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North Star Montessori Academy

Q: Is North Star Montessori Academy a good school?

North Star Montessori Academy ranks 628 th of 1492 Michigan elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

Public, Charter Grades PK, KG-8

628^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 1,492 Michigan Elementary Schools

Better than 58% of Michigan elementary schools

Summary

North Star Montessori Academy is a small public charter school in Marquette, MI, serving 145 students in grades PK-8 as its own independent school district. This tight-knit school has undergone a remarkable turnaround over the past decade, climbing from a 1-star rating to a solid 3-star rating and the 58th percentile statewide—a dramatic improvement from its days in the bottom third of Michigan schools.

The most impressive story here is how well the school serves students from lower-income families. With about 49% of students qualifying for free or reduced lunch, North Star's low-income students rank in the 83rd percentile statewide—a stunning achievement that puts them ahead of many more affluent schools. When you compare North Star to nearby schools with similar demographics, like George D Gilbert Elementary School (32nd percentile) or KI Sawyer Elementary School (31st percentile), the difference is night and day. The Montessori approach seems to genuinely click for these students. Class sizes are also remarkably small, with a 9.6:1 student-teacher ratio and per-student spending of $16,714—far more personalized than nearby traditional schools.

However, there's a significant concern parents should know about: chronic absenteeism. At 48%, North Star's rate is nearly double the state average and dramatically higher than nearby schools like Sandy Knoll School (11%) or Superior Hills Elementary School (18%). This means that while the teaching is clearly effective for students who show up, getting kids to school consistently is a major hurdle. Test scores also bounce around quite a bit from year to year—a 5th-grade ELA class went from 16% proficient to 67% in just two years—which likely reflects both the very small class sizes and some inconsistency in curriculum across grade levels. For parents considering this school, the academic trajectory is genuinely encouraging, especially for families who value the Montessori philosophy and personalized attention, but attendance will be critical to success.

145

Students ?

9.6

Student/teacher ratio ?

$16,714

Per pupil spending ?

49.0%

Free/reduced lunch eligible (2024-25) ?

All students in Michigan receive free school meals.

68.8%

Kindergartners complete for all required vaccines (2025-26)

Exemptions: 25% (any vaccine)

3030 Wright St
Marquette, MI 49855-9649

(906) 226-0156

District: North Star Montessori Academy

Racial breakdown:

White:

86.2%

Two or more races:

6.9%

African American:

2.1%

See top rated Michigan elementary schools

Compare North Star Montessori Academy to nearby elementary schools!

At a glance

▲ Ranking trend: Improving — 30th percentile in 2016 → 58th in 2026

Strengths

✓Ranking is trending up — up 28 percentile points since 2016

✓Above the Michigan median (58th percentile)

✓Small classes — about 10 students per teacher

Worth a look

!Graduation rate below the Michigan average (75% vs 83%)

!Dropout rate above the Michigan average (17% vs 8%)

!High chronic absenteeism (48% vs 28% Michigan)

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school41%

District avg41%

Michigan avg40%

Elementary school

628^th of 1,492

Michigan public elementary schools ?

Top 42%▲ up 28 pts since 2016

From bottom 30% (2016) to top 42% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of Michigan Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

Middle school

254^th of 896

Michigan public middle schools ?

Top 28%▲ up 43 pts since 2016

From bottom 29% (2016) to top 28% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of Michigan Middle Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

187^th of 625North Star Montessori Academy among Michigan districts

Statewide rank percentile over time (100 = the top-ranked school in the state; click a legend item to add a student group)

Elementary school ranking

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Michigan percentile	Rating
2026	55.0	628 of 1492	57.9%	★★★☆☆
2025	56.0	629 of 1488	57.7%	★★★☆☆
2024	64.6	489 of 1486	67.1%	★★★☆☆
2023	35.6	912 of 1470	38.0%	★★☆☆☆
2022	28.3	953 of 1344	29.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	35.9	730 of 1153	36.7%	★★☆☆☆
2019	22.5	1097 of 1408	22.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	33.1	1035 of 1448	28.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2017	25.6	1083 of 1466	26.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2016	31.2	1090 of 1548	29.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2015	26.6	1210 of 1580	23.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2014	51.1	816 of 1533	46.8%	★★☆☆☆
2013	33.2	1145 of 1563	26.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2012	32.6	1187 of 1566	24.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2011	48.8	1020 of 1552	34.3%	★★☆☆☆
2010	49.4	1069 of 1552	31.1%	★★☆☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Michigan percentile	Rating
2018	25.9	1097 of 1443	24.0%	★☆☆☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Michigan percentile	Rating
2026	75.4	224 of 1352	83.4%	★★★★☆
2018	38.6	914 of 1397	34.6%	★★☆☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Michigan percentile	Rating
2018	42.5	863 of 1446	40.3%	★★☆☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Michigan percentile	Rating
2026	37.0	766 of 1199	36.1%	★★☆☆☆
2025	47.4	623 of 1206	48.3%	★★☆☆☆
2024	47.3	616 of 1204	48.8%	★★☆☆☆
2023	26.9	907 of 1198	24.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	19.5	930 of 1102	15.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	18.6	1094 of 1253	12.7%	★☆☆☆☆

Middle school ranking

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Michigan percentile	Rating
2026	65.2	254 of 896	71.7%	★★★★☆
2025	49.6	414 of 890	53.5%	★★★☆☆
2024	32.4	594 of 897	33.8%	★★☆☆☆
2023	60.2	282 of 883	68.1%	★★★☆☆
2019	33.3	528 of 792	33.3%	★★☆☆☆
2018	35.4	580 of 838	30.8%	★★☆☆☆
2017	33.3	524 of 821	36.2%	★★☆☆☆
2016	29.3	637 of 894	28.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2015	39.1	577 of 919	37.2%	★★☆☆☆
2014	37.6	623 of 921	32.4%	★★☆☆☆
2013	36.7	620 of 919	32.5%	★★☆☆☆
2012	48.4	488 of 900	45.8%	★★☆☆☆
2011	39.4	649 of 858	24.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2010	8.6	805 of 851	5.4%	☆☆☆☆☆
2006	42.3	599 of 806	25.7%	★☆☆☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Michigan percentile	Rating
2018	37.8	545 of 815	33.1%	★★☆☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Michigan percentile	Rating
2018	38.6	491 of 797	38.4%	★★☆☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Michigan percentile	Rating
2026	37.0	433 of 687	37.0%	★★☆☆☆
2025	36.2	434 of 696	37.6%	★★☆☆☆
2024	19.2	599 of 701	14.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	58.1	243 of 688	64.7%	★★★☆☆
2019	25.6	482 of 624	22.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	28.6	512 of 678	24.5%	★☆☆☆☆

High school ranking

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Michigan percentile	Rating
2023	85.9	81 of 735	89.0%	★★★★☆
2018	21.1	616 of 824	25.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2017	53.6	342 of 835	59.0%	★★★☆☆
2016	31.5	554 of 852	35.0%	★★☆☆☆
2015	67.2	272 of 832	67.3%	★★★☆☆
2014	36.4	528 of 799	33.9%	★★☆☆☆
2013	31.4	549 of 805	31.8%	★★☆☆☆
2012	12.3	659 of 773	14.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2011	38.2	546 of 784	30.4%	★★☆☆☆
2010	31.2	555 of 765	27.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2009	29.0	568 of 754	24.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2008	17.9	611 of 750	18.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2007	32.1	562 of 767	26.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2006	22.9	575 of 705	18.4%	★☆☆☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Michigan percentile	Rating
2018	37.7	452 of 755	40.1%	★★☆☆☆

How student groups rank statewide ? (each group's percentile vs the same group at other schools — higher is better; the +/- beside each compares the group with this school's overall percentile)

Elementary school

Low Socio Economic Status (2026)83rd percentile+26 vs school

Male (2018)40th percentile+12 vs school

White (2026)36th percentile-22 vs school

Female (2018)24th percentile-5 vs school

Middle school

Male (2018)38th percentile+8 vs school

White (2026)37th percentile-35 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2018)33rd percentile~ school

High school

Low Socio Economic Status (2018)40th percentile+15 vs school

By subject vs Michigan (2025-2026) ?

English Language Arts41%~ state avg

Mathematics38%+5 vs state

Social Studies38%~ state avg

Math37%~ state avg

Science35%-5 vs state

★

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Schools Near North Star Montessori Academy

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Ranking:

E Elementary M Middle H High A Alternative P Private

Choose columns to see: Summary School Students/Teachers Ranking Test Scores Vaccination Finance All

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2026)				Ranking (2025)				PSAT English Language Arts (2026)	PSAT Mathematics (2026)	M-Step English Language Arts (2026)					M-Step Math (2026)					M-Step Science (2026)		M-Step Social Studies (2026)		Vaccination (2025-26)		Per Pupil Expenditures (2025)
Name	Type	Grades	Address	City	Zip	County	District	Is Charter	Is Magnet	Is Virtual	Is Title I	Phone	Enrollment	Full-time Teachers	Student/ Teacher Ratio	Free/reduced lunch (2024-25)	White	Black	Hispanic	Asian	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Average Standard Score (2026)	Statewide Rank (2026)	State Percentile (2026)	SchoolDigger Rating (2026)	Average Standard Score (2025)	Statewide Rank (2025)	State Percentile (2025)	Rank Change from Previous Year	PSAT English Language Arts 8th Grade	PSAT Mathematics 8th Grade	M-Step English Language Arts 3rd Grade	M-Step English Language Arts 4th Grade	M-Step English Language Arts 5th Grade	M-Step English Language Arts 6th Grade	M-Step English Language Arts 7th Grade	M-Step Math 3rd Grade	M-Step Math 4th Grade	M-Step Math 5th Grade	M-Step Math 6th Grade	M-Step Math 7th Grade	M-Step Science 5th Grade	M-Step Science 8th Grade	M-Step Social Studies 5th Grade	M-Step Social Studies 8th Grade	Vaccination: Kindergartners complete for all required vaccines	Vaccination: Exemption rate	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
North Star Montessori Academy	Public, Charter	PK, KG-8	3030 Wright St	Marquette	49855	Marquette County	North Star Montessori Academy	Yes	No	No	Yes	(906) 226-0156	145	15	9.6	49.0%	125 (86.2%)	3 (2.1%)	2 (1.4%)	2 (1.4%)	3 (2.1%)	0 (0.0%)	10 (6.9%)	55	628^th of 1492 public elementary schools	57.9%		56	629^th of 1488 public elementary schools	57.7%	1	76.9	38.5	1279.3	35.3	41.2	54.6	38.5	1269.5	1383.2	31.3	45.5	1676.6	31.3	38.5	37.5	38.5	68.8%	25%	$16,714	$1,371	$15,343
Superior Hills Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	1201 S McClellan Ave	Marquette	49855	Marquette County	Marquette Area Public Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(906) 225-4295	405	25	16.1	29.6%	351 (86.7%)	3 (0.7%)	10 (2.5%)	4 (1.0%)	8 (2.0%)	1 (0.2%)	28 (6.9%)	77	308^th of 1492 public elementary schools	79.4%		75.9	323^rd of 1488 public elementary schools	78.3%	15			55.1	55.9	49.1			58.8	57.4	37.7			54.7		45.3		96.2%	1.9%	$14,753	$510	$14,243
Sandy Knoll School	Public	PK, KG-5	401 N 6th St	Marquette	49855	Marquette County	Marquette Area Public Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(906) 225-4281	322	23	13.8	26.4%	272 (84.5%)	3 (0.9%)	7 (2.2%)	7 (2.2%)	8 (2.5%)	0 (0.0%)	25 (7.8%)	89.3	146^th of 1492 public elementary schools	90.2%		86.7	181^st of 1488 public elementary schools	87.8%	35			55.1	72.7	64.2			63.3	61.4	67.9			69.8		45.3		95.2%	3.2%	$15,451	$555	$14,896
Graveraet Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	611 N Front St	Marquette	49855	Marquette County	Marquette Area Public Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(906) 225-4302	289	17	16.8	29.8%	243 (84.1%)	5 (1.7%)	16 (5.5%)	1 (0.3%)	4 (1.4%)	2 (0.7%)	18 (6.2%)	80.1	261^st of 1492 public elementary schools	82.5%		77.1	306^th of 1488 public elementary schools	79.4%	45			70.8	66.0	53.2			64.6	72.0	29.8			51.1		42.6		92.5%	5%	$19,492	$515	$18,977
Cherry Creek Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	1111 Ortman Rd	Marquette	49855	Marquette County	Marquette Area Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(906) 225-4399	430	25	17.5	21.2%	369 (85.8%)	2 (0.5%)	9 (2.1%)	0 (0.0%)	15 (3.5%)	0 (0.0%)	35 (8.1%)	61.8	527^th of 1492 public elementary schools	64.7%		58.5	586^th of 1488 public elementary schools	60.6%	59			48.4	52.9	43.1			46.9	42.9	16.9			58.5		40.0		96.4%	3.6%	$13,868	$460	$13,409
Lakeview School	Public	PK, KG-4	200 Croix St	Negaunee	49866	Marquette County	Negaunee Public Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(906) 475-7803	584	40	14.6	33.0%	525 (89.9%)	1 (0.2%)	8 (1.4%)	0 (0.0%)	12 (2.1%)	2 (0.3%)	36 (6.2%)	71.3	388^th of 1492 public elementary schools	74.0%		66.5	474^th of 1488 public elementary schools	68.1%	86			51.9	54.4				57.0	42.1								88%	7.7%	$14,032	$438	$13,594
Birchview School	Public	PK, KG-4	663 Poplar St	Ishpeming	49849	Marquette County	Ishpeming Public School District No. 1	No	No	No	Yes	(906) 485-6341	233	20	11.8	49.8%	202 (86.7%)	1 (0.4%)	1 (0.4%)	1 (0.4%)	3 (1.3%)	1 (0.4%)	24 (10.3%)	15.6	1263^rd of 1492 public elementary schools	15.3%		14.5	1267^th of 1488 public elementary schools	14.9%	4			24.3	13.2				29.7	8.3								93.5%	4.3%	$15,239	$1,512	$13,727
Aspen Ridge Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-8	350 Aspen Ridge School Rd	Ishpeming	49849	Marquette County	NICE Community School District	No	No	No	Yes	(906) 485-3175	721	57	12.6	36.6%	690 (95.7%)	6 (0.8%)	5 (0.7%)	4 (0.6%)	4 (0.6%)	2 (0.3%)	10 (1.4%)	73.8	360^th of 1492 public elementary schools	75.9%		73.8	356^th of 1488 public elementary schools	76.1%	4	72.9	17.1	60.0	56.0	50.0	50.7	33.3	57.5	44.0	40.3	38.0	28.2	58.4	37.7	37.2	56.4	94%	2.4%	$16,398	$465	$15,934
KI Sawyer Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	411 Scorpion Rd	Gwinn	49841	Marquette County	Gwinn Area Community Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(906) 346-5567	207	18	11.8	72.0%	176 (85.0%)	0 (0.0%)	9 (4.3%)	1 (0.5%)	2 (1.0%)	0 (0.0%)	19 (9.2%)								(n/a)																	93%	4.2%	$20,332	$2,558	$17,775
George D Gilbert Elementary School	Public, Magnet	3-5	250 W Iron St	Gwinn	49841	Marquette County	Gwinn Area Community Schools	No	Yes	No	Yes	(906) 346-2775	208	16	13.4	56.3%	173 (83.2%)	2 (1.0%)	7 (3.4%)	0 (0.0%)	3 (1.4%)	0 (0.0%)	23 (11.1%)	29.2	1014^th of 1492 public elementary schools	32.0%		34.7	942^nd of 1488 public elementary schools	36.7%	72			21.3	32.2	25.8			32.8	39.0	27.4			27.4		14.5				$16,682	$2,223	$14,460

Frequently Asked Questions about North Star Montessori Academy

What is the racial makeup of North Star Montessori Academy?

Students at North Star Montessori Academy are 86% White, 7% Two or more races, 2% African American, 2% American Indian, 1% Asian, 1% Hispanic.

Is North Star Montessori Academy a good school?

North Star Montessori Academy ranks 628^th of 1492 Michigan elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

What district is North Star Montessori Academy in?

North Star Montessori Academy

How many students attend North Star Montessori Academy?

In the 2024-25 school year, 145 students attended North Star Montessori Academy.

Rate North Star Montessori Academy!

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Latest Michigan data All new data »

2024–25 school spending data (updated)NewNov 2, 2026

2021–22 through 2025–26 immunization rates (updated)Oct 19, 2026

2025–26 M-Step, PSAT & SAT test scoresSep 4, 2026

2024–25 dropout rates & graduation ratesJun 13, 2026

SchoolDigger data sources: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education, the U.S. Census Bureau and the Michigan Department of Education.

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMERS: Not all boundaries are included. We make every effort to ensure that boundaries are up-to-date. But it's important to note that these are approximations and are for general informational purposes only. To verify legal descriptions of boundaries or school locations, contact your local tax assessor's office and/or school district.