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Mackensen Elementary School

Q: Is Mackensen Elementary School a good school?

Mackensen Elementary School ranks 665 th of 1492 Michigan elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

Public Grades PK, KG-5

665^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 1,492 Michigan Elementary Schools

Better than 55% of Michigan elementary schools

Summary

Mackensen Elementary School in Bay City, MI, is a mid-sized school serving 265 students from Pre-Kindergarten through 5th grade, and it stands out as a consistent academic leader within the Bay City School District.

For parents, the most important takeaway is that Mackensen delivers stable, above-average results year after year. The school has earned a 3-star rating for four consecutive years, placing it in the 52nd to 58th percentile statewide—a notable achievement given that its home district ranks in the 45th percentile. Mackensen outperforms many nearby schools, including Hampton Elementary School (30th percentile), Washington Elementary School (15th), and MacGregor Elementary School (9th). One standout strength is 4th-grade math, where proficiency rates have consistently soared—hitting 67.5% in 2022-2023 and 58.7% in 2023-2024, far exceeding district and state averages. The school also shines with its economically disadvantaged students, who ranked in the 72nd percentile statewide in 2024-2025, showing that support reaches those who need it most.

Mackensen also benefits from a more engaged student body. Its chronic absenteeism rate is just 19.9%, well below the district average of 32.8% and the state average of 27.9%. This contrasts sharply with schools like Washington Elementary School (46.1%) and MacGregor Elementary School (42.9%). Additionally, only 36.2% of Mackensen students qualify for free/reduced lunch, a much lower rate than many neighboring schools, which often exceed 70%. While the school performs well overall, there is a notable gender gap—boys rank in the 66th percentile while girls rank in the 39th—and 5th-grade math scores dip compared to earlier grades. Still, with efficient spending and strong results, Mackensen proves that a school can achieve excellence even within a district facing broader challenges.

265

Students ?

14.6

Student/teacher ratio ?

$15,648

Per pupil spending ?

36.2%

Free/discounted lunch ?

5535 Dennis Dr
Bay City, MI 48706-3109

(989) 684-4941

District: Bay City School District

Students who attend Mackensen Elementary School usually attend:

Middle:	Western Middle School
High:	Bay City Western High School

Racial breakdown:

White:

83.8%

Hispanic:

8.7%

Two or more races:

7.5%

See top rated Michigan elementary schools

Compare Mackensen Elementary School to nearby elementary schools!

At a glance

▼ Ranking trend: Declining — 71st percentile in 2016 → 55th in 2026

Strengths

✓Above the Michigan median (55th percentile)

Worth a look

!Ranking has slipped — down 16 percentile points since 2016

!Some student groups rank well below the school's overall statewide standing

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school39%

District avg32%

Michigan avg38%

665^th of 1,492

Michigan public elementary schools ?

Top 45%▼ down 16 pts since 2016

From top 29% (2016) to top 45% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of Michigan Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

3^rd of 7Elementary Schools in the Bay City School District

346^th of 625Bay City School District 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	52.2	665 of 1492	55.4%	★★★☆☆
2025	49.6	721 of 1488	51.5%	★★★☆☆
2024	55.2	631 of 1486	57.5%	★★★☆☆
2023	48.9	700 of 1470	52.4%	★★★☆☆
2022	59.5	490 of 1344	63.5%	★★★☆☆
2021	69.5	281 of 1153	75.6%	★★★★☆
2019	70.7	363 of 1408	74.2%	★★★★☆
2018	63.6	550 of 1448	62.0%	★★★☆☆
2017	75.3	273 of 1466	81.4%	★★★★☆
2016	67.9	446 of 1548	71.2%	★★★★☆
2015	70.8	435 of 1580	72.5%	★★★★☆
2014	61.5	604 of 1533	60.6%	★★★☆☆
2013	66.7	505 of 1563	67.7%	★★★☆☆
2012	69.3	454 of 1566	71.0%	★★★★☆
2011	85.3	40 of 1552	97.4%	★★★★★
2010	83.7	29 of 1552	98.1%	★★★★★
2009	83.0	126 of 1589	92.1%	★★★★★
2008	78.4	255 of 1577	83.8%	★★★★☆
2007	74.7	317 of 1565	79.7%	★★★★☆
2006	85.5	65 of 1545	95.8%	★★★★★

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Michigan percentile	Rating
2026	36.0	816 of 1343	39.2%	★★☆☆☆
2025	42.5	723 of 1338	46.0%	★★☆☆☆
2024	49.4	626 of 1342	53.4%	★★★☆☆
2023	44.2	696 of 1321	47.3%	★★☆☆☆
2022	64.1	326 of 1106	70.5%	★★★★☆
2019	67.1	324 of 1171	72.3%	★★★★☆
2018	63.4	523 of 1443	63.8%	★★★☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Michigan percentile	Rating
2026	52.2	576 of 1352	57.4%	★★★☆☆
2025	65.6	372 of 1346	72.4%	★★★★☆
2024	62.1	427 of 1381	69.1%	★★★☆☆
2023	63.0	398 of 1350	70.5%	★★★★☆
2022	67.9	261 of 1099	76.3%	★★★★☆
2018	49.3	743 of 1397	46.8%	★★☆☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Michigan percentile	Rating
2026	62.9	464 of 1372	66.2%	★★★☆☆
2025	47.4	693 of 1366	49.3%	★★☆☆☆
2024	49.6	639 of 1347	52.6%	★★★☆☆
2023	43.9	719 of 1334	46.1%	★★☆☆☆
2022	51.6	525 of 1139	53.9%	★★★☆☆
2021	60.1	322 of 915	64.8%	★★★☆☆
2019	66.7	349 of 1196	70.8%	★★★★☆
2018	61.0	551 of 1446	61.9%	★★★☆☆

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Michigan percentile	Rating
2023	62.4	58 of 195	70.3%	★★★★☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Michigan percentile	Rating
2026	37.1	763 of 1199	36.4%	★★☆☆☆
2025	33.8	828 of 1206	31.3%	★★☆☆☆
2024	44.7	652 of 1204	45.8%	★★☆☆☆
2023	40.2	732 of 1198	38.9%	★★☆☆☆
2022	48.7	565 of 1102	48.7%	★★☆☆☆
2021	68.2	272 of 1005	72.9%	★★★★☆
2019	65.4	354 of 1128	68.6%	★★★☆☆
2018	56.8	534 of 1253	57.4%	★★★☆☆

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)

Special Education (2023)70th percentile+18 vs school

Male (2026)66th percentile+11 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2026)57th percentile~ school

Female (2026)39th percentile-16 vs school

White (2026)36th percentile-19 vs school

By subject vs Michigan (2025-2026) ?

English Language Arts43%~ state avg

Math40%~ state avg

Science39%~ state avg

Social Studies25%-3 vs state

3.0

2 ratings · 1 written review

5★1

4★0

3★0

2★0

1★1

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What people are saying

by a parent
Friday, October 6, 2017

The school Principal should quit, she lacks the character and values one wants in a good, competent principal. Close Quote

Schools Near Mackensen 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 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)	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/Discounted Lunch Recipients (2025)	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 Math 3rd Grade	M-Step Math 4th Grade	M-Step Math 5th Grade	M-Step Science 5th Grade	M-Step Social Studies 5th Grade	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
Mackensen Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	5535 Dennis Dr	Bay City	48706	Bay County	Bay City School District	No	No	No	No	(989) 684-4941	265	18	14.6	36.2%	222 (83.8%)	0 (0.0%)	23 (8.7%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	20 (7.5%)	52.2	665^th of 1492 public elementary schools	55.4%		49.6	721^st of 1488 public elementary schools	51.5%	56	38.8	50.0	40.9	36.7	45.8	36.4	38.6	25.0	$15,648	$834	$14,814
Kolb Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	305 W Crump St	Bay City	48706	Bay County	Bay City School District	No	No	No	Yes	(989) 893-9518	451	32	13.9	72.5%	325 (72.1%)	15 (3.3%)	66 (14.6%)	2 (0.4%)	2 (0.4%)	0 (0.0%)	41 (9.1%)	53.6	649^th of 1492 public elementary schools	56.5%		38.4	887^th of 1488 public elementary schools	40.4%	238	48.2	39.4	39.1	49.4	40.9	21.9	39.1	34.4	$15,283	$1,725	$13,558
McAlearSawden Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	2300 Midland Rd	Bay City	48706	Bay County	Bay City School District	No	No	No	Yes	(989) 684-7702	378	26	14.5	54.0%	310 (82.0%)	5 (1.3%)	34 (9.0%)	5 (1.3%)	1 (0.3%)	1 (0.3%)	22 (5.8%)	36.7	906^th of 1492 public elementary schools	39.3%		41.3	840^th of 1488 public elementary schools	43.5%	66	42.9	33.8	37.3	33.3	26.2	23.7	37.9	15.3	$14,948	$1,333	$13,616
MacGregor Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	1012 Fremont St	Bay City	48708	Bay County	Bay City School District	No	No	No	Yes	(989) 892-1558	290	26	11.3	91.7%	181 (62.4%)	12 (4.1%)	63 (21.7%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	33 (11.4%)	10.3	1364^th of 1492 public elementary schools	8.6%		11.6	1325^th of 1488 public elementary schools	11.0%	39	17.8	17.4	21.3	18.2	13.0	6.4	12.8	6.4	$17,157	$2,016	$15,141
Bangor West Central School	Public	K-5	3175 Wilder Rd	Bay City	48706	Bay County	Bangor Township Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(989) 684-3373	361	14	26.4	52.1%	294 (81.4%)	4 (1.1%)	38 (10.5%)	4 (1.1%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	21 (5.8%)	47.7	736^th of 1492 public elementary schools	50.7%		56.7	615^th of 1488 public elementary schools	58.7%	121	33.3	54.8	49.2	35.9	41.9	24.6	37.7	21.3	$11,366	$773	$10,593
Washington Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	1821 McKinley St	Bay City	48708	Bay County	Bay City School District	No	No	No	Yes	(989) 894-2744	362	30	12.0	91.2%	212 (58.6%)	23 (6.4%)	76 (21.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	51 (14.1%)	15.6	1261^st of 1492 public elementary schools	15.5%		18.8	1185^th of 1488 public elementary schools	20.4%	76	29.1	13.1	22.4	27.3	14.8	13.8	20.7	6.9	$17,008	$1,751	$15,257
Hampton Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	1908 W Youngs Ditch Rd	Bay City	48708	Bay County	Bay City School District	No	No	No	Yes	(989) 893-1100	399	24	16.6	68.7%	267 (66.9%)	14 (3.5%)	72 (18.0%)	5 (1.3%)	1 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	40 (10.0%)	27.7	1043^rd of 1492 public elementary schools	30.1%		34.7	944^th of 1488 public elementary schools	36.6%	99	23.0	29.7	35.8	18.0	20.3	19.4	40.3	19.4	$14,192	$1,594	$12,598
WR Bush Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-1	800 Nebobish Ave	Essexville	48732	Bay County	Essexville-Hampton Public Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(989) 894-9760	236	17	13.8	46.6%	202 (85.6%)	1 (0.4%)	27 (11.4%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.4%)	0 (0.0%)	5 (2.1%)								(n/a)									$13,029	$848	$12,181
Bangor Central School	Public	PK, KG-5	208 State Park Dr	Bay City	48706	Bay County	Bangor Township Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(989) 684-8891	332	15	22.6	68.1%	271 (81.6%)	7 (2.1%)	30 (9.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	24 (7.2%)	16.3	1251^st of 1492 public elementary schools	16.2%		38.5	886^th of 1488 public elementary schools	40.5%	365	20.4	23.3	19.3	24.5	21.7	17.9	17.9	10.5	$12,147	$892	$11,255
Bangor Lincoln School	Public	PK, KG-5	2771 N Euclid Ave	Bay City	48706	Bay County	Bangor Township Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(989) 686-7639	344	14	25.1	61.0%	276 (80.2%)	3 (0.9%)	38 (11.0%)	1 (0.3%)	1 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	25 (7.3%)	47	743^rd of 1492 public elementary schools	50.2%		58.1	593^rd of 1488 public elementary schools	60.1%	150	25.5	27.0	55.0	45.1	28.6	28.3	48.3	31.7	$11,734	$738	$10,996

Frequently Asked Questions about Mackensen Elementary School

How many students attend Mackensen Elementary School?

In the 2024-25 school year, 265 students attended Mackensen Elementary School.

What district is Mackensen Elementary School in?

Bay City School District

What is the racial makeup of Mackensen Elementary School?

Students at Mackensen Elementary School are 84% White, 9% Hispanic, 8% Two or more races.

Is Mackensen Elementary School a good school?

Mackensen Elementary School ranks 665^th of 1492 Michigan elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

What schools do graduates of Mackensen Elementary School attend?

Students who attend Mackensen Elementary School usually go on to attend:

Middle : Western Middle School
High : Bay City Western High School

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Latest Michigan data All new data »

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

2024–25 attendance dataJan 6, 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.