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Murray Lake Elementary

Public Grades PK, KG-5

99^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 1,492 Michigan Elementary Schools

Better than 93% of Michigan elementary schools

Summary

Murray Lake Elementary in Lowell, MI, is a highly successful public school serving 433 students in grades PK through 5, and is part of the top-ranked Lowell Area Schools district.

Murray Lake stands out for its exceptional academic performance and its remarkable success with students from all backgrounds. The school has earned a 5-star rating for the past decade and consistently ranks in the 90th percentile or higher statewide. What truly sets it apart is its effectiveness with students from low-income households—Murray Lake ranks in the 99th percentile statewide for supporting these students, a phenomenal achievement that shows the school is closing achievement gaps and helping every child thrive. Within its own district, Murray Lake is the clear academic leader. For example, in 4th-grade math, 77% of Murray Lake students were proficient, compared to just 50.8% at Cherry Creek Elementary. The school also achieves these outstanding results while spending less per student ($14,109) than many nearby schools, including Cherry Creek ($18,011) and Bushnell Elementary ($16,177), demonstrating efficient use of resources.

Murray Lake's excellence is consistent across all subjects—students outperform state averages by wide margins in ELA, Math, Science, and Social Studies. For instance, 5th-grade Social Studies proficiency was 62.5%, more than double the state average of 27.5%. While chronic absenteeism (17.4%) is higher than at some nearby top schools like Crestwood Elementary or Thornapple Elementary (both under 8%), it hasn't impacted academic results. One area to watch is a slight dip in proficiency as students move from 3rd to 5th grade—for example, ELA proficiency drops from 69% to 58.3%—but even at its lowest point, Murray Lake remains far above state averages. For parents seeking a school that combines top-tier academics with a genuine commitment to supporting every student, Murray Lake is an outstanding choice.

433

Students ?

18.8

Student/teacher ratio ?

$14,109

Per pupil spending ?

13.9%

Free/discounted lunch ?

3275 Alden Nash Ave NE
Lowell, MI 49331-8581

(616) 987-2750

District: Lowell Area Schools

Students who attend Murray Lake Elementary usually attend:

Middle:	Lowell Middle School
High:	Lowell Senior High School

Racial breakdown:

White:

90.8%

Two or more races:

3.9%

Hispanic:

3.2%

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At a glance

▬ Ranking trend: Holding steady — 95th percentile in 2016 → 93rd in 2026

Strengths

✓Test scores above the Michigan average (66% vs 38% meeting standards)

✓Ranks in the top 7% of Michigan elementary schools

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school66%

District avg57%

Michigan avg38%

99^th of 1,492

Michigan public elementary schools ?

Top 7%▼ down 2 pts since 2016

See the entire ranking list of Michigan Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

1^st of 3Elementary Schools in the Lowell Area Schools

45^th of 625Lowell Area 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	92.3	99 of 1492	93.4%	★★★★★
2025	93.2	75 of 1488	95.0%	★★★★★
2024	91.6	86 of 1486	94.2%	★★★★★
2023	93.6	58 of 1470	96.1%	★★★★★
2022	88.8	113 of 1344	91.6%	★★★★★
2021	93.7	41 of 1153	96.4%	★★★★★
2019	85.5	146 of 1408	89.6%	★★★★☆
2018	87.5	143 of 1448	90.1%	★★★★★
2017	86.3	123 of 1466	91.6%	★★★★★
2016	92.5	74 of 1548	95.2%	★★★★★
2015	83.1	211 of 1580	86.6%	★★★★☆
2014	82.0	205 of 1533	86.6%	★★★★☆
2013	80.8	239 of 1563	84.7%	★★★★☆
2012	77.5	309 of 1566	80.3%	★★★★☆
2011	76.3	311 of 1552	80.0%	★★★★☆
2010	78.2	206 of 1552	86.7%	★★★★☆
2009	79.6	211 of 1589	86.7%	★★★★☆
2008	79.2	234 of 1577	85.2%	★★★★☆
2007	78.1	238 of 1565	84.8%	★★★★☆
2006	75.7	275 of 1545	82.2%	★★★★☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Michigan percentile	Rating
2026	86.7	124 of 1343	90.8%	★★★★★
2025	93.1	57 of 1338	95.7%	★★★★★
2024	88.7	93 of 1342	93.1%	★★★★★
2023	93.6	39 of 1321	97.0%	★★★★★
2022	82.6	130 of 1106	88.2%	★★★★☆
2021	91.5	33 of 902	96.3%	★★★★★
2019	82.9	131 of 1171	88.8%	★★★★☆
2018	84.1	173 of 1443	88.0%	★★★★☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Michigan percentile	Rating
2026	97.3	15 of 1352	98.9%	★★★★★
2024	83.7	117 of 1381	91.5%	★★★★★
2023	89.0	63 of 1350	95.3%	★★★★★
2019	71.1	219 of 1134	80.7%	★★★★☆
2018	82.8	137 of 1397	90.2%	★★★★★

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Michigan percentile	Rating
2026	91.4	87 of 1372	93.7%	★★★★★
2025	90.2	98 of 1366	92.8%	★★★★★
2024	90.6	82 of 1347	93.9%	★★★★★
2023	90.4	73 of 1334	94.5%	★★★★★
2022	86.7	103 of 1139	91.0%	★★★★★
2021	88.1	67 of 915	92.7%	★★★★★
2019	81.6	161 of 1196	86.5%	★★★★☆
2018	86.4	148 of 1446	89.8%	★★★★☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Michigan percentile	Rating
2026	87.4	120 of 1199	90.0%	★★★★★
2025	88.6	97 of 1206	92.0%	★★★★★
2024	86.5	113 of 1204	90.6%	★★★★★
2023	90.2	70 of 1198	94.2%	★★★★★
2022	86.0	106 of 1102	90.4%	★★★★★
2021	92.7	37 of 1005	96.3%	★★★★★
2019	79.8	172 of 1128	84.8%	★★★★☆
2018	81.6	173 of 1253	86.2%	★★★★☆

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)99th percentile+6 vs school

Male (2026)94th percentile~ school

Female (2026)91st percentile-3 vs school

White (2026)90th percentile-3 vs school

By subject vs Michigan (2025-2026) ?

Science72%+32 vs state

Math66%+28 vs state

English Language Arts66%+25 vs state

Social Studies62%+35 vs state

★

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Schools Near Murray Lake Elementary

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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 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
Murray Lake Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	3275 Alden Nash Ave NE	Lowell	49331	Kent County	Lowell Area Schools	No	No	No	No	(616) 987-2750	433	23	18.8	13.9%	393 (90.8%)	4 (0.9%)	14 (3.2%)	1 (0.2%)	3 (0.7%)	1 (0.2%)	17 (3.9%)	92.3	99^th of 1492 public elementary schools	93.4%		93.2	75^th of 1488 public elementary schools	95.0%	24	69.0	70.5	58.3	67.6	77.0	54.2	72.2	62.5	$14,109	$648	$13,461
Cannonsburg Elementary School	Public	K-5	4894 Sturgis Ave NE	Rockford	49341	Kent County	Rockford Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(616) 863-6344	262	15	17.0	16.8%	236 (90.1%)	0 (0.0%)	8 (3.1%)	1 (0.4%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	17 (6.5%)	96.7	33^rd of 1492 public elementary schools	97.8%		94.8	55^th of 1488 public elementary schools	96.3%	22	65.2	80.0	76.0	76.1	68.9	80.0	86.0	64.0	$15,614	$434	$15,180
Cherry Creek Elementary School	Public	2-5	12675 Foreman St	Lowell	49331	Kent County	Lowell Area Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(616) 987-2700	485	27	18.2	29.3%	416 (85.8%)	11 (2.3%)	26 (5.4%)	7 (1.4%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.2%)	24 (4.9%)	74.4	345^th of 1492 public elementary schools	76.9%		73.9	352^nd of 1488 public elementary schools	76.3%	7	58.1	47.7	51.7	53.2	50.8	40.8	60.8	41.7	$18,011	$1,187	$16,823
Bushnell Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-1	700 Elizabeth St	Lowell	49331	Kent County	Lowell Area Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(616) 987-2650	253	19	13.4	28.1%	218 (86.2%)	2 (0.8%)	12 (4.7%)	1 (0.4%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	20 (7.9%)								(n/a)									$16,177	$1,709	$14,469
Lakes Elementary School	Public	K-5	6849 Young Ave NE	Rockford	49341	Kent County	Rockford Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(616) 863-6340	409	22	18.4	18.6%	355 (86.8%)	4 (1.0%)	25 (6.1%)	3 (0.7%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	22 (5.4%)	93.3	79^th of 1492 public elementary schools	94.7%		86.1	188^th of 1488 public elementary schools	87.4%	109	68.6	56.8	78.9	75.7	71.6	67.6	69.0	52.1	$14,640	$419	$14,221
Ada Vista Elementary School	Public, Magnet	K-4	7192 Bradfield Ave SE	Ada	49301	Kent County	Forest Hills Public Schools	No	Yes	No	No	(616) 493-8970	446	25	17.6	7.0%	315 (70.6%)	7 (1.6%)	76 (17.0%)	8 (1.8%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	40 (9.0%)	93.6	74^th of 1492 public elementary schools	95.0%		90.9	107^th of 1488 public elementary schools	92.8%	33	63.9	72.7		71.1	71.7				$13,581	$590	$12,992
Ada Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-4	731 Ada Dr SE	Ada	49301	Kent County	Forest Hills Public Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(616) 493-8940	293	25	11.9	10.9%	233 (79.5%)	4 (1.4%)	14 (4.8%)	27 (9.2%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	15 (5.1%)	97	25^th of 1492 public elementary schools	98.3%		96.8	28^th of 1488 public elementary schools	98.1%	3	73.2	81.2		81.7	72.5				$19,522	$844	$18,678
Woodview Elementary School	Public	3-5	450 Orchard St	Belding	48809	Ionia County	Belding Area School District	No	No	No	Yes	(616) 794-4750	372	27	13.7	67.2%	316 (84.9%)	1 (0.3%)	42 (11.3%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	13 (3.5%)	36.1	915^th of 1492 public elementary schools	38.7%		39.8	865^th of 1488 public elementary schools	41.9%	50	20.8	25.4	36.4	31.5	33.3	39.0	35.6	25.4	$16,721	$3,231	$13,490
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
Ellis Elementary School	Public	K-2	100 W Ellis Ave	Belding	48809	Ionia County	Belding Area School District	No	No	No	Yes	(616) 794-4100	391	29	13.4	63.2%	326 (83.4%)	1 (0.3%)	43 (11.0%)	2 (0.5%)	1 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	18 (4.6%)								(n/a)									$16,019	$1,544	$14,475

Frequently Asked Questions about Murray Lake Elementary

How many students attend Murray Lake Elementary?

In the 2024-25 school year, 433 students attended Murray Lake Elementary.

Is Murray Lake Elementary a good school?

Yes. Murray Lake Elementary ranks in the top 6.6% of Michigan elementary schools.

What is the racial makeup of Murray Lake Elementary?

Students at Murray Lake Elementary are 91% White, 4% Two or more races, 3% Hispanic.

What schools do graduates of Murray Lake Elementary attend?

Students who attend Murray Lake Elementary usually go on to attend:

Middle : Lowell Middle School
High : Lowell Senior High School

What district is Murray Lake Elementary in?

Lowell Area 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.