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John R Rodger Elementary School

Q: Is John R Rodger Elementary School a good school?

John R Rodger Elementary School ranks 712 th of 1492 Michigan elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

Public Grades PK, KG-5

712^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 1,492 Michigan Elementary Schools

Better than 52% of Michigan elementary schools

Summary

John R Rodger Elementary School is a small, rural school in Bellaire, MI, serving 119 students in grades PK through 5 as part of the Bellaire Public Schools district.

This school stands out for its strong investment in students. It spends $22,336 per student—far more than nearby schools like Boyne City Elementary School ($15,453) or Lakeland Elementary School ($15,311)—and maintains a favorable 12.2:1 student-teacher ratio. Academically, the school has been on an upward trajectory, climbing from the 28th percentile statewide in 2015-2016 to the 52nd percentile in 2025-2026. A particular bright spot is 5th-grade science, where 50% of students were proficient in 2025-2026, beating the state average of 40%. The school also shows relative strength in supporting its low-income students, with that subgroup ranking in the 58th percentile statewide in 2025-2026, above the school's overall ranking. This is notable since 52.1% of students qualify for free or reduced lunch.

The main challenge is chronic absenteeism. In 2024-2025, 30% of students were chronically absent—higher than the state average (27.9%) and well above nearby East Jordan Elementary School (6.4%) or Mill Creek Academy (9.3%). While this rate has improved from a peak of 39.8% in 2021-2022, it likely impacts learning. Also, because the school is so small, test scores can swing dramatically from year to year as different cohorts of students move through. For example, 3rd-grade math proficiency dropped from 73.7% in 2022-2023 to 36.8% in 2025-2026—a change more likely tied to the specific group of students than to teaching quality. Despite its high funding, the school still trails lower-poverty neighbors like Boyne City and Lakeland in overall academics, suggesting that improving attendance and refining instruction for all student groups will be key to continued growth.

119

Students ?

12.2

Student/teacher ratio ?

$22,336

Per pupil spending ?

52.1%

Free/discounted lunch ?

6535 John R Rodgers Rd
Bellaire, MI 49615-8818

(231) 533-8916

District: Bellaire Public Schools

Students who attend John R Rodger Elementary School usually attend:

High:

Bellaire MiddleHigh School

Racial breakdown:

White:

92.4%

Two or more races:

2.5%

African American:

1.7%

See top rated Michigan elementary schools

Compare John R Rodger Elementary School to nearby elementary schools!

At a glance

▲ Ranking trend: Improving — 28th percentile in 2016 → 52nd in 2026

Strengths

✓Ranking is trending up — up 24 percentile points since 2016

✓Above the Michigan median (52nd percentile)

Worth a look

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

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school39%

District avg39%

Michigan avg38%

712^th of 1,492

Michigan public elementary schools ?

Top 48%▲ up 25 pts since 2016

From bottom 28% (2016) to top 48% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of Michigan Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

201^st of 625Bellaire Public 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	49.1	712 of 1492	52.3%	★★★☆☆
2025	53.7	664 of 1488	55.4%	★★★☆☆
2024	39.8	851 of 1486	42.7%	★★☆☆☆
2023	50.8	681 of 1470	53.7%	★★★☆☆
2022	30.5	923 of 1344	31.3%	★★☆☆☆
2021	21.1	938 of 1153	18.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	39.7	841 of 1408	40.3%	★★☆☆☆
2018	31.4	1060 of 1448	26.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2017	35.0	952 of 1466	35.1%	★★☆☆☆
2016	29.2	1121 of 1548	27.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2015	51.0	809 of 1580	48.8%	★★☆☆☆
2014	42.1	977 of 1533	36.3%	★★☆☆☆
2013	51.2	815 of 1563	47.9%	★★☆☆☆
2012	53.7	766 of 1566	51.1%	★★★☆☆
2011	75.9	322 of 1552	79.3%	★★★★☆
2010	72.2	438 of 1552	71.8%	★★★★☆
2009	75.6	330 of 1589	79.2%	★★★★☆
2008	32.5	1304 of 1577	17.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2007	45.6	1089 of 1565	30.4%	★★☆☆☆
2006	36.6	1223 of 1545	20.8%	★☆☆☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Michigan percentile	Rating
2026	50.2	605 of 1343	55.0%	★★★☆☆
2025	69.8	334 of 1338	75.0%	★★★★☆
2024	42.0	725 of 1342	46.0%	★★☆☆☆
2023	62.7	419 of 1321	68.3%	★★★☆☆
2018	28.3	1071 of 1443	25.8%	★☆☆☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Michigan percentile	Rating
2026	52.7	567 of 1352	58.1%	★★★☆☆
2024	73.1	260 of 1381	81.2%	★★★★☆
2018	23.7	1152 of 1397	17.5%	★☆☆☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Michigan percentile	Rating
2026	52.0	618 of 1372	55.0%	★★★☆☆
2025	52.2	622 of 1366	54.5%	★★★☆☆
2018	37.1	949 of 1446	34.4%	★★☆☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Michigan percentile	Rating
2026	32.6	818 of 1199	31.8%	★★☆☆☆
2025	37.8	771 of 1206	36.1%	★★☆☆☆
2024	24.5	949 of 1204	21.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	41.3	718 of 1198	40.1%	★★☆☆☆
2022	16.6	963 of 1102	12.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	26.9	862 of 1128	23.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	18.2	1100 of 1253	12.2%	★☆☆☆☆

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)58th percentile+6 vs school

Male (2026)55th percentile+3 vs school

Female (2026)55th percentile+3 vs school

White (2026)32nd percentile-21 vs school

By subject vs Michigan (2025-2026) ?

Science50%+10 vs state

English Language Arts40%~ state avg

Math34%-4 vs state

★

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Schools Near John R Rodger 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
John R Rodger Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	6535 John R Rodgers Rd	Bellaire	49615	Antrim County	Bellaire Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(231) 533-8916	119	10	12.2	52.1%	110 (92.4%)	2 (1.7%)	2 (1.7%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (1.7%)	0 (0.0%)	3 (2.5%)	49.1	712^th of 1492 public elementary schools	52.3%		53.7	664^th of 1488 public elementary schools	55.4%	48	36.8	42.9	38.9		36.8	38.1	27.8		50.0	1480.1	$22,336	$1,851	$20,485
Mancelona Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-4	231 W Limits St	Mancelona	49659	Antrim County	Mancelona Public Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(231) 587-8661	288	18	16.1	75.7%	272 (94.4%)	1 (0.3%)	7 (2.4%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	8 (2.8%)	40.1	859^th of 1492 public elementary schools	42.4%		42.4	830^th of 1488 public elementary schools	44.2%	29	27.5	39.3			29.4	42.9					$14,993	$1,567	$13,426
Lakeland Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	616 Buckley St	Elk Rapids	49629	Antrim County	Elk Rapids Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(231) 264-8289	289	18	16.2	29.8%	262 (90.7%)	2 (0.7%)	9 (3.1%)	1 (0.3%)	10 (3.5%)	1 (0.3%)	4 (1.4%)	70	409^th of 1492 public elementary schools	72.6%		78.4	289^th of 1488 public elementary schools	80.6%	120	39.5	52.5	62.0		53.5	32.5	34.0		64.0	48.0	$15,311	$1,255	$14,056
Rapid City Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	5258 River Rd	Rapid City	49676	Kalkaska County	Kalkaska Public Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(231) 331-6121	70	6	11.6	77.1%	64 (91.4%)	1 (1.4%)	1 (1.4%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (1.4%)	0 (0.0%)	3 (4.3%)	41.8	828^th of 1492 public elementary schools	44.5%					(n/a)			36.4				27.3		36.4	27.3	$00	$00	$00
East Jordan Elementary School	Public, Magnet	PK, KG-6	304 4th St	East Jordan	49727	Charlevoix County	East Jordan Public Schools	No	Yes	No	Yes	(231) 536-7564	393	33	11.7	57.8%	341 (86.8%)	2 (0.5%)	17 (4.3%)	0 (0.0%)	3 (0.8%)	0 (0.0%)	30 (7.6%)	49	714^th of 1492 public elementary schools	52.1%		50.7	707^th of 1488 public elementary schools	52.5%	7	43.1	41.5	33.3	38.9	49.0	39.6	37.0	22.2	38.9	22.2	$16,460	$1,257	$15,203
Old Mission Peninsula School	Public, Charter	K-6	2699 Island View Rd	Traverse City	49686	Grand Traverse County	Old Mission Peninsula School	Yes	No	No	Yes	(231) 225-0225	146	13	11.2	21.9%	116 (79.5%)	2 (1.4%)	19 (13.0%)	1 (0.7%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	8 (5.5%)	73.3	365^th of 1492 public elementary schools	75.5%		80.8	262^nd of 1488 public elementary schools	82.4%	103	42.1	51.9	70.8		36.8	44.4	37.5		75.0	58.3	$12,285	$00	$12,285
Mill Creek Academy	Public, Charter	K-5	9039 Old M 72	Williamsburg	49690	Grand Traverse County	Mill Creek Academy	Yes	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(231) 264-8692	233	14	17.0	24.5%	213 (91.4%)	0 (0.0%)	12 (5.2%)	1 (0.4%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	7 (3.0%)	66.8	459^th of 1492 public elementary schools	69.2%					(n/a)	63.8	34.9	50.0		74.5	34.9	46.7		50.0	26.7	$10,270	$193	$10,076
Kalkaska Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	309 N Birch St	Kalkaska	49646	Kalkaska County	Kalkaska Public Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(231) 258-8629	517	34	15.2	62.3%	493 (95.4%)	3 (0.6%)	11 (2.1%)	2 (0.4%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	8 (1.5%)	49.2	709^th of 1492 public elementary schools	52.5%		33.9	954^th of 1488 public elementary schools	35.9%	245	50.0	39.3	36.4		55.3	36.0	27.3		36.4	22.7	$00	$00	$00
Boyne City Elementary School	Public	K-4	930 Brockway St	Boyne City	49712	Charlevoix County	Boyne City Public Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(231) 439-8300	425	26	16.1	43.8%	382 (89.9%)	3 (0.7%)	7 (1.6%)	5 (1.2%)	4 (0.9%)	0 (0.0%)	24 (5.6%)	73.3	364^th of 1492 public elementary schools	75.6%		73	369^th of 1488 public elementary schools	75.2%	5	47.4	49.5			60.5	53.5					$15,453	$990	$14,462

Frequently Asked Questions about John R Rodger Elementary School

Is John R Rodger Elementary School a good school?

John R Rodger Elementary School ranks 712^th of 1492 Michigan elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

How many students attend John R Rodger Elementary School?

In the 2024-25 school year, 119 students attended John R Rodger Elementary School.

What schools do graduates of John R Rodger Elementary School attend?

Students who attend John R Rodger Elementary School usually go on to attend:

High : Bellaire MiddleHigh School

What is the racial makeup of John R Rodger Elementary School?

Students at John R Rodger Elementary School are 92% White, 3% Two or more races, 2% African American, 2% Hispanic, 2% American Indian.

What district is John R Rodger Elementary School in?

Bellaire Public Schools

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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.