Elementary Schools in Benzie County Central Schools

The three elementary schools serving grades PK-5 within Benzie County Central Schools in rural northwest Michigan—Homestead Hills Elementary School, Lake Ann Elementary School, and Betsie Valley School—show dramatic differences in academic performance, attendance, and economic demographics despite sharing the same district administration.

For parents, the standout choice is Lake Ann Elementary School, which earns the district’s only 3-star rating (50th percentile statewide). It consistently beats both its local peers and state averages—for example, 48.6% of its 5th graders met ELA proficiency in 2025-2026 versus 21.9% at Homestead Hills and 19.05% at Betsie Valley. Lake Ann also has the lowest chronic absenteeism (17.9%) and the lowest poverty rate (50% free/reduced lunch). In contrast, Betsie Valley School faces the steepest challenges: a 25th percentile ranking, 39.2% chronic absenteeism, and 71% of students economically disadvantaged. Homestead Hills sits in the middle on demographics but shows a troubling decline—its 5th-grade ELA proficiency dropped from 39.3% to 21.9% in one year.

Notably, per-student spending does not predict success: Betsie Valley spends the most ($18,578) yet performs lowest, while Lake Ann spends the least ($16,248) and excels. However, there is encouraging news—Betsie Valley showed strong year-over-year gains in 3rd and 4th grade ELA, suggesting recent interventions may be working. Overall, the district’s 30th percentile ranking masks a wide internal gap, with Lake Ann pulling the average up while the other two schools struggle with poverty and attendance issues that directly correlate with lower test scores.