Needs Improvement
#3081 of 3,192 schools in MI
Washington Writers Academy
Elementary School · Kalamazoo Public Schools · Kalamazoo, MI
A Kalamazoo Public Schools elementary school where students score 10 points below what's typical for similar communities.
1919 PORTAGE ST, Kalamazoo, MI 49001
- Math 7% vs MI 37% (2022)
- Reading 10% vs MI 43% (2022)
- 14.5:1 student-teacher ratio
Academics
Full Profile · 3/3 metricsView breakdown
View breakdown
View breakdown
Students at Washington Writers Academy score 8% proficient, which is below what's typical for similar communities (expected: 18%).
2022 EdFacts proficiency
Most recent published year. School vs. MI average.
Trend
→ SteadyProficiency is down 54 points across the 14-year record (2009–2022) and has held near 8% recently.
Show all 12 years
Multi-year averages used by the rating model: math 17% (multi-year average, 2009-2022) · reading/ELA 23% (multi-year average, 2009-2022)
Based on 30 test records from MI state assessments and EdFacts (NCES).
Equity & diversity
Shown separately, not included in the overall scoreFree/reduced lunch
91.1%
Students qualifying for federal meal assistance
How we rate schools
A clear 1–10 score built from public data — growth, academics, and learning environment. No hidden criteria, no pay-to-play.
See how we rateThe neighborhood
Where Washington Writers Academy sits, and what the surrounding area looks like.
Nearby same-level schools are colored by their score. Pins are locations, not attendance boundaries.
Getting around & local context
- Walk 73Very Walkable
- Bike 62Bikeable
- City Safety: High4,785/100K
Powered by
FBI Uniform Crime Reporting · 2024 · city context (Kalamazoo), not school-level safety or attendance eligibility. Source details
Source period: 2024. Freshness not available.
Area profileU.S. Census ACS 5-year estimates (ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates)
Median income
$52,327
Median home value
$139,600
Median rent
$1,055/mo
College educated
29.8%
Homeownership
53.3%
Poverty rate
19.5%
ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates for the ZCTA associated with school ZIP 49001; this is area context, not an attendance boundary.
Programs & students
Programs & Offerings
Compare nearby
Nearby same-level schools
4 from a 5-mile search; district fallback available
| School | Score | Grades | Distance | Enrollment | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Edison AcademyEnrollment path unverified | 4.0 | PK–5 | 0.6 mi | 339 | Compare → |
| Parkwoodupjohn Elementary SchoolEnrollment path unverified | 6.8 | PK–5 | 0.9 mi | 463 | Compare → |
| Milwood Elementary SchoolEnrollment path unverified | 3.2 | PK–5 | 1.0 mi | 382 | Compare → |
| Montessori Children's CenterPrivate · tuition | Not rated | PK–K | 1.1 mi | 8 | Compare → |
Distance is proximity only; it is not attendance eligibility.
Enrollment path unverified: Potential public school; its attendance or application path has not been classified.
Private · tuition: Potential private option; tuition and admission requirements have not been verified.
Kalamazoo Public Schools
- Schools in district
- 31
- Rank in district
- #23 of 25
- District spending per student
- $16,528NCES F-33 · FY 2023 · This annual source is three years behind the current year.
- District child poverty rate
- 16.3%Census SAIPE · 2024
Washington Writers Academy is listed in Kalamazoo Public Schools; a district label does not verify attendance for an address.
About Washington Writers Academy
Washington Writers Academy is a public elementary school in Kalamazoo, MI, part of Kalamazoo Public Schools, serving approximately 246 students in grades Pre-K-5th with a 14.5:1 student-teacher ratio. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 3.2 out of 10 and ranks #3,081 of 3,192 schools in MI. State assessment records show 17% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022) and 23% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022).
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about Washington Writers Academy
What grades does Washington Writers Academy serve?
Washington Writers Academy serves students in grades Pre-K through 5th.
How many students attend Washington Writers Academy?
Washington Writers Academy has an enrollment of approximately 246 students.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Washington Writers Academy?
The student-teacher ratio at Washington Writers Academy is 14.5:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.
How does Washington Writers Academy rank in MI?
Washington Writers Academy ranks #3,081 of 3,192 schools in MI.
What is Washington Writers Academy's MySchoolScout rating?
Washington Writers Academy has a current MySchoolScout rating of 3.2 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 Washington Writers Academy?
Based on loaded state assessment records, Washington Writers Academy has 17% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022) and 23% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022).
Is Washington Writers Academy a charter school?
No, Washington Writers Academy is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.
Is Washington Writers Academy a Title I school?
No, Washington Writers Academy is not currently a Title I school.
What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Washington Writers Academy?
91.1% of students at Washington Writers Academy qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. This is a commonly used indicator of economic need and provides important context when interpreting test scores.
School factsNCES Common Core of Data (CCD) (SY 2023–24)
- Grades
- Pre-K – 5th
- Enrollment
- 246
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 14.5:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 17
- Type
- regular
- Setting
- Small City
- County
- Kalamazoo County
- Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
- 63.0%
- Phone
- (269) 337-0770
- Area population (ZIP 49001)
- 21,313
- Area average commute
- 18.3 min
- Area median age
- 31.6
Official sources & links
About this school's data
Every number on this page comes from a published source with a stated period. Where a source is partial, aging, or describes a surrounding area rather than the school, that limitation is named below.
- School directory (enrollment, grades, staff, contact)
- NCES Common Core of Data (CCD) · SY 2023–24 · Medium confidence
- Source period: SY 2023–24. A newer release may be available.
- MySchoolScout rating and rank
- MySchoolScout ranking model · Low confidence
- Vintage not available. Do not use this measure alone.
- Derived as a weighted blend of the component scores shown in Academics from state assessment, EdFacts growth, and NCES resource records.
- Math proficiency
- State department of education · 2022 EdFacts · Low confidence
- Older source: 2022 EdFacts. Use as historical context.
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Derived from source records rather than read directly from one field.
- Reading/ELA proficiency
- State department of education · 2022 EdFacts · Low confidence
- Older source: 2022 EdFacts. Use as historical context.
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Derived from source records rather than read directly from one field.
- Student progress (growth)
- NCES EdFacts · Mixed source periods · Low confidence
- Vintage not available. Do not use this measure alone.
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Derived as the fitted year-over-year slope of proficiency from multi-year assessment records.
- Neighborhood (income, housing, education)
- U.S. Census ACS 5-year estimates · ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates · Low confidence
- Older source: ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates. Use as historical context.
- Reported for the ZCTA for ZIP 49001; this does not measure the attendance area.
- Programs (AP/IB, athletics, gifted)
- CRDC via Urban Institute · SY 2021–22 · Medium confidence
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Source period: SY 2021–22. A newer release may be available.
Evidence periods: Rating mixed/unknown input periods; assessments multi-year average, 2009-2022; directory SY 2023–24
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