Handley School

Summary:

Handley School is an exceptional elementary school located in Saginaw, Michigan, serving 303 students in grades PK-5. Despite being part of the Saginaw School District of the City of, which is ranked 481 out of 610 districts in the state, Handley School consistently outperforms the district and the state of Michigan in academic assessments.

In the 2023-2024 school year, Handley School had significantly higher proficiency rates in English Language Arts and Math compared to the district and state averages. The school has been ranked among the top elementary schools in Michigan for several years, reaching the #1 spot in 2018-2019. Handley School also excels in serving various student subgroups, ranking 4th out of 348 Michigan elementary schools for African American students, 2nd out of 101 for Asian students, and 1st out of 1,350 for students from low socioeconomic backgrounds. With a diverse student population and high spending per student, Handley School's success suggests that its effective strategies and additional resources could be replicated to improve educational outcomes in other schools within the district.

Despite the challenges faced by the broader Saginaw School District of the City of, Kempton Elementary School, Jessie Rouse School, and other nearby schools generally have much lower proficiency rates and lower statewide rankings compared to Handley School, making it a standout example of educational excellence in the region.


Detail:

Public, Magnet PK, KG-5

 1300 Passolt St
       Saginaw, MI  48602


(989) 399-4250

District: Saginaw School District of the City of

SchoolDigger Rank:
34th of 1,486 Michigan Elementary Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures:  $23,970 Help


Student/teacher ratio:  18.9 Help
Number of students:  303

Racial breakdown:

African American:
35.3%
White:
33.0%
Asian:
16.2%
more

Free/discounted lunch recipients:  51.2% Help


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Performance Trends
Help
Compare Details Handley School ranks better than 97.7% of elementary schools in Michigan. It also ranks first among 9 ranked elementary schools in the Saginaw School District of the City of! (See more...)
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Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 96.13. (See more...)
Help
Chronic absenteeism in a high school refers to a situation where students repeatedly miss school, with the threshold often defined as missing 10% or more of school days for any reason, excused or unexcused.
Student Body
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Compare Details Student population at Handley School is diverse. Racial makeup is: African American (35.3%), White (33%), Asian (16.2%). (See more...)
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Compare Details 51.2% of students are receiving a free or discounted lunch. This is the lowest percentage in the Saginaw School District of the City of. (See more...)
Teachers
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Compare Details The student/teacher ratio at Handley School is 18.9. 8 elementary schools in the Saginaw School District of the City of have better student/teacher ratios. (See more...)
Help
Compare Handley School employs 16 full-time teachers.
Finance
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Compare Details The average total spent per student at Handley School is $23,970, which is the highest among 10 elementary schools in the Saginaw School District of the City of!
Schooldigger 2024 Rankings:

Handley School:

SchoolDigger ranks Handley School 34th of 1486 Michigan public elementary schools. (See Handley School in the ranking list.)

Elementary School Test Score Ratings by Student Subgroup:


Low Socio Economic Status students:
Female students:
Male students:
African American students:
White students:


Saginaw School District of the City of:

SchoolDigger ranks Saginaw School District of the City of 481st of 610 Michigan school districts. (See district ranking list.)

Average Parent Rating:

Read all reviews and ratings detail for Handley School.

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Rank History for Handley School

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Rank History for all students at Handley School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools MI State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2006 92.39 2nd 1545 99.9%
2007 90.06 9th 1565 99.4%
2008 90.81 3rd 1577 99.8%
2009 91.09 2nd 1589 99.9%
2010 86.68 2nd 1552 99.9%
2011 86.89 18th 1552 98.8%
2012 96.65 6th 1566 99.6%
2013 98.06 3rd 1563 99.8%
2014 97.05 5th 1533 99.7%
2015 97.13 15th 1580 99.1%
2016 98.32 7th 1548 99.5%
2017 99.64 2nd 1466 99.9%
2018 99.50 3rd 1448 99.8%
2019 99.51 1st 1408 99.9%
2021 96.30 20th 1153 98.3%
2022 95.60 35th 1344 97.4%
2023 98.47 6th 1470 99.6%
2024 96.13 34th 1486 97.7%
See the entire list of Michigan Elementary School Rankings!

Rank History for Low Socio Economic Status students at Handley School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools MI State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 99.98 1st 1397 99.9%
2022 97.73 9th 1099 99.2%
2023 99.92 1st 1350 99.9%
2024 96.38 18th 1381 98.7%
See the entire list of Best Michigan Elementary Schools for Low Socio Economic Status Students!

Rank History for Female students at Handley School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools MI State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 98.92 4th 1443 99.7%
2021 99.16 2nd 902 99.8%
2022 89.13 74th 1106 93.3%
2023 95.74 23rd 1321 98.3%
2024 92.56 52nd 1342 96.1%
See the entire list of Best Michigan Elementary Schools for Female Students!

Rank History for Male students at Handley School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools MI State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 99.47 3rd 1446 99.8%
2022 95.02 27th 1139 97.6%
2023 98.61 3rd 1334 99.8%
2024 95.64 25th 1347 98.1%
See the entire list of Best Michigan Elementary Schools for Male Students!

Rank History for Asian students at Handley School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools MI State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 92.87 2nd 101 98.0%
See the entire list of Best Michigan Elementary Schools for Asian Students!

Rank History for African American students at Handley School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools MI State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 100.00 1st 475 99.8%
2023 99.32 2nd 321 99.4%
2024 97.41 4th 348 98.9%
See the entire list of Best Michigan Elementary Schools for African American Students!

Rank History for White students at Handley School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools MI State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 99.35 3rd 1253 99.8%
2024 93.76 41st 1204 96.6%
See the entire list of Best Michigan Elementary Schools for White Students!

Data source: test scores: Michigan Department of Education, rankings: SchoolDigger.com

As you review the school rankings data, please be aware that some of the information from certain demographics is missing. The reason for this omission is that the data has been redacted from the source data itself due to low population samples in these specific demographic groups.

Redacting data from low population samples is a necessary step to ensure the reliability and accuracy of the results, as small sample sizes may not be representative of the broader population. Additionally, this measure helps protect the privacy of individuals belonging to these demographic groups.

Handley School Test Scores
Tests: 
  
Grades: 
  
Years: 
  
Group by: 
District Scores:
State Scores:    
  
Subgroup: 





Data source: Michigan Department of Education

Review counts

All ratings (Avg rating: 3.8)
67%

0%

0%

17%

17%

  

by a parent
Thursday, October 25, 2012

Open Quote Our children started at Handley this year, and I am so happy we made the switch! They are so much more confident in themselves now, and their vocabulary has grown immensely since starting. I love when they come home speaking Spanish or talking about projects they are working on. They are excited to go to school everyday, which is such a refreshing change. I would highly recommend Handley to any parent looking for a school that will challenge their child. My kids ride the bus from Bay City, and I'm so happy this is offered as an option. Absolutely no complaints! Close Quote


by a parent
Thursday, March 1, 2012

Open Quote Handley has a very diverse student population demographically, and even though the student to teacher ratios are high for the caliber school it is, the parent involvement in the students' education more than makes up for the ratio. The Principal and teachers are all actively involved in student education, and encourage students to work at their own pace with accelerated reading and math programs. Close Quote


by a parent
Tuesday, December 14, 2010

Open Quote I'd say average to above average if it was like other public schools but the IB program pulls it lower. I do agree with the other parent that the teachers are excellent but when you throw in the IB content, the program for Handley loses creditability. Go to www.truthaboutib.com to learn more about IB. IB is a UN based (look up IB's charter and see if the Universal Declaration of Human Rights is still on the wall outside Handley's cafeteria.) education program that will confuse the kids because it is going nowhere in Saginaw. After the IB-PYP where does it go? What's the point of IB-PYP if you can't go to the mid-level or the high school level and earn the diploma? Why should the Saginaw Public School system be saddled with this expense program? Saginaw could have done better by keeping it as a gifted program. Until then, I'll take my kids somewhere else and hope that SASA can continue to fight off IB till my kids are old enough. Close Quote


by a parent
Tuesday, December 14, 2010

Open Quote I pulled my two children out. This is an International Baccalaureate school, I suggest you dig deep into what this is and who is represented by this. In Kindergarten, my son came home saying "Never,ever cut down a tree". I had to tell him what a renewable resource was. I cautioned the use of plastics, Styrofoam and rubber which eventually end up in a land fill and don't biodegrade. In first grade, he came home saying that "CO2 is a poison". He flipped out at the gas station when my husband was filling the gas can for the mower. I gave him a can of soda pop and showed him some chemical structures of carbon - he actually understood! I stressed moderation, innovation in new fuel discoveries and practical applications. The last straw for my husband was when they were going to write letters "to companies that are unfriendly to the rainforests". My last straw was seeing the United Nations Declaration of Human Rights posted on the wall outside the café. This, in part, contradicts the United States constitution. There is a difference between "rights" and "privileges". Also, they boast "critical thinking". Our arguments; How can you teach a child this young to be a critical thinker? Why not stick to the basics? How can you say that it is critical thinking when only one part of the equation (or opinion) is given? They DO NOT teach them HOW to think, they are teaching them WHAT to think. We didn't like it. We do however,compliment the teachers. The ones we had were very good. Close Quote


by a parent
Sunday, December 27, 2009

Open Quote Handley is an awesome school for children. The teachers are awesome and are really hands on with the students. The education is spectacular and the kids learn lots. No wonder they are ranked #1 of all of the elementary schools in the state of Michigan. Close Quote



Enrollment information for Handley School

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Year White African American Asian Hispanic American Indian Pacific Islander Two or More Races Not Specified Total
1988 310 83 4 28 5 n/a n/a 0 430
1989 307 80 7 27 2 n/a n/a 0 423
1990 314 70 6 35 1 n/a n/a 0 426
1991 256 59 4 34 3 n/a n/a 0 356
1992 292 70 8 48 2 n/a n/a 0 420
1993 296 64 7 38 2 n/a n/a 0 407
1994 329 72 11 38 4 n/a n/a 0 454
1995 327 59 20 41 3 n/a n/a 0 450
1996 327 59 20 41 3 n/a n/a 0 450
1997 325 60 24 36 3 n/a n/a 0 448
1998 341 65 33 33 3 n/a n/a 0 475
1999 331 55 42 32 2 n/a n/a 0 462
2000 251 55 36 28 2 n/a n/a 0 372
2001 245 63 35 29 3 n/a n/a 0 375
2002 256 66 38 30 2 n/a n/a 0 392
2003 256 66 38 30 2 n/a n/a 0 392
2004 284 62 40 28 1 n/a n/a 0 415
2005 276 59 50 27 2 n/a n/a 0 414
2006 250 57 51 29 1 n/a n/a 0 388
2007 238 70 53 29 0 n/a n/a 0 390
2008 222 81 56 29 n/a n/a n/a 0 388
2009 250 86 54 30 0 n/a n/a 0 420
2010 234 92 64 36 0 n/a n/a 0 426
2011 222 98 59 36 1 1 0 0 417
2012 244 100 67 27 1 1 0 0 440
2013 245 102 70 26 1 1 0 0 445
2014 238 94 68 24 1 1 0 0 426
2015 235 106 74 20 1 2 3 0 441
2016 210 90 60 20 1 3 4 0 388
2017 180 104 75 16 1 2 4 0 382
2018 138 108 59 14 1 1 2 0 323
2019 107 104 63 16 2 1 2 0 295
2020 118 111 66 16 2 1 1 0 315
2021 98 108 49 19 1 1 4 0 280
2022 85 111 44 25 1 0 17 0 283
2023 100 107 49 29 1 0 17 0 303

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Enrollment/Ethnicity

For more information about how the Department of Education defines ethnicity, see Defining Race and Ethnicity Data, National Center for Education Statistics

Students eligible for free or discounted lunch at Handley School

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Year # Students Full-time Teachers Student/Teacher ratio % Free/Discounted Lunch
1988 430 n/a n/a n/a
1989 423 n/a n/a 12.1
1990 426 21.0 20.2 12.2
1991 356 n/a n/a n/a
1992 420 n/a n/a 19
1993 407 n/a 0.0 15.7
1994 454 15.6 29.1 9
1995 450 16.0 28.1 10.7
1996 450 16.0 28.1 10.7
1997 448 16.0 28.0 8.5
1998 475 15.0 31.7 9.3
1999 462 16.0 28.9 7.1
2000 372 16.0 23.3 15.3
2001 375 17.0 22.1 14.1
2002 392 17.5 22.4 49.2
2003 392 17.5 22.4 49.2
2004 415 18.5 22.4 13
2005 414 17.5 23.7 12.8
2006 388 16.4 23.7 20.6
2007 390 16.4 23.8 18.7
2008 388 16.4 23.7 19.1
2009 420 19.5 21.5 23.6
2010 426 17.0 25.0 23.9
2011 417 18.0 23.1 23.7
2012 440 18.0 24.4 40.5
2013 445 18.0 24.7 40
2014 426 16.0 26.6 44.4
2015 441 16.0 27.5 19.7
2016 388 15.0 25.8 38.1
2017 382 14.4 26.5 36.6
2018 323 14.4 22.4 39.9
2019 295 17.4 16.9 34.6
2020 315 16.4 19.2 36.2
2021 280 15.9 17.6 41.4
2022 283 17.0 16.6 52.7
2023 303 16.0 18.9 51.2

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Students eligible for discounted/free lunch:

The National School Lunch Program (NSLP) provides low-cost or free meals to students in U.S. public and nonprofit private schools based on household income. Those with incomes below 130% of the poverty line receive free lunch, while those between 130% and 185% qualify for reduced-price lunch. The percentage of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch serves as a marker for poverty, as it reflects the socioeconomic status of families in a given school or district. A higher FRPL rate typically indicates a higher concentration of low-income families, suggesting that the school or district may face additional challenges in providing adequate resources and support for student success.

Student/Teacher Ratio Handley School

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Year # Students Full-time Teachers Student/Teacher ratio % Free/Discounted Lunch
1988 430 n/a n/a n/a
1989 423 n/a n/a 12.1
1990 426 21.0 20.2 12.2
1991 356 n/a n/a n/a
1992 420 n/a n/a 19
1993 407 n/a 0.0 15.7
1994 454 15.6 29.1 9
1995 450 16.0 28.1 10.7
1996 450 16.0 28.1 10.7
1997 448 16.0 28.0 8.5
1998 475 15.0 31.7 9.3
1999 462 16.0 28.9 7.1
2000 372 16.0 23.3 15.3
2001 375 17.0 22.1 14.1
2002 392 17.5 22.4 49.2
2003 392 17.5 22.4 49.2
2004 415 18.5 22.4 13
2005 414 17.5 23.7 12.8
2006 388 16.4 23.7 20.6
2007 390 16.4 23.8 18.7
2008 388 16.4 23.7 19.1
2009 420 19.5 21.5 23.6
2010 426 17.0 25.0 23.9
2011 417 18.0 23.1 23.7
2012 440 18.0 24.4 40.5
2013 445 18.0 24.7 40
2014 426 16.0 26.6 44.4
2015 441 16.0 27.5 19.7
2016 388 15.0 25.8 38.1
2017 382 14.4 26.5 36.6
2018 323 14.4 22.4 39.9
2019 295 17.4 16.9 34.6
2020 315 16.4 19.2 36.2
2021 280 15.9 17.6 41.4
2022 283 17.0 16.6 52.7
2023 303 16.0 18.9 51.2

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Student-Teacher Ratio

Student/teacher ratio is calculated by dividing the total number of students by the total number of full-time equivalent teachers. Please note that a smaller student/teacher ratio does not necessarily translate to smaller class size. In some instances, schools hire teachers part time, and some teachers are hired for specialized instruction with very small class sizes. These and other factors contribute to the student/teacher ratio. Note: For private schools, Student/teacher ratio may not include Pre-Kindergarten.
Finances

Per Pupil Expenditures for Handley School

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YearExpenditures from Federal FundsExpenditures from State and Local FundsTotal Expenditures Per Pupil (All Funds)
2019 $1,330 (10.6%) $11,266 (89.4%) $12,595
2020 $1,282 (12.1%) $9,310 (87.9%) $10,592
2021 $2,289 (18.3%) $10,212 (81.7%) $12,501
2022 $7,578 (49.3%) $7,803 (50.7%) $15,381
2023 $7,900 (33.0%) $16,069 (67.0%) $23,970

Data source: Michigan Department of Education
Pre and Post Pandemic Data

Impact of COVID-19 on Handley School

The coronavirus has had a profound impact on education in America. Learning shifted online overnight, attendance numbers dwindled, and enrollment decreased. SchoolDigger.com is making it easier for you to better assess how COVID-19 has impacted your school. Through the collection of pre-pandemic (2019) and current data, SchoolDigger.com is sharing test scores, enrollment numbers and school demographics from schools across the country – and we make it easy to see how impacted schools compare locally and statewide.

Rankings

Rank
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)
Rank
Post pandemic (2022-2023)
Change (%)
Ranks 1st of 1408 Elementary schoolsRanks 6th of 1470 Elementary schools
 0.3%

Test Scores

% proficient
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)
% proficient
Post pandemic (2022-2023)
Change (%)
4th Grade Math (Handley School)89.386
 3.3%
   4th Grade Math (Saginaw School District of the City of)25.810.5
 15.3%
   4th Grade Math (Michigan)41.838.6
 3.2%
5th Grade Math (Handley School)86.880.4
 6.4%
   5th Grade Math (Saginaw School District of the City of)16.214.2
 2%
   5th Grade Math (Michigan)34.831.5
 3.3%
5th Grade Social Studies (Handley School)56.652.9
 3.7%
   5th Grade Social Studies (Saginaw School District of the City of)9.18
 1.1%
   5th Grade Social Studies (Michigan)17.418.6
 1.2%

Student Body

Number of students
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)
Number of students
Post pandemic (2022-2023)
Change (%)
Total Students295303
 2.7%
African American104107
 2.9%
American Indian21
 50%
Asian6349
 22.2%
Hispanic1629
 81.3%
Pacific Islander10
 100%
White107100
 6.5%
Two or More Races217
 750%
% Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients34.6%51.2%
 16.6%


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Frequently Asked Questions about Handley School

Students at Handley School are 35% African American, 33% White, 16% Asian, 10% Hispanic, 6% Two or more races.

In the 2022-23 school year, 303 students attended Handley School.

Yes! Handley School is one of the best elementary schools in the state. It ranks 34th of 1486 Michigan elementary schools.


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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.





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