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Southwest Elementary School

Q: Is Southwest Elementary School a good school?

Southwest Elementary School ranks 397 th of 1488 Michigan elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

Public Grades K-5

397^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 1,488 Michigan Elementary Schools

Better than 73% of Michigan elementary schools

Summary

Southwest Elementary School is a public elementary school located in Howell, Michigan, serving 545 students in grades K-5. The school is part of the Howell Public Schools district, which is ranked 215 out of 613 districts in the state.

Southwest Elementary consistently performs above the Howell district and the state of Michigan in standardized test scores, particularly in English Language Arts and Math. For example, in the 2024-2025 school year, 49.5% of 3rd graders, 49.4% of 4th graders, and 57.3% of 5th graders were proficient or better in ELA, compared to 42.3%, 43.1%, and 51.3% for the Howell district, and 38.9%, 42.4%, and 44.4% for the state. The school also stands out in its performance for Hispanic students, who rank 17th out of 209 Michigan elementary schools. However, the school has experienced fluctuations in chronic absenteeism rates, ranging from 20.5% to 30.8% over the past few years.

When compared to other elementary schools in the Howell district, Southwest Elementary generally outperforms its peers in academic achievement. For example, in the 2024-2025 school year, Southwest's 3rd grade ELA proficiency rate of 49.5% was significantly higher than the 40.2% at Three Fires Elementary and the 38.5% at Challenger Elementary. However, the nearby Charyl Stockwell Academy, a public charter school, consistently outperforms Southwest in academic achievement, particularly in ELA.

526

Students ?

15.8

Student/teacher ratio ?

$14,892

Per pupil spending ?

38.2%

Free/discounted lunch ?

915 Gay St
Howell, MI 48843-2064

(517) 548-6288

District: Howell Public Schools

Students who attend Southwest Elementary School usually attend:

Elementary:	Parker Middle School
High:	Howell High School

Racial breakdown:

White:

80.6%

Hispanic:

11.6%

Two or more races:

3.6%

See top rated Michigan elementary schools

Compare Southwest Elementary School to nearby elementary schools!

At a glance

▲ Ranking trend: Rebounding — 67th percentile in 2022 → 73rd in 2025

Strengths

✓Test scores above the Michigan average (50% vs 39% meeting standards)

✓Ranking is rebounding — up to 73rd (2025) from a 67th-percentile low (2022)

✓Above the Michigan median (73rd percentile)

Worth a look

!High chronic absenteeism (44% vs 28% Michigan)

Students meeting standards (2024-2025) ?

This school50%

District avg45%

Michigan avg39%

397^th of 1,488

Michigan public elementary schools ?

Top 27%▼ down 8 pts since 2015

From top 19% (2015) to top 27% (2025)

See the entire ranking list of Michigan Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

3^rd of 7Elementary Schools in the Howell Public Schools

215^th of 613Howell 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
2025	71.4	397 of 1488	73.3%	★★★★☆
2024	67.3	452 of 1486	69.6%	★★★☆☆
2023	72.0	366 of 1470	75.1%	★★★★☆
2022	62.6	448 of 1344	66.7%	★★★☆☆
2021	63.3	348 of 1153	69.8%	★★★★☆
2019	64.4	454 of 1408	67.8%	★★★☆☆
2018	68.5	466 of 1448	67.8%	★★★☆☆
2017	74.5	287 of 1466	80.4%	★★★★☆
2016	72.8	368 of 1548	76.2%	★★★★☆
2015	78.2	302 of 1580	80.9%	★★★★☆
2014	83.3	182 of 1533	88.1%	★★★★☆
2013	73.9	363 of 1563	76.8%	★★★★☆
2012	69.7	446 of 1566	71.5%	★★★★☆
2011	71.3	454 of 1552	70.7%	★★★★☆
2010	69.1	556 of 1552	64.2%	★★★☆☆
2009	73.4	393 of 1589	75.3%	★★★★☆
2008	77.8	270 of 1577	82.9%	★★★★☆
2007	75.7	293 of 1565	81.3%	★★★★☆
2006	78.2	219 of 1545	85.8%	★★★★☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Michigan percentile	Rating
2025	61.2	455 of 1338	66.0%	★★★☆☆
2024	60.5	460 of 1342	65.7%	★★★☆☆
2023	65.8	369 of 1321	72.1%	★★★★☆
2022	50.4	523 of 1106	52.7%	★★★☆☆
2021	55.4	351 of 902	61.1%	★★★☆☆
2019	61.7	409 of 1171	65.1%	★★★☆☆
2018	71.4	398 of 1443	72.4%	★★★★☆

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Michigan percentile	Rating
2025	84.0	17 of 209	91.9%	★★★★★
2023	76.6	26 of 188	86.2%	★★★★☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Michigan percentile	Rating
2025	66.2	364 of 1346	73.0%	★★★★☆
2024	64.9	365 of 1381	73.6%	★★★★☆
2023	66.2	341 of 1350	74.7%	★★★★☆
2022	68.7	249 of 1099	77.3%	★★★★☆
2021	56.9	270 of 749	64.0%	★★★☆☆
2019	44.8	631 of 1134	44.4%	★★☆☆☆
2018	62.0	466 of 1397	66.6%	★★★☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Michigan percentile	Rating
2025	73.4	324 of 1366	76.3%	★★★★☆
2024	64.9	427 of 1347	68.3%	★★★☆☆
2023	68.2	374 of 1334	72.0%	★★★★☆
2022	60.8	394 of 1139	65.4%	★★★☆☆
2021	56.6	355 of 915	61.2%	★★★☆☆
2019	56.1	491 of 1196	58.9%	★★★☆☆
2018	61.9	542 of 1446	62.5%	★★★☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Michigan percentile	Rating
2025	64.7	398 of 1206	67.0%	★★★☆☆
2024	62.1	415 of 1204	65.5%	★★★☆☆
2023	66.6	353 of 1198	70.5%	★★★★☆
2022	61.3	394 of 1102	64.2%	★★★☆☆
2021	63.6	315 of 1005	68.7%	★★★☆☆
2019	59.4	433 of 1128	61.6%	★★★☆☆
2018	62.2	451 of 1253	64.0%	★★★☆☆

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 (2025)92nd percentile+19 vs school

Male (2025)76th percentile+3 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2025)73rd percentile~ school

White (2025)67th percentile-6 vs school

Female (2025)66th percentile-7 vs school

By subject vs Michigan (2024-2025) ?

Math52%+14 vs state

English Language Arts52%+10 vs state

Science48%+8 vs state

Social Studies37%+8 vs state

★

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Schools Near Southwest Elementary School

Choose columns to see: Summary School Students/Teachers Ranking Test Scores Finance All

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2025)				Ranking (2024)				PSAT English Language Arts (2025)	PSAT Mathematics (2025)	M-Step English Language Arts (2025)					M-Step Math (2025)					M-Step Science (2025)		M-Step Social Studies (2025)		Per Pupil Expenditures (2024)
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	White	Black	Hispanic	Asian	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Average Standard Score (2025)	Statewide Rank (2025)	State Percentile (2025)	SchoolDigger Rating (2025)	Average Standard Score (2024)	Statewide Rank (2024)	State Percentile (2024)	Rank Change from Previous Year	PSAT English Language Arts 8th Grade	PSAT Mathematics 8th Grade	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 English Language Arts 7th Grade	M-Step Math 3rd Grade	M-Step Math 4th Grade	M-Step Math 5th Grade	M-Step Math 6th Grade	M-Step Math 7th Grade	M-Step Science 5th Grade	M-Step Science 8th Grade	M-Step Social Studies 5th Grade	M-Step Social Studies 8th Grade	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
Southwest Elementary School	Public	K-5	915 Gay St	Howell	48843	Livingston County	Howell Public Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(517) 548-6288	526	33	15.8	38.2%	424 (80.6%)	2 (0.4%)	61 (11.6%)	4 (0.8%)	3 (0.6%)	13 (2.5%)	19 (3.6%)	71.4	397^th of 1488 public elementary schools	73.3%		67.3	452^nd of 1486 public elementary schools	69.6%	55			49.5	49.4	57.3			50.0	55.3	50.7			48.0		37.3		$14,892	$1,253	$13,639
Challenger Elementary School	Public	K-5	1066 W Grand River Ave	Howell	48843	Livingston County	Howell Public Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(517) 548-6375	465	33	14.3	29.0%	432 (92.9%)	1 (0.2%)	16 (3.4%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	16 (3.4%)	63.5	517^th of 1488 public elementary schools	65.3%		50.1	694^th of 1486 public elementary schools	53.3%	177			46.6	34.7	46.1			56.9	41.7	50.6			46.1		39.3		$15,348	$3,211	$12,136
Voyager Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	1450 Byron Rd	Howell	48843	Livingston County	Howell Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(517) 552-7500	517	29	17.7	24.4%	488 (94.4%)	0 (0.0%)	14 (2.7%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	14 (2.7%)	62.4	532^nd of 1488 public elementary schools	64.2%		64.1	497^th of 1486 public elementary schools	66.6%	35			38.5	43.9	62.4			47.8	50.0	50.5			45.7		24.5		$12,355	$644	$11,711
Northwest Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	1233 Bower St	Howell	48843	Livingston County	Howell Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(517) 548-6297	418	29	14.4	18.4%	394 (94.3%)	0 (0.0%)	16 (3.8%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	7 (1.7%)	52.2	683^rd of 1488 public elementary schools	54.1%		63.7	502^nd of 1486 public elementary schools	66.2%	181			31.8	42.4	42.0			59.1	47.0	37.7			39.1		23.2		$16,468	$698	$15,770
Parker Middle School	Public	K-8	400 Wright Rd	Howell	48843	Livingston County	Howell Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(517) 552-4600	1,011	46	21.9	21.4%	916 (90.6%)	4 (0.4%)	55 (5.4%)	5 (0.5%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (0.2%)	29 (2.9%)								(n/a)	76.6	39.3	28.6	50.0	26.1	36.5	39.3	44.4	44.4	22.7	29.8	34.6	13.6	54.4		48.3	$14,674	$713	$13,962
Ruahmah J Hutchings Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	3503 Bigelow Rd	Howell	48855	Livingston County	Howell Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(517) 234-6074	416	29	14.5	16.6%	377 (90.6%)	3 (0.7%)	13 (3.1%)	11 (2.6%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	12 (2.9%)	73.1	368^th of 1488 public elementary schools	75.3%		64.2	495^th of 1486 public elementary schools	66.7%	127			50.6	56.2	50.8			59.3	53.4	43.1			50.8		38.5		$15,835	$970	$14,865
Three Fires Elementary	Public	K-5	4125 Crooked Lake Rd	Howell	48843	Livingston County	Howell Public Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(517) 548-6387	753	46	16.4	33.6%	672 (89.2%)	1 (0.1%)	42 (5.6%)	4 (0.5%)	1 (0.1%)	0 (0.0%)	33 (4.4%)	54.9	648^th of 1488 public elementary schools	56.5%		42.7	805^th of 1486 public elementary schools	45.8%	157			40.2	33.6	53.5			48.6	30.9	38.4			50.0		34.7		$14,246	$1,082	$13,164
Natalie Kreeger Elementary School	Public	3-5	430 N Hibbard St	Fowlerville	48836	Livingston County	Fowlerville Community Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(517) 223-6006	539	31	17.2	33.8%	510 (94.6%)	3 (0.6%)	17 (3.2%)	4 (0.7%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	4 (0.7%)	56	631^st of 1488 public elementary schools	57.6%		49.3	708^th of 1486 public elementary schools	52.4%	77			42.7	37.7	47.3			51.0	31.5	41.0			40.4		40.4		$13,216	$944	$12,272
HT Smith Elementary School	Public	K-2	440 N Hibbard St	Fowlerville	48836	Livingston County	Fowlerville Community Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(517) 223-6005	494	30	16.3	37.4%	453 (91.7%)	5 (1.0%)	28 (5.7%)	3 (0.6%)	2 (0.4%)	1 (0.2%)	2 (0.4%)								(n/a)																	$14,254	$1,263	$12,991
Hornung Elementary School	Public	K-4	4680 Bauer Rd	Brighton	48116	Livingston County	Brighton Area Schools	No	No	No	No	(810) 299-4450	558	31	18.0	9.1%	525 (94.1%)	1 (0.2%)	15 (2.7%)	8 (1.4%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	9 (1.6%)	94.5	60^th of 1488 public elementary schools	96.0%		94.2	60^th of 1486 public elementary schools	96.0%				67.0	76.5				71.4	73.0								$13,589	$1,591	$11,998

Frequently Asked Questions about Southwest Elementary School

What is the racial makeup of Southwest Elementary School?

Students at Southwest Elementary School are 81% White, 12% Hispanic, 4% Two or more races, 2% Pacific Islander.

What schools do graduates of Southwest Elementary School attend?

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

Elementary : Parker Middle School
High : Howell High School

What district is Southwest Elementary School in?

Howell Public Schools

How many students attend Southwest Elementary School?

In the 2024-25 school year, 526 students attended Southwest Elementary School.

Is Southwest Elementary School a good school?

Southwest Elementary School ranks 397^th of 1488 Michigan elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

Rate Southwest Elementary School!

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Schools in Howell, MI

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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.