Average
#2044 of 3,190 schools in MI
Whitman Elementary School
Elementary School · Pontiac City School District
125 W Montcalm St, Pontiac, MI 48342
Enrollment
559
Student-Teacher
10.8:1
Score
5.8
Grades
Kindergarten – 5th
Enrollment
559
Student-Teacher
10.8:1
Score
5.8
Grades
Kindergarten – 5th
Updated
2022-23
Updated 2022-23
How this school compares
Michigan elementary schools
#1,093 of 1,602
In district
#4 of 8
Pontiac City School District
School environment
9.7 / 10
Exceptional
About Whitman Elementary School
Whitman Elementary School serves 559 students in kindergarten through fifth grade in Pontiac, Michigan. This regular public school operates with an impressive student-teacher ratio of 10.8:1, supported by 52 full-time equivalent teachers who can provide more individualized attention to each child. The school has earned recognition for its academic performance, receiving a MySchoolScout rating of 7.5 out of 10 and ranking #175 out of 3,204 elementary schools statewide, placing it in the 95th percentile among Michigan schools.
This strong performance is particularly noteworthy given the school's commitment to serving its community. Whitman Elementary is located at 125 W Montcalm Street in the 48342 ZIP code area, where families demonstrate resilience and dedication to their children's education despite economic challenges. The surrounding neighborhood has a median household income of $31,432 and a poverty rate of 34.6%, with median home values around $82,300.
About 10% of area residents hold bachelor's degrees or higher. The school's success in achieving high academic rankings while serving a diverse student body of nearly 560 children speaks to the dedication of its teaching staff and the school community's commitment to educational excellence. Whitman Elementary operates within Pontiac's small city setting in Oakland County, providing a neighborhood school experience for local families.
What Parents Should Know
While current test scores at Whitman Elementary School are below average, the school shows strong growth metrics — meaning students are making above-average progress year over year. This upward trajectory can be a positive indicator for families who value a school's ability to help students improve, even if absolute scores haven't caught up yet.
Score Breakdown
Full Profile · 3/3 metricsView breakdown
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Data not available for this school
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Whitman Elementary School — Students at Whitman Elementary School score 11% proficient, which is below what's typical for similar communities (expected: 23%).
Equity & Diversity
Shown separately, not included in overall scoreFree/Reduced Lunch
82.1%
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
↓ DecliningAverage 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: 6.2/10.
How Whitman Elementary School Compares
See how Whitman Elementary School performs across key quality dimensions compared to state benchmarks.
Funding & Resources
Performance Trends
Math proficiency has declined from 13% (2019) to 5.68% (2022). Reading/ELA proficiency has remained stable from 17% (2019) to 15.36% (2022).
Location
125 W Montcalm St, Pontiac, MI 48342
Nearby Alternatives
Families considering Whitman Elementary School may also want to explore other elementary schools in the area. Owen Elementary School (rated 8.1/10, 1.9 miles away), which scores notably higher. Another option is SAVE OUR COMMUNITY KORPORATION (rated 7.7/10, 0.9 miles away), which scores notably higher. Additionally, Great Lakes Academy (rated 7.2/10, 1.9 miles away), which scores notably higher. For more schools in Pontiac, see our Pontiac schools guide .
Nearby Schools
20 within 2.8 mi| School | Distance | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| Pontiac Academy for Excellence Pontiac | 0.8 mi | 5.7 |
| SAVE OUR COMMUNITY KORPORATION Pontiac | 0.9 mi | 7.7 |
| Alcott School Pontiac | 1.0 mi | 5.1 |
| Kennedy Center Pontiac | 1.9 mi | 8.0 |
| Owen Elementary School Pontiac | 1.9 mi | 8.1 |
| Flex High School of Pontiac Pontiac | 1.8 mi | 7.0 |
| Virtual Learning Academy Consortium Waterford | 1.5 mi | 5.7 |
| Great Lakes Academy Pontiac | 1.9 mi | 7.2 |
| Childrens Village School Pontiac | 1.7 mi | 7.6 |
| Oakside Prep Academy Waterford | 1.8 mi | 6.3 |
| Walton Charter Academy Pontiac | 2.0 mi | 6.5 |
| Pontiac High School Pontiac | 1.9 mi | 7.1 |
| Pontiac Academy for Student Success Pontiac | 1.9 mi | — |
| Pontiac Middle School Pontiac | 1.9 mi | 5.7 |
| Donelson Hills Elementary School Waterford | 2.1 mi | 4.6 |
| Momentum Academy Waterford | 2.3 mi | 5.6 |
| Waterford Mott High School Waterford | 2.3 mi | 5.7 |
| Herrington School Pontiac | 2.4 mi | 3.8 |
| NOTRE DAME PREPARATORY SCHOOL AND MARIST ACADEMY Pontiac | 2.6 mi | 6.6 |
| Waterford Lifetracks Program Crary Campus Waterford | 2.8 mi | — |
Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)
Census data for ZIP 48342 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources
Median Income
$33,750
Median Home Value
$90,600
Median Rent
$851/mo
Population
17,227
College Educated
9.5%
Homeownership
38.2%
Avg Commute
20.8 min
Poverty Rate
33.8%
Median Age
34.1
Community Profile
The community surrounding Whitman Elementary School has a median household income of $33,750. It is a community where 10% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $90,600, with a median rent of $851/month. The area has a poverty rate of 33.8%, indicating some economic challenges in the community. The average commute for residents is 21 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 |
|---|---|
| ADA CHRISTIAN SCHOOL Ada, MI | 5.8 |
| Arborwood Elementary School Monroe, MI | 5.8 |
| Arcadia Elementary School Kalamazoo, MI | 5.8 |
| Big Rock Elementary School Chesaning, MI | 5.8 |
| Brookside Elementary School Big Rapids, MI | 5.8 |
| Cedar View Elementary School Cedar Springs, MI | 5.8 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about Whitman Elementary School
What grades does Whitman Elementary School serve?
Whitman Elementary School serves students in grades Kindergarten through 5th.
How many students attend Whitman Elementary School?
Whitman Elementary School has an enrollment of approximately 559 students.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Whitman Elementary School?
The student-teacher ratio at Whitman Elementary School is 10.8:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.
How does Whitman Elementary School rank in MI?
Whitman Elementary School is ranked #2044 out of 3,190 schools in MI.
What is Whitman Elementary School's MySchoolScout rating?
Whitman Elementary School has a composite rating of 5.8 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 Whitman Elementary School?
Based on the most recent state assessment data, Whitman Elementary School has 7.3% math proficiency and 14.3% reading/ELA proficiency.
Is Whitman Elementary School a charter school?
No, Whitman Elementary School is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.
Is Whitman Elementary School a Title I school?
No, Whitman Elementary School is not currently a Title I school.
What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Whitman Elementary School?
82.1% of students at Whitman 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
- High (2,636/100K)
FBI UCR 2024. City-level (Pontiac). Data >1 year old.
Quick Facts NCES CCD (SY 2022-23)
- Grades
- Kindergarten – 5th
- Enrollment
- 559
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 10.8:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 52
- Free/Reduced Lunch
- 82.1%
- Type
- regular
- Setting
- Small City
- County
- Oakland County
- Phone
- (248) 451-7950
- Data Year
- 2023–2024
Resources & Links
District
Pontiac City School District- District Enrollment
- 3,659
- Schools in District
- 10
- Per-Pupil Spending
- $21,914
- District Rank
- #4 of 8
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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