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South Walnut Elementary School

Public Grades PK, KG-4

1389^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 1,492 Michigan Elementary Schools

Better than 7% of Michigan elementary schools

Summary

South Walnut Elementary School in Bangor, MI, serves 341 students in Pre-K through 4th grade as part of the Bangor Public Schools (Van Buren) district, a community where about 77% of students qualify for free or reduced lunch.

South Walnut is currently facing significant academic challenges. In the most recent school year, only 9% of 3rd graders and 14.7% of 4th graders were proficient in English Language Arts, compared to state averages of 38.2% and 41.3%. Math proficiency tells a similar story, with just 11.9% of 3rd graders and 18.7% of 4th graders meeting state standards. These numbers represent a sharp decline over the past three years—3rd grade reading proficiency has dropped by more than half since 2022. The gap becomes even clearer when looking at nearby schools. For example, North Elementary School in Watervliet (about 10 miles away) posted 3rd grade reading proficiency rates more than double South Walnut's, and Maple Grove Elementary in South Haven achieved 34.5% proficiency in the same subject. Even Redwood Elementary in Hartford, which serves a student population with even higher poverty rates, outperforms South Walnut by roughly 10 percentage points or more in every subject and grade level tested.

One of the most pressing concerns is chronic absenteeism. About 34.3% of South Walnut students miss significant amounts of school—well above the state average of 27.9% and much higher than nearby schools like Lawrence Elementary School (13.4%) or South Elementary School in Watervliet (23.1%). This attendance crisis directly impacts learning continuity. Interestingly, South Walnut actually spends more per student ($17,450) than most comparison schools, including North Shore Elementary ($13,917) and Bloomingdale Elementary School, and maintains a favorable student-to-teacher ratio of 14.8:1. This suggests the issue isn't a lack of resources, but rather how effectively those resources are being used in the classroom. For parents considering this school, it's important to know that while the school faces real challenges, nearby schools with similar demographics demonstrate that improvement is possible within the same regional context.

341

Students ?

14.8

Student/teacher ratio ?

$17,450

Per pupil spending ?

76.8%

Free/reduced lunch eligible (2024-25) ?

All students in Michigan receive free school meals.

91.8%

Kindergartners complete for all required vaccines (2025-26)

Exemptions: 0% (any vaccine)

309 S Walnut St
Bangor, MI 49013-1350

(269) 427-6800

District: Bangor Public Schools (Van Buren)

Students who attend South Walnut Elementary School usually attend:

Middle:	Bangor Middle School
High:	Bangor High School

Racial breakdown:

White:

48.1%

Hispanic:

40.8%

Two or more races:

7.3%

See top rated Michigan elementary schools

Compare South Walnut Elementary School to nearby elementary schools!

At a glance

▼ Ranking trend: Declining — 28th percentile in 2016 → 7th in 2026

Worth a look

!Test scores below the Michigan average (14% vs 40% meeting standards)

!In the lower quartile statewide (7th percentile)

!Ranking has slipped — down 21 percentile points since 2016

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school14%

District avg14%

Michigan avg40%

1,389^th of 1,492

Michigan public elementary schools ?

Bottom 7%▼ down 21 pts since 2016

From bottom 28% (2016) to bottom 7% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of Michigan Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

510^th of 625Bangor Public Schools (Van Buren) 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)

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Michigan percentile	Rating
2026	9.2	1389 of 1492	6.9%	☆☆☆☆☆
2025	11.5	1327 of 1488	10.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	11.9	1311 of 1486	11.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	14.0	1249 of 1470	15.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	18.1	1100 of 1344	18.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	13.1	1043 of 1153	9.5%	☆☆☆☆☆
2019	23.3	1079 of 1408	23.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	18.1	1240 of 1448	14.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2017	13.4	1270 of 1466	13.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2016	29.5	1116 of 1548	27.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2015	25.6	1220 of 1580	22.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2014	24.6	1228 of 1533	19.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2013	22.9	1277 of 1563	18.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2012	37.4	1099 of 1566	29.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2011	33.0	1260 of 1552	18.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2010	48.3	1099 of 1552	29.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2009	40.2	1223 of 1589	23.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2008	37.8	1240 of 1577	21.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2007	45.2	1095 of 1565	30.0%	★★☆☆☆
2006	35.7	1241 of 1545	19.7%	★☆☆☆☆

English Language Learner

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Michigan percentile	Rating
2025	17.4	146 of 173	15.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	19.9	152 of 180	15.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	22.7	239 of 270	11.5%	★☆☆☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Michigan percentile	Rating
2025	9.5	1265 of 1338	5.5%	☆☆☆☆☆
2024	8.6	1262 of 1342	6.0%	☆☆☆☆☆
2023	12.7	1182 of 1321	10.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	16.0	975 of 1106	11.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	23.2	939 of 1171	19.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	20.5	1180 of 1443	18.2%	★☆☆☆☆

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Michigan percentile	Rating
2026	10.3	219 of 225	2.7%	☆☆☆☆☆
2025	15.4	193 of 209	7.7%	☆☆☆☆☆
2023	22.6	151 of 188	19.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	36.3	53 of 86	38.4%	★★☆☆☆
2018	28.5	174 of 222	21.6%	★☆☆☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Michigan percentile	Rating
2026	9.5	1304 of 1352	3.6%	☆☆☆☆☆
2025	14.8	1206 of 1346	10.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	11.6	1268 of 1381	8.2%	☆☆☆☆☆
2023	16.7	1153 of 1350	14.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	26.6	849 of 1099	22.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	12.9	710 of 749	5.2%	☆☆☆☆☆
2019	26.6	884 of 1134	22.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	20.0	1191 of 1397	14.7%	★☆☆☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Michigan percentile	Rating
2026	9.2	1287 of 1372	6.2%	☆☆☆☆☆
2025	9.5	1271 of 1366	7.0%	☆☆☆☆☆
2024	10.7	1242 of 1347	7.8%	☆☆☆☆☆
2023	10.3	1221 of 1334	8.5%	☆☆☆☆☆
2022	16.0	989 of 1139	13.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	13.7	839 of 915	8.3%	☆☆☆☆☆
2019	13.6	1077 of 1196	9.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	16.6	1231 of 1446	14.9%	★☆☆☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Michigan percentile	Rating
2026	5.0	1188 of 1199	0.9%	☆☆☆☆☆
2025	5.2	1190 of 1206	1.3%	☆☆☆☆☆
2024	5.5	1179 of 1204	2.1%	☆☆☆☆☆
2023	4.4	1185 of 1198	1.1%	☆☆☆☆☆
2022	12.3	1029 of 1102	6.6%	☆☆☆☆☆
2021	7.0	984 of 1005	2.1%	☆☆☆☆☆
2019	21.3	944 of 1128	16.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	13.0	1160 of 1253	7.4%	☆☆☆☆☆

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)

English Language Learner (2025)16th percentile+5 vs school

Male (2026)6th percentile~ school

Female (2025)5th percentile-5 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2026)4th percentile-3 vs school

Hispanic (2026)3rd percentile-4 vs school

White (2026)1st percentile-6 vs school

By subject vs Michigan (2025-2026) ?

Math15%-26 vs state

English Language Arts12%-28 vs state

★

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Schools Near South Walnut Elementary School

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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)				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	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 Math 3rd Grade	M-Step Math 4th Grade	M-Step Math 5th Grade	M-Step Math 6th Grade	M-Step Science 5th Grade	M-Step Social Studies 5th 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
South Walnut Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-4	309 S Walnut St	Bangor	49013	Van Buren County	Bangor Public Schools (Van Buren)	No	No	No	Yes	(269) 427-6800	341	23	14.8	76.8%	164 (48.1%)	13 (3.8%)	139 (40.8%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	25 (7.3%)	9.2	1389^th of 1492 public elementary schools	6.9%		11.5	1327^th of 1488 public elementary schools	10.8%	62	9.0	14.7			11.9	18.7					91.8%	0%	$17,450	$3,551	$13,899
Wood School Bangor Township 8	Public, Magnet	K-8	29842 66th St	Bangor	49013	Van Buren County	Bangor Township S/D #8	No	Yes	No	No	(269) 427-8562	24	2	12.0	50.0%	17 (70.8%)	0 (0.0%)	3 (12.5%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	4 (16.7%)								(n/a)													$9,773	$00	$9,773
Lawrence Elementary School	Public	K-6	714 W Saint Joseph St	Lawrence	49064	Van Buren County	Lawrence Public Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(269) 674-8231	214	13	17.1	77.6%	105 (49.1%)	3 (1.4%)	96 (44.9%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	10 (4.7%)	21.3	1151^st of 1492 public elementary schools	22.9%		20.6	1145^th of 1488 public elementary schools	23.1%	6	19.4	32.4	11.5	17.6	22.6	32.4	1463.2	1571.4	1471.0	1464.6	88.9%	0%	$14,537	$1,976	$12,561
Redwood Elementary	Public	K-5	395 Woodside Dr	Hartford	49057	Van Buren County	Hartford Public Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(269) 621-7300	516	33	15.6	89.0%	177 (34.3%)	2 (0.4%)	333 (64.5%)	0 (0.0%)	3 (0.6%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.2%)	25.5	1076^th of 1492 public elementary schools	27.9%		23	1112^th of 1488 public elementary schools	25.3%	36	19.2	29.0	32.6		20.8	28.0	28.6		27.5	13.2	94.6%	4.1%	$14,680	$1,984	$12,695
Covert Elementary School	Public, Magnet	PK, KG-5	35323 M 140 Hwy	Covert	49043	Van Buren County	Covert Public Schools	No	Yes	No	Yes	(269) 764-3710	144	10	14.1	81.3%	19 (13.2%)	22 (15.3%)	98 (68.1%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	5 (3.5%)	14.4	1289^th of 1492 public elementary schools	13.6%					(n/a)	18.8	1370.2	20.8		1276.2	1370.8	1461.8		20.8	1474.0	95.7%	0%	$24,898	$2,799	$22,100
Maple Grove Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-3	72399 12th Ave	South Haven	49090	Van Buren County	South Haven Public Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(269) 637-0500	300	24	12.7	73.7%	205 (68.3%)	12 (4.0%)	41 (13.7%)	9 (3.0%)	4 (1.3%)	0 (0.0%)	29 (9.7%)								(n/a)	34.5				42.9						98.4%	1.6%	$14,977	$1,847	$13,130
Bloomingdale Elementary School	Public	K-5	307 E Willow St	Bloomingdale	49026	Van Buren County	Bloomingdale Public School District	No	No	No	Yes	(269) 521-3935	272	18	15.1	71.3%	167 (61.4%)	2 (0.7%)	83 (30.5%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.4%)	0 (0.0%)	19 (7.0%)	19.3	1190^th of 1492 public elementary schools	20.2%		17.8	1202^nd of 1488 public elementary schools	19.2%	12	11.9	28.6	9.5		33.3	33.3	11.9		19.0	1472.5	89.2%	8.1%	$18,762	$2,111	$16,651
Lincoln School	Public	PK, KG-3	500 Elkenburg St	South Haven	49090	Van Buren County	South Haven Public Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(269) 637-0540	251	19	13.5	67.3%	158 (62.9%)	27 (10.8%)	28 (11.2%)	1 (0.4%)	1 (0.4%)	0 (0.0%)	36 (14.3%)								(n/a)	22.0				26.0						87.5%	9.4%	$16,052	$1,592	$14,460
North Elementary School	Public	3-5	287 West Baldwin Ave	Watervliet	49098	Berrien County	Watervliet School District	No	No	No	Yes	(269) 463-0824	312	18	17.4	73.4%	225 (72.1%)	8 (2.6%)	61 (19.6%)	0 (0.0%)	3 (1.0%)	0 (0.0%)	15 (4.8%)	34.1	940^th of 1492 public elementary schools	37.0%		38.1	892^nd of 1488 public elementary schools	40.1%	48	23.2	40.6	35.5		31.0	39.6	15.5		33.3	21.6			$14,183	$1,565	$12,617
North Shore Elementary	Public	4-5	7320 N Shore Dr	South Haven	49090	Allegan County	South Haven Public Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(269) 637-0500	255	17	14.6	67.5%	178 (69.8%)	17 (6.7%)	29 (11.4%)	1 (0.4%)	2 (0.8%)	0 (0.0%)	28 (11.0%)	40.7	849^th of 1492 public elementary schools	43.1%		42.5	827^th of 1488 public elementary schools	44.4%	22		35.5	43.5			30.4	22.6		40.0	24.3			$13,917	$1,649	$12,268

Frequently Asked Questions about South Walnut Elementary School

What district is South Walnut Elementary School in?

Bangor Public Schools (Van Buren)

What schools do graduates of South Walnut Elementary School attend?

Students who attend South Walnut Elementary School usually go on to attend:

Middle : Bangor Middle School
High : Bangor High School

How many students attend South Walnut Elementary School?

In the 2024-25 school year, 341 students attended South Walnut Elementary School.

Is South Walnut Elementary School a good school?

South Walnut Elementary School ranks in the bottom 6.9% of Michigan elementary schools.

What is the racial makeup of South Walnut Elementary School?

Students at South Walnut Elementary School are 48% White, 41% Hispanic, 7% Two or more races, 4% African American.

Rate South Walnut Elementary School!

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Latest Michigan data All new data »

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

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

2024–25 school spending dataJun 13, 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.