value the close-knit educational environment that comes with small-town schooling in northern Michigan's Ogemaw County.

What Parents Should Know

With an enrollment of 69 students, St Joseph Elementary School is a smaller school where families often find a close-knit community atmosphere. Smaller settings can mean more individual attention from teachers and staff, though they may offer fewer extracurricular options than larger schools.

As a private school, St Joseph Elementary 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, St Joseph 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.

Compare to Public Schools

Beta

How St Joseph Elementary School compares to the 5 public schools in West Branch, MI

Student-Teacher Ratio
10.1:1
This School
vs
21.4:1
Public Avg
Avg School Size
69
This School
vs
394
Public Avg
Avg School Scout Rating
5.4
This School
vs
6.6
Public Avg

Student Demographics

White 98.6% vs 0%
Black 1.4% vs 0%
St Joseph Elementary School West Branch Public Avg

All Schools in West Branch

School Rating
St Joseph Elementary School (this school) 5.4
Surline Middle School 5.8
Surline Elementary School 5.4
Alternative Educational Academy of Ogemaw County 6.2
Ogemaw Heights High School 6.4
Rose City School 9.2

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- 7.9 / 10
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio 10.1:1
Instructional Commitment
? Total annual instructional hours based on school day length and days per year. (15% of overall score)
B- 4.8 / 10
View breakdown
School Day Length 6.7 hours
Annual Instructional Hours 1,206
Diversity & Inclusion
? Racial and ethnic diversity of the student body using Simpson's diversity index. (20% of overall score)
C 2.7 / 10
View breakdown
Diversity Index 3%
Community Context

Data Unavailable

School Profile
? Enrollment size and grade span breadth — indicators of program depth and peer community. (15% of overall score)
B- 4.5 / 10
View breakdown
Enrollment 69
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 98.6%
Black 1.4%

Source: NCES Private School Survey (PSS)

Location

935 W HOUGHTON AVE, West Branch, MI 48661

Nearby Alternatives

Families considering St Joseph Elementary School may also want to explore other elementary schools in the area. Rose City School (rated 9.2/10, 11.7 miles away), which scores notably higher. Another option is StandishSterling Central Elementary School (rated 7.1/10, 23.3 miles away, in nearby Standish), which scores notably higher. Additionally, MioAuSable Elementary School (rated 7.0/10, 26.5 miles away, in nearby Mio), which scores notably higher. For more schools in West Branch, see our West Branch schools guide .

Nearby Schools

20 within 23.3 mi
School Distance Rating
Surline Middle School West Branch 0.8 mi 5.8
Surline Elementary School West Branch 0.9 mi 5.4
Alternative Educational Academy of Ogemaw County West Branch 6.2 mi 6.2
Ogemaw Heights High School West Branch 6.4 mi 6.4
Charlton Heston Academy Saint Helen 9.4 mi 6.3
Rose City School West Branch 11.7 mi 9.2
SOUTHWELL AMISH SCHOOL Gladwin 18.6 mi
Sterling Elementary School Sterling 20.1 mi 6.7
LILAC GROVE AMISH SCHOOL Gladwin 19.5 mi
WhittemorePrescott JrSr High School Whittemore 18.5 mi 5.6
WhittemorePrescott Area Elementary Whittemore 18.6 mi 4.4
Gladwin High School Gladwin 23.1 mi 4.1
Gladwin Elementary School Gladwin 23.3 mi 6.3
Gladwin Intermediate School Gladwin 23.3 mi 5.2
Gladwin Junior High School Gladwin 23.5 mi 4.6
SKEELS CHRISTIAN SCHOOL Gladwin 21.2 mi 5.0
MioAuSable Elementary School Mio 26.5 mi 7.0
MioAuSable High School Mio 26.5 mi 3.2
StandishSterling Central Elementary School Standish 23.3 mi 7.1
StandishSterling Central JrSr High School Standish 23.3 mi 5.7

Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)

Census data for ZIP 48661 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources

Median Income

$58,767

Median Home Value

$166,500

Median Rent

$839/mo

Population

10,744

College Educated

19.1%

Homeownership

77.9%

Avg Commute

24.9 min

Poverty Rate

13.6%

Median Age

48.3

Community Profile

The community surrounding St Joseph Elementary School has a median household income of $58,767. It is a community where 19% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $166,500, with a median rent of $839/month. The area has a poverty rate of 13.6%. The average commute for residents is 25 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
ST EDWARD ON-THE-LAKE CATHOLIC SCHOOL Lakeport, MI 5.4
ST JOSEPH CATHOLIC SCHOOL Howell, MI 5.4
UPLAND HILLS SCHOOL Oxford, MI 5.4
COUNTRYSIDE CHRISTIAN SCHOOL Ithaca, MI 5.5
HOLY SPIRIT CATHOLIC SCHOOL Brighton, MI 5.5
ZION LUTHERAN SCHOOL Auburn, MI 5.5

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about St Joseph Elementary School

What grades does St Joseph Elementary School serve?

St Joseph Elementary School serves students in grades Pre-K through 8th.

How many students attend St Joseph Elementary School?

St Joseph Elementary School has an enrollment of approximately 69 students.

What is the student-teacher ratio at St Joseph Elementary School?

The student-teacher ratio at St Joseph Elementary School is 10.1:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 11:1 for private schools.

How does St Joseph Elementary School rank in MI?

St Joseph Elementary School is ranked #352 out of 460 private schools in MI.

What is St Joseph Elementary School's MySchoolScout rating?

St Joseph Elementary School has a composite rating of 5.4 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 St Joseph Elementary School a private school?

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

Is St Joseph Elementary School a religious school?

St Joseph Elementary School has a Roman Catholic religious affiliation.

11 schools nearby View map →

Neighborhood Context

City Safety
Average (424/100K)

FBI UCR 2024. City-level (West Branch). Data >1 year old.

Quick Facts NCES PSS (SY 2021-22)

Grades
Pre-K – 8th
Enrollment
69
Gender Split
49% M / 51% F
Student-Teacher Ratio
10.1:1
Teachers (FTE)
7
Type
private
Coed Status
coed
Affiliation
Roman Catholic
School Day
6.7 hours
Days Per Year
180 days
Setting
Remote Rural
County
OGEMAW
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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