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Rapid City Elementary School

Q: Is Rapid City Elementary School a good school?

Rapid City Elementary School ranks 828 th of 1492 Michigan elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

Public Grades PK, KG-5

828^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 1,492 Michigan Elementary Schools

Better than 45% of Michigan elementary schools

Summary

Rapid City Elementary School is a small, rural school in Rapid City, MI, serving 70 students in grades PK through 5 as part of the Kalkaska Public Schools district.

This school stands out for its remarkable progress and its strong support for students from economically disadvantaged backgrounds. Over the past several years, the school's overall state ranking has climbed dramatically, from the 13th percentile in 2017-2018 to the 45th percentile in 2025-2026. Even more impressive, its low-income students—who make up 77% of the student body—now perform in the 73rd percentile statewide, a huge jump from the 22nd percentile just a few years ago. This means the school is particularly effective at helping its most vulnerable learners succeed. The school also invests heavily in its students, spending $20,524 per pupil, which is significantly more than nearby schools like Eastern Elementary School ($14,502) or Lakeland Elementary School ($15,311). With a low student-teacher ratio of 11.6, children receive more individualized attention than at many neighboring schools, including Kalkaska Elementary School (15.2) and Mancelona Elementary School.

Despite its high-poverty population, Rapid City Elementary achieves results comparable to its larger district counterpart, Kalkaska Elementary, which has a lower poverty rate. For example, in 5th grade, both schools posted identical proficiency rates in English Language Arts, Math, and Science. The school's main challenge is chronic absenteeism, which affects 22.9% of students—higher than at higher-performing schools like Eastern Elementary (10.8%) or Lakeland Elementary (17.0%). While this remains a barrier, the school's consistent improvement and its success with low-income students suggest that its significant investment in staffing and resources is paying off, making it a school that is steadily closing gaps and building momentum for the future.

Students ?

11.6

Student/teacher ratio ?

77.1%

Free/reduced lunch eligible (2024-25) ?

All students in Michigan receive free school meals.

87.5%

Kindergartners complete for all required vaccines (2025-26)

Exemptions: 12.5% (any vaccine)

5258 River Rd
Rapid City, MI 49676

(231) 331-6121

District: Kalkaska Public Schools

Students who attend Rapid City Elementary School usually attend:

Middle:	Kalkaska Middle School
High:	Kalkaska High School

Racial breakdown:

White:

91.4%

Two or more races:

4.3%

African American:

1.4%

See top rated Michigan elementary schools

Compare Rapid City Elementary School to nearby elementary schools!

At a glance

▲ Ranking trend: Improving — 36th percentile in 2012 → 45th in 2026

Strengths

✓Ranking is trending up — up 9 percentile points since 2012

✓Small classes — about 12 students per teacher

Worth a look

!Test scores below the Michigan average (32% vs 38% meeting standards)

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

!Math scores 11 pts below the Michigan average

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school32%

District avg37%

Michigan avg38%

828^th of 1,492

Michigan public elementary schools ?

Bottom 45%▲ up 14 pts since 2016

From bottom 31% (2016) to bottom 45% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of Michigan Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

2^nd of 2Elementary Schools in the Kalkaska Public Schools

339^th of 625Kalkaska 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	41.8	828 of 1492	44.5%	★★☆☆☆
2024	36.9	906 of 1486	39.0%	★★☆☆☆
2023	34.1	932 of 1470	36.6%	★★☆☆☆
2018	16.7	1264 of 1448	12.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2017	33.6	971 of 1466	33.8%	★★☆☆☆
2016	32.6	1070 of 1548	30.9%	★★☆☆☆
2015	23.3	1250 of 1580	20.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2014	46.6	891 of 1533	41.9%	★★☆☆☆
2013	47.8	886 of 1563	43.3%	★★☆☆☆
2012	42.7	1007 of 1566	35.7%	★★☆☆☆
2011	63.2	679 of 1552	56.3%	★★★☆☆
2010	83.1	55 of 1552	96.5%	★★★★★
2009	44.8	1144 of 1589	28.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2008	37.7	1242 of 1577	21.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2007	30.3	1315 of 1565	16.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2006	43.6	1111 of 1545	28.1%	★☆☆☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Michigan percentile	Rating
2024	29.4	961 of 1342	28.4%	★☆☆☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Michigan percentile	Rating
2024	64.7	367 of 1381	73.4%	★★★★☆
2023	40.9	785 of 1350	41.9%	★★☆☆☆
2018	27.8	1096 of 1397	21.5%	★☆☆☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Michigan percentile	Rating
2024	20.3	1017 of 1204	15.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	24.1	949 of 1198	20.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	7.9	1212 of 1253	3.3%	☆☆☆☆☆

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 (2024)73rd percentile+34 vs school

Female (2024)28th percentile-11 vs school

White (2024)16th percentile-23 vs school

By subject vs Michigan (2025-2026) ?

English Language Arts36%-5 vs state

Science36%-4 vs state

Math27%-11 vs state

Social Studies27%~ state avg

★

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Schools Near Rapid City 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 Vaccination Finance All

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2026)				Ranking (2025)				PSAT English Language Arts (2026)	PSAT Mathematics (2026)	M-Step English Language Arts (2026)					M-Step Math (2026)					M-Step Science (2026)		M-Step Social Studies (2026)		Vaccination (2025-26)		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	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	Vaccination: Kindergartners complete for all required vaccines	Vaccination: Exemption rate	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
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		87.5%	12.5%	$00	$00	$00
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
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		86%	14%	$15,311	$1,255	$14,056
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		87.5%	9.6%	$00	$00	$00
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		92%	4%	$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								81.4%	18.6%	$14,993	$1,567	$13,426
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		92%	0%	$12,285	$00	$12,285
Woodland School	Public, Charter	K-8	7224 Supply Rd	Traverse City	49686	Grand Traverse County	Woodland School	Yes	No	No	Yes	(231) 947-7474	209	13	15.9	22.0%	200 (95.7%)	0 (0.0%)	3 (1.4%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	6 (2.9%)	75.7	328^th of 1492 public elementary schools	78.0%		63.3	521^st of 1488 public elementary schools	65.0%	193	88.0	52.0	52.2	62.5	36.0	47.4	45.5	65.2	52.2	56.0	55.6	54.5	68.0	72.0	28.0	62.5	83.3%	16.7%	$10,511	$299	$10,212
Crawford School	Public	K-8	5521 M 72 E	Kalkaska	49646	Kalkaska County	Excelsior Township S/D #1	No	No	No	Yes	(231) 258-2934	46	3	15.3	54.3%	46 (100.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)								(n/a)							30.0					40.0							$14,127	$416	$13,712
Courtade Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	1111 Rasho Rd	Traverse City	49686	Grand Traverse County	Traverse City Area Public Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(231) 933-5800	215	15	14.2	28.8%	188 (87.4%)	9 (4.2%)	6 (2.8%)	5 (2.3%)	7 (3.3%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	80.2	259^th of 1492 public elementary schools	82.6%		75.6	328^th of 1488 public elementary schools	78.0%	69			70.8	50.0	59.0			69.6	37.5	61.5			61.5		35.9		93.5%	4.8%	$17,823	$1,206	$16,616

Frequently Asked Questions about Rapid City Elementary School

What schools do graduates of Rapid City Elementary School attend?

Students who attend Rapid City Elementary School usually go on to attend:

Middle : Kalkaska Middle School
High : Kalkaska High School

Is Rapid City Elementary School a good school?

Rapid City Elementary School ranks 828^th of 1492 Michigan elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

What district is Rapid City Elementary School in?

Kalkaska Public Schools

What is the racial makeup of Rapid City Elementary School?

Students at Rapid City Elementary School are 91% White, 4% Two or more races, 1% African American, 1% Hispanic, 1% American Indian.

How many students attend Rapid City Elementary School?

In the 2024-25 school year, 70 students attended Rapid City Elementary School.

Rate Rapid City Elementary School!

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Latest Michigan data All new data »

2021–22 through 2025–26 immunization rates (updated)NewOct 19, 2026

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

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.