Beta You're viewing our redesigned school page. Prefer the classic layout?

Spitler Elementary School

Q: Is Spitler Elementary School a good school?

Spitler Elementary School ranks 990 th of 1492 Michigan elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

Public Grades K-4

990^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 1,492 Michigan Elementary Schools

Better than 34% of Michigan elementary schools

Summary

Spitler Elementary School in Hart, MI, serves 389 students in Kindergarten through 4th grade within the Hart Public School District, a rural district in western Michigan where over 80% of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch.

Spitler is showing real momentum. After several years of lower state ratings, the school recently improved from a 1-star to a 2-star rating, and its statewide percentile rank jumped from the 18th to the 34th percentile between 2023-24 and 2025-26. That upward trend stands out when compared to nearby schools like Shelby Elementary School (11th percentile) and Mason County Central Upper Elementary (13th percentile), which have remained in the bottom 15% statewide. Spitler's 4th-grade English Language Arts proficiency rate of 32.2% also outpaces several neighbors, including Patricia St Clair Elementary School (8.8%) and Shelby Elementary School (14.8%). The school also maintains a notably low student-teacher ratio of 11.2, compared to 15.8 at Ludington Elementary School and 19.0 at Patricia St Clair, suggesting smaller class sizes and more individualized attention.

One of the most encouraging findings is how well Spitler supports its low-income students. In 2025-26, this subgroup ranked in the 41st percentile statewide—significantly better than the school's overall performance—earning a 2-star rating. However, chronic absenteeism remains a hurdle at 25.1%, much higher than at higher-performing schools like Ludington Elementary School (13.4%) and Oehrli Elementary School (17.3%). Spitler also invests heavily in its students, spending $17,237 per pupil—more than Ludington ($15,541) and Mason County Central Upper Elementary ($12,905)—yet outcomes still trail those schools, suggesting that resources alone aren't enough and that attendance and targeted support will be key to sustaining the school's positive trajectory.

389

Students ?

11.2

Student/teacher ratio ?

$17,237

Per pupil spending ?

80.5%

Free/discounted lunch ?

302 Johnson St W
Hart, MI 49420-1059

(231) 873-6340

District: Hart Public School District

Students who attend Spitler Elementary School usually attend:

Middle:	Hart Middle School
High:	Hart High School

Racial breakdown:

White:

61.7%

Hispanic:

36.0%

Two or more races:

1.5%

See top rated Michigan elementary schools

Compare Spitler Elementary School to nearby elementary schools!

At a glance

▲ Ranking trend: Improving — 26th percentile in 2016 → 34th in 2026

Strengths

✓Ranking is trending up — up 8 percentile points since 2016

✓Small classes — about 11 students per teacher

Worth a look

!Test scores below the Michigan average (30% vs 40% meeting standards)

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

!Math scores 10 pts below the Michigan average

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school30%

District avg30%

Michigan avg40%

990^th of 1,492

Michigan public elementary schools ?

Bottom 34%▲ up 8 pts since 2016

From bottom 26% (2016) to bottom 34% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of Michigan Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

325^th of 625Hart Public 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	30.9	990 of 1492	33.6%	★★☆☆☆
2025	29.3	1024 of 1488	31.2%	★★☆☆☆
2024	17.3	1217 of 1486	18.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	18.0	1193 of 1470	18.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	19.9	1079 of 1344	19.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	14.8	1021 of 1153	11.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	25.8	1043 of 1408	25.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	27.4	1112 of 1448	23.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2017	18.1	1193 of 1466	18.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2016	27.0	1153 of 1548	25.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2015	34.2	1094 of 1580	30.8%	★★☆☆☆
2014	41.1	996 of 1533	35.0%	★★☆☆☆
2013	46.9	901 of 1563	42.4%	★★☆☆☆
2012	36.3	1117 of 1566	28.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2011	45.3	1093 of 1552	29.6%	★☆☆☆☆

English Language Learner

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Michigan percentile	Rating
2018	19.2	256 of 270	5.2%	☆☆☆☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Michigan percentile	Rating
2026	26.7	960 of 1343	28.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	18.3	1108 of 1338	17.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	11.9	1211 of 1342	9.8%	☆☆☆☆☆
2023	19.2	1076 of 1321	18.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	11.4	1028 of 1106	7.1%	☆☆☆☆☆
2021	5.3	892 of 902	1.1%	☆☆☆☆☆
2019	31.5	831 of 1171	29.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	23.1	1144 of 1443	20.7%	★☆☆☆☆

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Michigan percentile	Rating
2026	15.2	207 of 225	8.0%	☆☆☆☆☆
2025	16.5	190 of 209	9.1%	☆☆☆☆☆
2024	12.5	191 of 201	5.0%	☆☆☆☆☆
2019	14.7	80 of 86	7.0%	☆☆☆☆☆
2018	23.3	193 of 222	13.1%	★☆☆☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Michigan percentile	Rating
2026	39.9	794 of 1352	41.3%	★★☆☆☆
2025	40.0	794 of 1346	41.0%	★★☆☆☆
2024	16.8	1199 of 1381	13.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	14.1	1197 of 1350	11.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	26.8	846 of 1099	23.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	19.6	667 of 749	10.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	36.3	763 of 1134	32.7%	★★☆☆☆
2018	28.4	1081 of 1397	22.6%	★☆☆☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Michigan percentile	Rating
2026	27.5	973 of 1372	29.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	30.6	939 of 1366	31.3%	★★☆☆☆
2024	15.0	1170 of 1347	13.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	11.1	1205 of 1334	9.7%	☆☆☆☆☆
2022	17.9	963 of 1139	15.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	16.5	807 of 915	11.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	16.2	1034 of 1196	13.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	30.7	1040 of 1446	28.1%	★☆☆☆☆

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Michigan percentile	Rating
2018	16.2	391 of 403	3.0%	☆☆☆☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Michigan percentile	Rating
2026	30.5	854 of 1199	28.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	30.2	874 of 1206	27.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	10.7	1126 of 1204	6.5%	☆☆☆☆☆
2023	15.4	1064 of 1198	11.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	16.1	973 of 1102	11.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	13.8	930 of 1005	7.5%	☆☆☆☆☆
2019	39.2	695 of 1128	38.4%	★★☆☆☆
2018	29.6	941 of 1253	24.9%	★☆☆☆☆

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)41st percentile+8 vs school

Male (2026)29th percentile-5 vs school

White (2026)29th percentile-5 vs school

Female (2026)29th percentile-5 vs school

Hispanic (2026)8th percentile-26 vs school

English Language Learner (2018)5th percentile-18 vs school

Special Education (2018)3rd percentile-20 vs school

By subject vs Michigan (2025-2026) ?

Math31%-10 vs state

English Language Arts30%-10 vs state

★

No ratings yet

Be the first to rate Spitler Elementary School and help other families decide.

Rate Spitler Elementary School

Have first-hand experience? A quick rating - and a sentence or two about what stands out (teachers, academics, safety, communication) - helps other families know what to expect.

Takes about a minute. We email you a link to verify your review - your address is never shown publicly.

Tap a star to rate

Reviews

No written reviews yet. If you know this school, be the first to share what stands out.

Schools Near Spitler Elementary School

Load more schools when map is moved

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
Spitler Elementary School	Public	K-4	302 Johnson St W	Hart	49420	Oceana County	Hart Public School District	No	No	No	Yes	(231) 873-6340	389	35	11.2	80.5%	240 (61.7%)	0 (0.0%)	140 (36.0%)	2 (0.5%)	1 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	6 (1.5%)	30.9	990^th of 1492 public elementary schools	33.6%		29.3	1024^th of 1488 public elementary schools	31.2%	34	26.9	32.2			31.3	30.7					$17,237	$2,310	$14,927
Shelby Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	1285 S Oceana Dr	Shelby	49455	Oceana County	Shelby Public Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(231) 861-5541	433	32	13.7	78.1%	221 (51.0%)	5 (1.2%)	186 (43.0%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (0.5%)	0 (0.0%)	19 (4.4%)	12	1331^st of 1492 public elementary schools	10.8%		14.3	1274^th of 1488 public elementary schools	14.4%	57	22.4	14.8	18.4		21.1	14.8	11.8		14.5	7.9	$18,422	$3,742	$14,680
Walkerville Elementary	Public	PK, KG-2	170 E North St	Walkerville	49459	Oceana County	Walkerville Public Schools	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(231) 873-4850	50	6	7.7	80.0%	34 (68.0%)	1 (2.0%)	11 (22.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	4 (8.0%)								(n/a)											$18,096	$4,958	$13,139
Mason County Central Upper Elementary	Public	3-5	505 W Maple Ave	Scottville	49454	Mason County	Mason County Central Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(231) 757-5720	258	15	16.8	60.1%	236 (91.5%)	4 (1.6%)	14 (5.4%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.4%)	0 (0.0%)	3 (1.2%)	14.3	1292^nd of 1492 public elementary schools	13.4%		13.7	1284^th of 1488 public elementary schools	13.7%	8	17.6	20.2	22.7		25.0	12.8	6.8		23.9	12.5	$12,905	$1,223	$11,682
Scottville Elementary School	Public	K-2	201 W Maple Ave	Scottville	49454	Mason County	Mason County Central Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(231) 757-4701	211	12	18.0	71.1%	199 (94.3%)	1 (0.5%)	7 (3.3%)	0 (0.0%)	3 (1.4%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.5%)								(n/a)											$14,645	$1,596	$13,050
Ludington Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	5771 W Bryant Rd	Ludington	49431	Mason County	Ludington Area School District	No	No	No	Yes	(231) 845-3820	911	57	15.8	53.2%	723 (79.4%)	12 (1.3%)	100 (11.0%)	2 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	74 (8.1%)	50.8	684^th of 1492 public elementary schools	54.2%		59.5	567^th of 1488 public elementary schools	61.9%	117	36.3	39.5	41.3		44.4	30.6	35.0		41.3	36.4	$15,541	$1,185	$14,357
Montague Area Childhood Center	Public	PK-K	9151 Dicey St	Montague	49437	Muskegon County	Montague Area Public Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(231) 894-9018	85	7	11.8	49.4%	73 (85.9%)	2 (2.4%)	7 (8.2%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	3 (3.5%)								(n/a)											$20,431	$2,708	$17,723
Patricia St Clair Elementary School	Public	K-5	96 S Division St	Hesperia	49421	Oceana County	Hesperia Community Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(231) 854-6615	354	19	19.0	70.6%	311 (87.9%)	3 (0.8%)	23 (6.5%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (0.6%)	0 (0.0%)	15 (4.2%)	16.8	1242^nd of 1492 public elementary schools	16.8%		22.6	1117^th of 1488 public elementary schools	24.9%	125	18.0	8.8	28.1		21.3	16.4	9.2		32.3	13.8	$18,197	$2,337	$15,861
Mason County Eastern Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-6	18 S Main St	Custer	49405	Mason County	Mason County Eastern Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(231) 757-3733	181	12	15.5	86.7%	169 (93.4%)	2 (1.1%)	4 (2.2%)	1 (0.6%)	4 (2.2%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.6%)	17.2	1234^th of 1492 public elementary schools	17.3%		18.8	1183^rd of 1488 public elementary schools	20.5%	51	14.3	17.2	26.1	1579.7	38.1	17.2	1468.5	1569.8	15.8	13.6	$16,315	$3,890	$12,425
Oehrli Elementary School	Public	1-5	4859 Knudsen St	Montague	49437	Muskegon County	Montague Area Public Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(231) 894-9018	436	30	14.6	45.4%	380 (87.2%)	0 (0.0%)	44 (10.1%)	2 (0.5%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	9 (2.1%)	31.2	984^th of 1492 public elementary schools	34.0%		40.9	851^st of 1488 public elementary schools	42.8%	133	35.0	29.1	20.0		36.3	44.2	17.6		29.4	15.3	$15,893	$1,510	$14,382

Frequently Asked Questions about Spitler Elementary School

What district is Spitler Elementary School in?

Hart Public School District

How many students attend Spitler Elementary School?

In the 2024-25 school year, 389 students attended Spitler Elementary School.

What schools do graduates of Spitler Elementary School attend?

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

Middle : Hart Middle School
High : Hart High School

Is Spitler Elementary School a good school?

Spitler Elementary School ranks 990^th of 1492 Michigan elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

What is the racial makeup of Spitler Elementary School?

Students at Spitler Elementary School are 62% White, 36% Hispanic, 2% Two or more races.

Rate Spitler Elementary School!

Other helpful SchoolDigger resources...

Compare to nearby schools

MIMichigan Elementary School Rankings

MIMichigan District Rankings

Schools in Hart, MI

Sign up for updates!

Be the first to know when there is an update for Spitler Elementary School!

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.