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Bear Lake Elementary School

Q: Is Bear Lake Elementary School a good school?

Bear Lake Elementary School ranks 436 th of 1492 Michigan elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

Public Grades PK, KG-6

436^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 1,492 Michigan Elementary Schools

Better than 71% of Michigan elementary schools

Summary

Bear Lake Elementary School is a small, rural school in Bear Lake, MI, serving 147 students in grades PK through 6 as part of the Bear Lake Schools district.

Bear Lake Elementary has become a standout success story in the region. The school's state ranking has climbed dramatically from the 47th percentile in 2021-2022 to the 71st percentile in 2025-2026, earning a 4-star rating. This places it ahead of nearby schools like Frankfort Elementary School (70th percentile), Manistee Elementary School (45th), Homestead Hills Elementary School (27th), Betsie Valley School (25th), and KND Elementary (22nd). What makes this achievement particularly remarkable is that Bear Lake serves a student population where 61% qualify for free or reduced lunch. The school ranks in the 95th percentile for academic achievement among low-income students—a 5-star result that far exceeds what peer schools with similar demographics are achieving. For example, KND Elementary has a higher poverty rate (77%) but ranks in the bottom quarter statewide.

Bear Lake's strongest academic performance comes in the early grades. Third-grade math proficiency (71.4%) and ELA proficiency (52.4%) both far exceed state averages. However, parents should be aware of a significant challenge: math proficiency drops sharply by 6th grade, falling to just 19%—well below the state average of 32%. This pattern has persisted for several years and represents an area needing attention. Additionally, the school's chronic absenteeism rate (29.1%) is higher than the state average and notably higher than Frankfort Elementary's rate (17.7%). On a positive note, per-student spending has nearly doubled since 2021, rising to $23,006—higher than all neighboring districts—which may explain the school's recent improvement and its exceptional support for students facing economic challenges.

147

Students ?

14.8

Student/teacher ratio ?

$23,006

Per pupil spending ?

61.2%

Free/discounted lunch ?

7748 Cody St
Bear Lake, MI 49614-9789

(231) 864-3133

District: Bear Lake Schools

Students who attend Bear Lake Elementary School usually attend:

High:

Bear Lake High School

Racial breakdown:

White:

86.4%

Hispanic:

12.2%

Two or more races:

1.4%

See top rated Michigan elementary schools

Compare Bear Lake Elementary School to nearby elementary schools!

At a glance

▲ Ranking trend: Improving — 37th percentile in 2016 → 71st in 2026

Strengths

✓Test scores above the Michigan average (47% vs 37% meeting standards)

✓Ranking is trending up — up 34 percentile points since 2016

✓Above the Michigan median (71st percentile)

Worth a look

!Social Studies scores 10 pts below the Michigan average

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school47%

District avg47%

Michigan avg37%

436^th of 1,492

Michigan public elementary schools ?

Top 29%▲ up 34 pts since 2016

From bottom 37% (2016) to top 29% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of Michigan Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

244^th of 625Bear Lake Schools 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	67.8	436 of 1492	70.8%	★★★★☆
2025	58.8	581 of 1488	61.0%	★★★☆☆
2024	70.2	404 of 1486	72.8%	★★★★☆
2023	54.6	619 of 1470	57.9%	★★★☆☆
2022	43.9	707 of 1344	47.4%	★★☆☆☆
2021	42.9	624 of 1153	45.9%	★★☆☆☆
2019	56.5	568 of 1408	59.7%	★★★☆☆
2018	54.0	724 of 1448	50.0%	★★★☆☆
2017	61.4	483 of 1466	67.1%	★★★☆☆
2016	38.2	979 of 1548	36.8%	★★☆☆☆
2015	34.0	1099 of 1580	30.4%	★★☆☆☆
2014	43.9	945 of 1533	38.4%	★★☆☆☆
2013	55.1	745 of 1563	52.3%	★★★☆☆
2012	49.0	859 of 1566	45.1%	★★☆☆☆
2011	64.0	652 of 1552	58.0%	★★★☆☆
2010	51.5	1031 of 1552	33.6%	★★☆☆☆
2009	51.4	1024 of 1589	35.6%	★★☆☆☆
2008	64.9	642 of 1577	59.3%	★★★☆☆
2007	63.8	630 of 1565	59.7%	★★★☆☆
2006	62.7	652 of 1545	57.8%	★★★☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Michigan percentile	Rating
2026	82.4	183 of 1343	86.4%	★★★★☆
2024	65.0	380 of 1342	71.7%	★★★★☆
2023	60.1	457 of 1321	65.4%	★★★☆☆
2018	60.2	586 of 1443	59.4%	★★★☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Michigan percentile	Rating
2026	90.0	64 of 1352	95.3%	★★★★★
2025	76.8	206 of 1346	84.7%	★★★★☆
2024	88.3	71 of 1381	94.9%	★★★★★
2023	71.7	253 of 1350	81.3%	★★★★☆
2022	58.4	394 of 1099	64.1%	★★★☆☆
2018	59.8	523 of 1397	62.6%	★★★☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Michigan percentile	Rating
2026	65.5	430 of 1372	68.7%	★★★☆☆
2025	68.4	391 of 1366	71.4%	★★★★☆
2024	71.7	332 of 1347	75.4%	★★★★☆
2023	60.9	482 of 1334	63.9%	★★★☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Michigan percentile	Rating
2026	61.5	420 of 1199	65.0%	★★★☆☆
2025	56.3	506 of 1206	58.0%	★★★☆☆
2024	60.5	448 of 1204	62.8%	★★★☆☆
2023	47.6	625 of 1198	47.8%	★★☆☆☆
2022	33.0	744 of 1102	32.5%	★★☆☆☆
2021	37.0	647 of 1005	35.6%	★★☆☆☆
2019	41.4	672 of 1128	40.4%	★★☆☆☆
2018	46.8	685 of 1253	45.3%	★★☆☆☆

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)

Low Socio Economic Status (2026)95th percentile+24 vs school

Female (2026)86th percentile+16 vs school

Male (2026)69th percentile~ school

White (2026)65th percentile-6 vs school

By subject vs Michigan (2025-2026) ?

English Language Arts55%+14 vs state

Science48%+8 vs state

Math48%+11 vs state

Social Studies17%-10 vs state

★

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Schools Near Bear Lake 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 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	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
Bear Lake Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-6	7748 Cody St	Bear Lake	49614	Manistee County	Bear Lake Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(231) 864-3133	147	10	14.8	61.2%	127 (86.4%)	0 (0.0%)	18 (12.2%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (1.4%)	67.8	436^th of 1492 public elementary schools	70.8%		58.8	581^st of 1488 public elementary schools	61.0%	145	52.4	52.2	60.9	52.4	71.4	60.9	39.1	19.1	47.8	17.4	$23,006	$2,243	$20,763
KND Elementary	Public, Magnet	K-6	4400 Highbridge Rd	Brethren	49619	Manistee County	Kaleva Norman Dickson School District	No	Yes	No	Yes	(231) 477-5353	289	16	18.1	76.8%	249 (86.2%)	12 (4.2%)	14 (4.8%)	2 (0.7%)	10 (3.5%)	1 (0.3%)	1 (0.3%)	20.3	1171^st of 1492 public elementary schools	21.5%		20.5	1150^th of 1488 public elementary schools	22.7%	21	22.7	30.0	36.1	19.1	23.3	15.4	8.3	12.8	30.6	11.1	$14,788	$2,280	$12,508
Betsie Valley School	Public, Magnet	PK, KG-5	17936 Cadillac Hwy	Thompsonville	49683	Benzie County	Benzie County Central Schools	No	Yes	No	Yes	(231) 378-4164	131	10	13.3	71.0%	119 (90.8%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.8%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (1.5%)	0 (0.0%)	9 (6.9%)	22.9	1122^nd of 1492 public elementary schools	24.8%		18.7	1186^th of 1488 public elementary schools	20.3%	64	27.8	27.3	19.1		27.8	1377.1	19.1		28.6	1474.9	$18,578	$2,902	$15,677
Homestead Hills Elementary School	Public, Magnet	PK, KG-5	7048 Severance St	Benzonia	49616	Benzie County	Benzie County Central Schools	No	Yes	No	Yes	(231) 882-4641	209	14	14.8	63.2%	182 (87.1%)	1 (0.5%)	7 (3.3%)	0 (0.0%)	3 (1.4%)	0 (0.0%)	16 (7.7%)	24.7	1087^th of 1492 public elementary schools	27.1%		22.6	1118^th of 1488 public elementary schools	24.9%	31	35.9	23.1	21.9		41.0	17.9	9.4		28.1	12.5	$17,529	$1,833	$15,696
Manistee Early Childhood Center	Public	PK-K	515 Bryant Ave	Manistee	49660	Manistee County	Manistee Area Public Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(231) 723-9285	292	16	18.4	51.0%	257 (88.0%)	12 (4.1%)	11 (3.8%)	0 (0.0%)	7 (2.4%)	1 (0.3%)	4 (1.4%)								(n/a)											$15,389	$1,508	$13,881
Frankfort Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	613 Leelanau Ave	Frankfort	49635	Benzie County	Frankfort-Elberta Area Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(231) 352-4641	240	17	13.8	56.7%	217 (90.4%)	5 (2.1%)	12 (5.0%)	0 (0.0%)	3 (1.3%)	0 (0.0%)	3 (1.3%)	67.5	442^nd of 1492 public elementary schools	70.4%		73.3	362^nd of 1488 public elementary schools	75.7%	80	31.8	62.9	63.4		38.6	45.7	51.2		56.1	34.1	$20,207	$1,614	$18,593
Manistee Elementary School	Public	1-5	1309 Madison Rd	Manistee	49660	Manistee County	Manistee Area Public Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(231) 723-3271	270	17	16.0	41.5%	230 (85.2%)	3 (1.1%)	18 (6.7%)	3 (1.1%)	2 (0.7%)	0 (0.0%)	14 (5.2%)	42.6	817^th of 1492 public elementary schools	45.2%		43.4	821^st of 1488 public elementary schools	44.8%	4	35.3	35.2	40.2		45.1	30.8	43.9		25.9	17.3	$15,820	$1,159	$14,660

Frequently Asked Questions about Bear Lake Elementary School

How many students attend Bear Lake Elementary School?

In the 2024-25 school year, 147 students attended Bear Lake Elementary School.

What district is Bear Lake Elementary School in?

Bear Lake Schools

What is the racial makeup of Bear Lake Elementary School?

Students at Bear Lake Elementary School are 86% White, 12% Hispanic, 1% Two or more races.

Is Bear Lake Elementary School a good school?

Bear Lake Elementary School ranks 436^th of 1492 Michigan elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

What schools do graduates of Bear Lake Elementary School attend?

Students who attend Bear Lake Elementary School usually go on to attend:

High : Bear Lake High School

Rate Bear Lake Elementary School!

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MIMichigan Elementary School Rankings

MIMichigan District Rankings

Schools in Bear Lake, MI

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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.