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Pennfield Dunlap Elementary

Q: Is Pennfield Dunlap Elementary a good school?

Pennfield Dunlap Elementary ranks 973 rd of 1488 Michigan elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

Public Grades 3-4

973^rd

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 1,488 Michigan Elementary Schools

Better than 35% of Michigan elementary schools

Summary

Pennfield Dunlap Elementary is a public elementary school serving grades 3-5 in Battle Creek, Michigan, with 420 students. While the school is part of the Pennfield Schools district, which is ranked 368 out of 613 districts in the state, Pennfield Dunlap Elementary consistently performs below the state average in academic assessments.

The school's academic performance has been stagnant, with its ranking among Michigan elementary schools remaining in the bottom third over the years. Pennfield Dunlap Elementary has a high percentage of students from low socioeconomic backgrounds, with 69.52% qualifying for free or reduced-price lunch in 2023-2024. Additionally, the school has consistently high chronic absenteeism rates, ranging from 29.4% to 31.4% over the past few years, which is significantly higher than the state average.

While the school's spending per student has increased over the years, its academic performance remains below par, suggesting that simply increasing funding may not be the sole solution to improving student outcomes. In comparison, the nearby Battle Creek Montessori Academy, a public charter school, outperforms Pennfield Dunlap Elementary in academic achievement, with higher proficiency rates in ELA and Math.

273

Students ?

16.0

Student/teacher ratio ?

$13,723

Per pupil spending ?

61.2%

Free/discounted lunch ?

8465 Pennfield Rd
Battle Creek, MI 49017-8113

(269) 961-9789

District: Pennfield Schools

Students who attend Pennfield Dunlap Elementary usually attend:

Middle:	Pennfield Middle School
High:	Pennfield Senior High School

Racial breakdown:

White:

76.2%

Two or more races:

11.4%

Hispanic:

5.9%

See top rated Michigan elementary schools

Compare Pennfield Dunlap Elementary to nearby elementary schools!

At a glance

▲ Ranking trend: Rebounding — 14th percentile in 2021 → 35th in 2025

Strengths

✓Ranking is rebounding — up to 35th (2025) from a 14th-percentile low (2021)

Worth a look

!Test scores below the Michigan average (32% vs 41% 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 (2024-2025) ?

This school32%

District avg32%

Michigan avg41%

973^rd of 1,488

Michigan public elementary schools ?

Bottom 35%▼ down 14 pts since 2015

From bottom 49% (2015) to bottom 35% (2025)

See the entire ranking list of Michigan Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

368^th of 613Pennfield 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	32.7	973 of 1488	34.6%	★★☆☆☆
2024	22.1	1141 of 1486	23.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	20.5	1139 of 1470	22.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	26.5	980 of 1344	27.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	16.8	993 of 1153	13.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	33.0	942 of 1408	33.1%	★★☆☆☆
2018	36.1	988 of 1448	31.8%	★★☆☆☆
2017	29.0	1036 of 1466	29.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2016	43.0	908 of 1548	41.3%	★★☆☆☆
2015	50.7	813 of 1580	48.5%	★★☆☆☆
2014	37.4	1056 of 1533	31.1%	★★☆☆☆
2013	40.6	1012 of 1563	35.3%	★★☆☆☆
2012	47.0	907 of 1566	42.1%	★★☆☆☆
2011	54.3	913 of 1552	41.2%	★★☆☆☆
2010	50.0	1061 of 1552	31.6%	★★☆☆☆
2009	51.6	1016 of 1589	36.1%	★★☆☆☆
2008	52.7	982 of 1577	37.7%	★★☆☆☆
2007	38.2	1220 of 1565	22.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2006	47.4	1038 of 1545	32.8%	★★☆☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Michigan percentile	Rating
2025	23.7	1016 of 1338	24.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	14.1	1181 of 1342	12.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	16.8	1117 of 1321	15.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	24.5	880 of 1106	20.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	11.2	858 of 902	4.9%	☆☆☆☆☆
2019	28.4	866 of 1171	26.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	35.9	960 of 1443	33.5%	★★☆☆☆

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Michigan percentile	Rating
2023	51.5	80 of 188	57.4%	★★★☆☆
2018	39.9	136 of 222	38.7%	★★☆☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Michigan percentile	Rating
2025	32.9	911 of 1346	32.3%	★★☆☆☆
2024	20.6	1142 of 1381	17.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	22.5	1079 of 1350	20.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	30.4	791 of 1099	28.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	16.6	682 of 749	8.9%	☆☆☆☆☆
2019	32.0	817 of 1134	28.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	35.9	957 of 1397	31.5%	★★☆☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Michigan percentile	Rating
2025	33.1	898 of 1366	34.3%	★★☆☆☆
2024	24.8	1008 of 1347	25.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	16.9	1112 of 1334	16.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	16.3	983 of 1139	13.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	12.0	863 of 915	5.7%	☆☆☆☆☆
2019	27.8	885 of 1196	26.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	34.5	992 of 1446	31.4%	★★☆☆☆

Multi-racial

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Michigan percentile	Rating
2025	43.5	46 of 93	50.5%	★★★☆☆
2024	14.6	73 of 78	6.4%	☆☆☆☆☆
2022	20.2	9 of 10	10.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	26.7	59 of 81	27.2%	★☆☆☆☆

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Michigan percentile	Rating
2025	15.6	236 of 252	6.3%	☆☆☆☆☆
2024	15.5	212 of 225	5.8%	☆☆☆☆☆
2023	14.0	186 of 195	4.6%	☆☆☆☆☆
2018	23.3	357 of 403	11.4%	★☆☆☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Michigan percentile	Rating
2025	19.6	1020 of 1206	15.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	13.6	1089 of 1204	9.6%	☆☆☆☆☆
2023	13.2	1094 of 1198	8.7%	☆☆☆☆☆
2022	19.0	940 of 1102	14.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	12.4	942 of 1005	6.3%	☆☆☆☆☆
2019	25.2	897 of 1128	20.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	24.3	1017 of 1253	18.8%	★☆☆☆☆

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 (2023)57th percentile+35 vs school

Multi-racial (2025)51st percentile+16 vs school

Male (2025)34th percentile~ school

Low Socio Economic Status (2025)32nd percentile~ school

Female (2025)24th percentile-11 vs school

White (2025)15th percentile-19 vs school

Special Education (2025)6th percentile-28 vs school

By subject vs Michigan (2024-2025) ?

English Language Arts33%-8 vs state

Math30%-11 vs state

★

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Schools Near Pennfield Dunlap Elementary

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

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2025)				Ranking (2024)				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	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 Science 5th Grade	M-Step Social Studies 5th Grade	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
Pennfield Dunlap Elementary	Public	3-4	8465 Pennfield Rd	Battle Creek	49017	Calhoun County	Pennfield Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(269) 961-9789	273	17	16.0	61.2%	208 (76.2%)	13 (4.8%)	16 (5.9%)	3 (1.1%)	2 (0.7%)	0 (0.0%)	31 (11.4%)	32.7	973^rd of 1488 public elementary schools	34.6%		22.1	1141^st of 1486 public elementary schools	23.2%	168	33.8	32.2			31.7	28.1				$13,723	$1,113	$12,610
Pennfield Purdy School	Public	K-2	6510 Purdy Dr	Battle Creek	49017	Calhoun County	Pennfield Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(269) 961-9795	197	14	14.5	69.0%	148 (75.1%)	16 (8.1%)	12 (6.1%)	1 (0.5%)	1 (0.5%)	0 (0.0%)	19 (9.6%)								(n/a)										$15,899	$1,207	$14,692
North Pennfield Elementary	Public	K-2	7422 Poorman Rd	Battle Creek	49017	Calhoun County	Pennfield Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(269) 961-9797	188	13	15.0	63.8%	157 (83.5%)	6 (3.2%)	12 (6.4%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	13 (6.9%)								(n/a)										$16,126	$1,132	$14,993
Verona Elementary School	Public	3-5	825 Capital Ave NE	Battle Creek	49017	Calhoun County	Battle Creek Public Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(269) 965-9710	201	12	16.2	91.0%	48 (23.9%)	78 (38.8%)	33 (16.4%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.5%)	41 (20.4%)	6.4	1438^th of 1488 public elementary schools	3.4%		5.7	1447^th of 1486 public elementary schools	2.6%	9	11.8	9.7	11.1		11.5	6.3	7.8	12.5		$23,672	$5,103	$18,569
Fremont International Academy	Public, Magnet	PK, KG-5	115 Emmett St E	Battle Creek	49017	Calhoun County	Battle Creek Public Schools	No	Yes	No	Yes	(269) 965-9715	345	17	20.6	53.6%	81 (23.5%)	147 (42.6%)	39 (11.3%)	3 (0.9%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	75 (21.7%)	24.9	1081^st of 1488 public elementary schools	27.4%		23.2	1119^th of 1486 public elementary schools	24.7%	38	26.9	26.0	39.1		15.4	21.9	20.3	32.8	17.2	$16,925	$3,839	$13,086
Dudley School	Public	PK, KG-2	308 Roosevelt Ave W	Battle Creek	49037	Calhoun County	Battle Creek Public Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(269) 965-9720	117	14	8.6	81.2%	23 (19.7%)	56 (47.9%)	14 (12.0%)	1 (0.9%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.9%)	22 (18.8%)								(n/a)										$25,411	$5,340	$20,071
Ann J Kellogg School	Public	3-6	306 Champion St	Battle Creek	49037	Calhoun County	Battle Creek Public Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(269) 965-9773	348	24	14.7	81.3%	100 (28.7%)	150 (43.1%)	40 (11.5%)	0 (0.0%)	4 (1.1%)	0 (0.0%)	54 (15.5%)	7.1	1424^th of 1488 public elementary schools	4.3%		4.7	1470^th of 1486 public elementary schools	1.1%	46	13.7	15.1	19.3	3.6	11.0	9.6	6.0	12.0	4.8	$22,151	$4,844	$17,307
Wattles Park Elementary School	Public	K-4	132 Wattles Rd S	Battle Creek	49014	Calhoun County	Harper Creek Community Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(269) 441-5853	375	22	17.4	39.2%	303 (80.8%)	8 (2.1%)	21 (5.6%)	2 (0.5%)	1 (0.3%)	1 (0.3%)	39 (10.4%)	58.9	580^th of 1488 public elementary schools	61.0%		61	537^th of 1486 public elementary schools	63.9%	43	39.0	41.6			50.6	49.4				$16,545	$1,691	$14,854
Post Franklin School	Public	K-2	20 Newark Ave	Battle Creek	49014	Calhoun County	Battle Creek Public Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(269) 965-9693	219	15	14.6	82.2%	56 (25.6%)	85 (38.8%)	38 (17.4%)	1 (0.5%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	39 (17.8%)								(n/a)										$19,460	$5,043	$14,417
Battle Creek Montessori Academy	Public, Charter	PK, KG-8	399 20th St N	Springfield	49037	Calhoun County	Battle Creek Montessori Academy	Yes	No	No	Yes	(269) 339-3308	141	9	15.4	85.8%	76 (53.9%)	19 (13.5%)	20 (14.2%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	26 (18.4%)	28	1037^th of 1488 public elementary schools	30.3%		27.1	1066^th of 1486 public elementary schools	28.3%	29		20.0		36.4		26.7				$13,798	$3,003	$10,795

Frequently Asked Questions about Pennfield Dunlap Elementary

What district is Pennfield Dunlap Elementary in?

Pennfield Schools

What schools do graduates of Pennfield Dunlap Elementary attend?

Students who attend Pennfield Dunlap Elementary usually go on to attend:

Middle : Pennfield Middle School
High : Pennfield Senior High School

How many students attend Pennfield Dunlap Elementary?

In the 2024-25 school year, 273 students attended Pennfield Dunlap Elementary.

Is Pennfield Dunlap Elementary a good school?

Pennfield Dunlap Elementary ranks 973^rd of 1488 Michigan elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

What is the racial makeup of Pennfield Dunlap Elementary?

Students at Pennfield Dunlap Elementary are 76% White, 11% Two or more races, 6% Hispanic, 5% African American, 1% Asian.

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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.