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Kettle Lake Elementary School

Public Grades K-4

26^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 1,492 Michigan Elementary Schools

Better than 98% of Michigan elementary schools

Summary

Kettle Lake Elementary School in Alto, MI, is a top-performing K-4 school within the highly-ranked Caledonia Community Schools district, serving 349 students in a suburban Grand Rapids area setting.

Kettle Lake stands out for its exceptional academic results, particularly in 4th-grade math, where 87% of students were proficient in the most recent school year—more than double the state average of 39.4%. The school has consistently ranked among Michigan's elite, placing 26th out of 1,492 schools statewide in 2025-2026 and 13th the year prior, which was the highest ranking among all nearby schools. What truly sets Kettle Lake apart, however, is its remarkable success with students from low socio-economic backgrounds—it ranked 3rd in the entire state for effectiveness with this subgroup. This achievement is especially notable given that only about 12% of students qualify for free/reduced lunch, suggesting the school provides targeted support that helps all learners thrive. The school also boasts a chronic absenteeism rate of just 7.6%, dramatically lower than the district average of 21.9% and the state average of 27.9%, and far better than same-district peers like Dutton Elementary School (19.6%).

Kettle Lake also demonstrates impressive efficiency, spending $14,193 per student—less than district peers like Emmons Lake Elementary School ($16,453) and even lower-performing Kentwood Public Schools schools like Discovery Elementary ($17,266)—while achieving superior outcomes. The school's ranking history shows a strong recovery trajectory, climbing from a low point in 2018-2019 to the top 30 in recent years. While 3rd-grade math scores (73.5%) are slightly below the district average (77.9%), this appears to be an area of focus rather than concern, given the exceptional 4th-grade results that follow. For parents seeking a school that combines high achievement with equitable support for all students, Kettle Lake is an outstanding choice.

349

Students ?

19.1

Student/teacher ratio ?

$14,193

Per pupil spending ?

12.0%

Free/reduced lunch eligible (2024-25) ?

All students in Michigan receive free school meals.

8451 Garbow Dr SE
Alto, MI 49302-9162

(616) 868-6113

District: Caledonia Community Schools

Students who attend Kettle Lake Elementary School usually attend:

Middle:	Duncan Lake Middle School
	Kraft Meadows Intermediate School
High:	Caledonia High School

Racial breakdown:

White:

88.3%

Two or more races:

5.4%

Hispanic:

4.0%

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At a glance

▲ Ranking trend: Improving — 93rd percentile in 2016 → 98th in 2026

Strengths

✓Test scores above the Michigan average (78% vs 40% meeting standards)

✓Ranks in the top 2% of Michigan elementary schools

✓Ranking is trending up — up 5 percentile points since 2016

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school78%

District avg74%

Michigan avg40%

26^th of 1,492

Michigan public elementary schools ?

Top 2%▲ up 6 pts since 2016

From top 7% (2016) to top 2% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of Michigan Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

1^st of 5Elementary Schools in the Caledonia Community Schools

13^th of 625Caledonia Community 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	97.0	26 of 1492	98.3%	★★★★★
2025	98.1	13 of 1488	99.1%	★★★★★
2024	93.3	67 of 1486	95.5%	★★★★★
2023	93.4	60 of 1470	95.9%	★★★★★
2022	90.5	95 of 1344	92.9%	★★★★★
2021	91.6	60 of 1153	94.8%	★★★★★
2019	81.0	210 of 1408	85.1%	★★★★☆
2018	85.8	165 of 1448	88.6%	★★★★☆
2017	78.9	229 of 1466	84.4%	★★★★☆
2016	89.0	116 of 1548	92.5%	★★★★★
2015	82.8	218 of 1580	86.2%	★★★★☆
2014	83.6	177 of 1533	88.5%	★★★★☆
2013	81.2	233 of 1563	85.1%	★★★★☆
2012	91.3	67 of 1566	95.7%	★★★★★
2011	85.4	37 of 1552	97.6%	★★★★★
2010	84.2	19 of 1552	98.8%	★★★★★
2009	83.8	103 of 1589	93.5%	★★★★★
2008	83.6	104 of 1577	93.4%	★★★★★
2007	81.2	167 of 1565	89.3%	★★★★☆
2006	80.1	179 of 1545	88.4%	★★★★☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Michigan percentile	Rating
2026	97.6	13 of 1343	99.0%	★★★★★
2025	98.5	4 of 1338	99.7%	★★★★★
2024	96.9	13 of 1342	99.0%	★★★★★
2023	94.7	30 of 1321	97.7%	★★★★★
2022	88.4	84 of 1106	92.4%	★★★★★
2021	83.7	86 of 902	90.5%	★★★★★
2019	70.1	296 of 1171	74.7%	★★★★☆
2018	79.9	251 of 1443	82.6%	★★★★☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Michigan percentile	Rating
2026	99.4	3 of 1352	99.8%	★★★★★
2024	78.2	180 of 1381	87.0%	★★★★☆
2018	94.5	20 of 1397	98.6%	★★★★★

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Michigan percentile	Rating
2026	94.7	42 of 1372	96.9%	★★★★★
2025	96.9	22 of 1366	98.4%	★★★★★
2024	81.4	196 of 1347	85.4%	★★★★☆
2023	89.6	81 of 1334	93.9%	★★★★★
2022	90.1	74 of 1139	93.5%	★★★★★
2021	93.6	24 of 915	97.4%	★★★★★
2019	84.5	121 of 1196	89.9%	★★★★☆
2018	87.6	130 of 1446	91.0%	★★★★★

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Michigan percentile	Rating
2026	96.2	17 of 1199	98.6%	★★★★★
2025	97.2	10 of 1206	99.2%	★★★★★
2024	91.7	58 of 1204	95.2%	★★★★★
2023	92.2	50 of 1198	95.8%	★★★★★
2022	87.5	87 of 1102	92.1%	★★★★★
2021	90.6	48 of 1005	95.2%	★★★★★
2019	76.5	215 of 1128	80.9%	★★★★☆
2018	78.2	222 of 1253	82.3%	★★★★☆

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)100th percentile~ school

Female (2026)99th percentile~ school

White (2026)99th percentile~ school

Male (2026)97th percentile~ school

By subject vs Michigan (2025-2026) ?

Math81%+40 vs state

English Language Arts76%+36 vs state

★

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Schools Near Kettle 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/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	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
Kettle Lake Elementary School	Public	K-4	8451 Garbow Dr SE	Alto	49302	Kent County	Caledonia Community Schools	No	No	No	No	(616) 868-6113	349	18	19.1	12.0%	308 (88.3%)	1 (0.3%)	14 (4.0%)	5 (1.4%)	2 (0.6%)	0 (0.0%)	19 (5.4%)	97	26^th of 1492 public elementary schools	98.3%		98.1	13^th of 1488 public elementary schools	99.1%	13	76.5	75.3		73.5	87.0				$14,193	$183	$14,011
Emmons Lake Elementary School	Public	K-4	8950 Kraft Ave SE	Caledonia	49316	Kent County	Caledonia Community Schools	No	No	No	No	(616) 528-8100	377	23	16.0	19.4%	299 (79.3%)	8 (2.1%)	17 (4.5%)	21 (5.6%)	3 (0.8%)	0 (0.0%)	29 (7.7%)	94.6	56^th of 1492 public elementary schools	96.2%		96.2	37^th of 1488 public elementary schools	97.5%	19	66.7	69.4		75.0	75.3				$16,453	$338	$16,115
Alto Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	6150 Bancroft Ave SE	Alto	49302	Kent County	Lowell Area Schools	No	No	No	No	(616) 987-2600	417	25	16.6	15.6%	378 (90.6%)	0 (0.0%)	19 (4.6%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	19 (4.6%)	87.1	175^th of 1492 public elementary schools	88.3%		92.3	86^th of 1488 public elementary schools	94.2%	89	54.3	65.3	53.0	72.9	76.0	51.5	60.6	48.5	$14,076	$975	$13,101
Caledonia Elementary School	Public	K-4	9770 Duncan Lake Ave SE	Caledonia	49316	Kent County	Caledonia Community Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(616) 891-8181	378	21	18.1	20.4%	312 (82.5%)	8 (2.1%)	26 (6.9%)	8 (2.1%)	1 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	23 (6.1%)	94.5	58^th of 1492 public elementary schools	96.1%		95.9	43^rd of 1488 public elementary schools	97.1%	15	71.2	61.5		86.5	80.0				$14,893	$511	$14,382
Pine Ridge Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-4	3250 Redford Dr SE	Grand Rapids	49546	Kent County	Forest Hills Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(616) 493-8910	472	27	17.7	8.3%	404 (85.6%)	11 (2.3%)	18 (3.8%)	12 (2.5%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	27 (5.7%)	97.1	23^rd of 1492 public elementary schools	98.5%		94.6	57^th of 1488 public elementary schools	96.2%	34	73.3	75.9		82.4	76.9				$14,232	$751	$13,481
Dutton Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-4	7700 Patterson Ave SE	Caledonia	49316	Kent County	Caledonia Community Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(616) 698-8982	317	20	16.0	28.4%	222 (70.0%)	13 (4.1%)	42 (13.2%)	12 (3.8%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	28 (8.8%)	96.8	32^nd of 1492 public elementary schools	97.9%		95.2	51^st of 1488 public elementary schools	96.6%	19	84.5	67.3		87.9	75.5				$16,495	$519	$15,976
Endeavor Elementary	Public	K-5	5757 East Paris Ave SE	Grand Rapids	49512	Kent County	Kentwood Public Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(616) 554-5241	553	32	17.1	68.7%	125 (22.6%)	198 (35.8%)	76 (13.7%)	109 (19.7%)	1 (0.2%)	1 (0.2%)	43 (7.8%)	62.7	521^st of 1492 public elementary schools	65.1%		47.8	755^th of 1488 public elementary schools	49.3%	234	37.2	56.8	52.2	40.5	42.7	41.8	43.3	40.3	$15,573	$2,290	$13,283
Thornapple Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-4	6932 Bridgewater Dr SE	Grand Rapids	49546	Kent County	Forest Hills Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(616) 493-8920	361	22	16.4	14.7%	279 (77.3%)	5 (1.4%)	20 (5.5%)	29 (8.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	28 (7.8%)	95.3	46^th of 1492 public elementary schools	96.9%		93.1	77^th of 1488 public elementary schools	94.8%	31	64.1	76.9		75.6	76.9				$14,933	$1,127	$13,806
Discovery Elementary	Public	K-5	2461 60th St SE	Grand Rapids	49508	Kent County	Kentwood Public Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(616) 871-1080	674	37	18.3	72.0%	166 (24.6%)	231 (34.3%)	109 (16.2%)	107 (15.9%)	1 (0.1%)	0 (0.0%)	60 (8.9%)	45.3	772^nd of 1492 public elementary schools	48.3%		49.5	728^th of 1488 public elementary schools	51.1%	44	45.2	41.6	39.5	38.7	40.3	24.0	26.7	26.7	$17,266	$3,839	$13,427
Explorer Elementary	Public	K-5	2307 68th St SE	Caledonia	49316	Kent County	Kentwood Public Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(616) 554-0302	556	34	16.5	55.8%	188 (33.8%)	151 (27.2%)	78 (14.0%)	68 (12.2%)	3 (0.5%)	0 (0.0%)	68 (12.2%)	81.1	252^nd of 1492 public elementary schools	83.1%		82.1	242^nd of 1488 public elementary schools	83.7%	10	48.3	60.9	63.3	52.8	63.0	48.0	51.0	52.0	$16,412	$1,713	$14,699

Frequently Asked Questions about Kettle Lake Elementary School

What is the racial makeup of Kettle Lake Elementary School?

Students at Kettle Lake Elementary School are 88% White, 5% Two or more races, 4% Hispanic, 1% Asian.

What district is Kettle Lake Elementary School in?

Caledonia Community Schools

How many students attend Kettle Lake Elementary School?

In the 2024-25 school year, 349 students attended Kettle Lake Elementary School.

Is Kettle Lake Elementary School a good school?

Yes! Kettle Lake Elementary School is one of the best elementary schools in the state. It ranks 26^th of 1492 Michigan elementary schools.

What schools do graduates of Kettle Lake Elementary School attend?

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

Middle : Duncan Lake Middle School
Middle : Kraft Meadows Intermediate School
High : Caledonia High School

Rate Kettle Lake Elementary 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.