Elementary Schools in Bay City School District

The Bay City School District in Michigan operates seven elementary schools serving grades Pre-K through 5th, with enrollments ranging from 265 to 474 students in a district that ranks in the 45th percentile statewide.

If you're looking at school options in this area, Auburn Elementary School stands out as the clear academic leader, ranking in the 71st percentile statewide with 4 stars. It achieves top results despite having the largest class sizes and lowest per-student spending in the district, and its chronic absenteeism rate of 13% is less than half the district average. Mackensen Elementary School is another strong, consistent choice, earning 3 stars with steady performance and the lowest poverty rate in the district. Kolb Elementary School deserves attention for its remarkable turnaround, jumping from the 40th to 57th percentile in a single year despite serving a student body where 72.5% qualify for free or reduced lunch. Meanwhile, Hampton Elementary School and McAlearSawden Elementary School sit in the middle of the pack, performing near district averages.

The most significant concern lies with Washington Elementary School and MacGregor Elementary School, both ranking in the bottom 15% of Michigan schools. MacGregor has declined to the 9th percentile with zero stars, and its 5th-grade math proficiency is just 6.38%. These two schools have the highest poverty rates (over 91%), the highest chronic absenteeism (over 42%), and yet receive the most funding per student with the smallest class sizes—a paradox suggesting that money alone isn't solving their challenges. District-wide, chronic absenteeism runs at 32.8%, above the state average, and 5th-grade math is a particular weakness across all schools. The achievement gap between Auburn and MacGregor is stark—Auburn's 5th-grade science proficiency is nearly triple MacGregor's—but Kolb's success shows that improvement is possible even in high-poverty settings.