Bennett Woods Elementary School

Bennett Woods Elementary School in Okemos, MI, is a highly regarded public school serving 476 students in grades PK through 4 within the top-tier Okemos Public Schools district.

Bennett Woods consistently ranks among the top elementary schools in Michigan, currently placing in the 88th percentile statewide. The school shows particular strength in serving its male students, who rank in the 91st percentile—notably higher than the school's overall ranking. It also demonstrates exceptional results in 4th-grade English Language Arts, with 62.2% of students proficient compared to just 41.3% statewide. Perhaps most impressive is the school's dramatic progress with students from low-socioeconomic backgrounds: their ranking has soared from the 28th percentile to the 71st percentile in just two years, indicating successful efforts to close achievement gaps. Chronic absenteeism is remarkably low at 11.4%, far better than the state average of 27.9% and showing steady improvement from 27.1% just a few years ago. The school also operates efficiently, spending $15,821 per student—less than many nearby schools while achieving stronger results.

Families comparing schools in the area will notice that Okemos Public MontessoriCentral, located just over a mile away, posts even higher test scores across all subjects, ranking in the 99th percentile. However, Bennett Woods remains a standout choice, particularly when compared to schools in neighboring districts like East Lansing School District and Lansing Public School District, where schools such as Donley Elementary School and Forest View School serve much higher proportions of economically disadvantaged students and post significantly lower test scores. One area worth watching is 3rd-grade ELA, where proficiency dipped slightly below the district average this year—a potential early indicator the school may need to address to maintain its strong trajectory toward those excellent 4th-grade results.