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Washington Elementary School

Public Grades PK, KG-5

1261^st

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 1,492 Michigan Elementary Schools

Better than 15% of Michigan elementary schools

Summary

Washington Elementary School in Bay City, MI, serves 362 students from Pre-K through 5th grade within the Bay City School District, and it faces significant challenges tied to a high level of economic need in the surrounding community.

For parents, the most important thing to know is that Washington Elementary is currently a low-performing school, holding a 1-star rating and ranking in the bottom 20th percentile statewide for the past decade. Test scores in reading and math are well below both district and state averages. For example, in 4th grade English Language Arts, only about 13% of students were proficient, compared to 50% at the nearby Mackensen Elementary School. A major factor behind these results is chronic absenteeism—nearly half (46%) of Washington's students miss a substantial amount of school, a rate far higher than the district average of 33% and more than double that of higher-performing neighbors like Mackensen (20%) or Kolb Elementary School (27%). The school also serves a very high-poverty population, with over 91% of students qualifying for free or reduced-price lunch, a rate much higher than schools in nearby districts like Bangor West Central School (52%).

Despite these hurdles, there are some positive notes. Washington Elementary spends a relatively high amount per student ($17,008) and maintains a favorable 12:1 student-teacher ratio, showing that resources are being directed toward instruction. Additionally, Hispanic students at the school have shown remarkable success, ranking in the 60th percentile statewide—a clear bright spot that suggests effective strategies are working for some groups. While the school's overall performance dipped slightly in the most recent year, this internal success offers hope. For parents considering this school, it's important to understand both the significant challenges related to poverty and attendance, as well as the potential shown by targeted student groups.

362

Students ?

12.0

Student/teacher ratio ?

$17,008

Per pupil spending ?

91.2%

Free/reduced lunch eligible (2024-25) ?

All students in Michigan receive free school meals.

83.9%

Kindergartners complete for all required vaccines (2025-26)

Exemptions: 5.4% (any vaccine)

1821 McKinley St
Bay City, MI 48708-6735

(989) 894-2744

District: Bay City School District

Students who attend Washington Elementary School usually attend:

Middle:	Handy Middle School
High:	Bay City Central High School

Racial breakdown:

White:

58.6%

Hispanic:

21.0%

Two or more races:

14.1%

See top rated Michigan elementary schools

Compare Washington Elementary School to nearby elementary schools!

At a glance

▼ Ranking trend: Declining — 28th percentile in 2016 → 15th in 2026

Strengths

✓Small classes — about 12 students per teacher

Worth a look

!Test scores below the Michigan average (18% vs 38% meeting standards)

!In the lower quartile statewide (15th percentile)

!High chronic absenteeism (46% vs 28% Michigan)

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school18%

District avg32%

Michigan avg38%

1,261^st of 1,492

Michigan public elementary schools ?

Bottom 15%▼ down 12 pts since 2016

From bottom 28% (2016) to bottom 15% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of Michigan Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

6^th 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	15.6	1261 of 1492	15.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	18.8	1185 of 1488	20.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	15.5	1244 of 1486	16.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	12.3	1272 of 1470	13.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	7.7	1254 of 1344	6.7%	☆☆☆☆☆
2021	5.9	1123 of 1153	2.6%	☆☆☆☆☆
2019	12.9	1234 of 1408	12.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	22.4	1173 of 1448	19.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2017	17.3	1207 of 1466	17.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2016	29.3	1118 of 1548	27.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2015	28.8	1179 of 1580	25.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2014	30.6	1156 of 1533	24.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2013	34.9	1111 of 1563	28.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2012	31.5	1197 of 1566	23.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2011	32.4	1267 of 1552	18.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2010	30.3	1306 of 1552	15.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2009	18.5	1427 of 1589	10.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2008	13.4	1470 of 1577	6.8%	☆☆☆☆☆
2007	11.3	1487 of 1565	5.0%	☆☆☆☆☆
2006	16.2	1428 of 1545	7.6%	☆☆☆☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Michigan percentile	Rating
2026	13.6	1202 of 1343	10.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	9.6	1262 of 1338	5.7%	☆☆☆☆☆
2024	8.7	1259 of 1342	6.2%	☆☆☆☆☆
2023	7.1	1266 of 1321	4.2%	☆☆☆☆☆
2019	10.3	1097 of 1171	6.3%	☆☆☆☆☆
2018	18.1	1220 of 1443	15.5%	★☆☆☆☆

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Michigan percentile	Rating
2026	51.3	89 of 225	60.4%	★★★☆☆
2025	34.6	133 of 209	36.4%	★★☆☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Michigan percentile	Rating
2026	26.9	1018 of 1352	24.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	31.1	947 of 1346	29.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	23.2	1102 of 1381	20.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	19.0	1126 of 1350	16.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	7.7	738 of 749	1.5%	☆☆☆☆☆
2019	18.7	977 of 1134	13.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	33.5	1003 of 1397	28.2%	★☆☆☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Michigan percentile	Rating
2026	14.9	1189 of 1372	13.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	22.1	1050 of 1366	23.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	23.5	1027 of 1347	23.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	15.9	1128 of 1334	15.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	11.1	1109 of 1196	7.3%	☆☆☆☆☆
2018	27.8	1083 of 1446	25.1%	★☆☆☆☆

Multi-racial

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Michigan percentile	Rating
2018	44.1	37 of 81	54.3%	★★★☆☆

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Michigan percentile	Rating
2018	26.0	337 of 403	16.4%	★☆☆☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Michigan percentile	Rating
2026	6.9	1173 of 1199	2.2%	☆☆☆☆☆
2025	9.7	1149 of 1206	4.7%	☆☆☆☆☆
2024	7.4	1158 of 1204	3.8%	☆☆☆☆☆
2023	7.5	1158 of 1198	3.3%	☆☆☆☆☆
2022	7.4	1073 of 1102	2.6%	☆☆☆☆☆
2021	10.3	961 of 1005	4.4%	☆☆☆☆☆
2019	6.8	1104 of 1128	2.1%	☆☆☆☆☆
2018	11.3	1181 of 1253	5.7%	☆☆☆☆☆

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)

Hispanic (2026)60th percentile+45 vs school

Multi-racial (2018)54th percentile+35 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2026)25th percentile+9 vs school

Special Education (2018)16th percentile-3 vs school

Male (2026)13th percentile~ school

Female (2026)10th percentile-5 vs school

White (2026)2nd percentile-13 vs school

By subject vs Michigan (2025-2026) ?

English Language Arts21%-20 vs state

Science21%-19 vs state

Math18%-20 vs state

Social Studies7%-21 vs state

2.0

1 rating · 1 written review

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What people are saying

by a citizen
Tuesday, May 7, 2019

About a year ago or so, the leadership changed for the worse. The old principal had a heart and competence. The substitute principal, who should have never been hired in as full-time, lacks compassion and competence. Hopefully, this principal will retire or be removed soon. Some great teachers here, but a few who are immature and lacking competence and a heart as well. Close Quote

Schools Near Washington 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 Math 3rd Grade	M-Step Math 4th Grade	M-Step Math 5th 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
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	83.9%	5.4%	$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	94.7%	1.8%	$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)									95%	4%	$13,029	$848	$12,181
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	90.2%	7.3%	$17,157	$2,016	$15,141
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	86.2%	6.9%	$15,283	$1,725	$13,558
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	97.3%	2.7%	$15,648	$834	$14,814
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	91.1%	5.4%	$11,366	$773	$10,593
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	71.4%	19%	$12,147	$892	$11,255
Verellen Elementary School	Public	2-4	612 Borton Rd	Essexville	48732	Bay County	Essexville-Hampton Public Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(989) 894-9770	314	14	22.4	46.2%	280 (89.2%)	1 (0.3%)	16 (5.1%)	1 (0.3%)	1 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	15 (4.8%)	45.1	775^th of 1492 public elementary schools	48.1%		47	764^th of 1488 public elementary schools	48.7%	11	24.5	36.2		49.5	41.3						$11,854	$836	$11,018
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	97.8%	0%	$14,948	$1,333	$13,616

Frequently Asked Questions about Washington Elementary School

How many students attend Washington Elementary School?

In the 2024-25 school year, 362 students attended Washington Elementary School.

Is Washington Elementary School a good school?

Washington Elementary School ranks in the bottom 15.5% of Michigan elementary schools.

What is the racial makeup of Washington Elementary School?

Students at Washington Elementary School are 59% White, 21% Hispanic, 14% Two or more races, 6% African American.

What schools do graduates of Washington Elementary School attend?

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

Middle : Handy Middle School
High : Bay City Central High School

What district is Washington Elementary School in?

Bay City School District

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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.