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Suttons Bay Elementary Middle School

Q: Is Suttons Bay Elementary Middle School a good school?

Suttons Bay Elementary Middle School ranks 908 th of 1492 Michigan elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

Public Grades PK, KG-8

908^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 1,492 Michigan Elementary Schools

Better than 39% of Michigan elementary schools

Summary

Suttons Bay Elementary Middle School is a small, rural school in Suttons Bay, MI, serving 214 students in Pre-K through 8th grade as part of the Suttons Bay Public Schools district.

If you're considering this school, the most important thing to understand is that it serves a community with significant economic need—about 68% of students qualify for free or reduced lunch, a rate much higher than nearby schools like Cherry Knoll Elementary School (30%) or Long Lake Elementary School (32%). The school's biggest challenge, however, is chronic absenteeism. In the 2024-2025 school year, 54.4% of students were chronically absent—meaning they missed 10% or more of the school year. That's nearly double the rate at Traverse Heights Elementary School (36.8%), which has a similar level of economic need, and more than triple the rate at higher-performing schools like Willow Hill Elementary School (9.2%). This attendance issue has persisted for several years and is the single biggest factor holding the school back academically.

Despite these headwinds, there are positive signs. The school's overall ranking has improved from the 29th to the 39th percentile over the past few years. When students do show up, they can perform well—particularly in 8th-grade science (50% proficient vs. 39% statewide) and social studies (60% vs. 50% statewide). However, performance is inconsistent across grade levels; for example, 3rd-grade reading exceeded the state average while 4th-grade reading lagged well behind. The school also maintains a favorable student-teacher ratio of 14:1 and spends a substantial $18,719 per student. If you're weighing this school against options like TCAPS Montessori School or Willow Hill Elementary School, which have far lower poverty rates and absenteeism, the differences in test scores are stark—but they largely reflect the challenges of the student population rather than the quality of instruction.

214

Students ?

14.1

Student/teacher ratio ?

$18,719

Per pupil spending ?

68.2%

Free/discounted lunch ?

310 S Elm St
Suttons Bay, MI 49682-5112

(231) 271-8601

District: Suttons Bay Public Schools

Students who attend Suttons Bay Elementary Middle School usually attend:

High:

Suttons Bay Senior High School

Racial breakdown:

White:

49.1%

Hispanic:

23.8%

American Indian:

15.0%

See top rated Michigan elementary schools

Compare Suttons Bay Elementary Middle School to nearby elementary schools!

At a glance

▲ Ranking trend: Rebounding — 16th percentile in 2018 → 39th in 2026

Strengths

✓Ranking is rebounding — up to 39th (2026) from a 16th-percentile low (2018)

Worth a look

!High chronic absenteeism (54% vs 28% Michigan)

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school37%

District avg37%

Michigan avg40%

Elementary school

908^th of 1,492

Michigan public elementary schools ?

Bottom 39%▼ down 6 pts since 2016

From bottom 45% (2016) to bottom 39% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of Michigan Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

Middle school

323^rd of 896

Michigan public middle schools ?

Top 36%▲ up 19 pts since 2023

From bottom 45% (2023) to top 36% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of Michigan Middle Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

316^th of 625Suttons Bay 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)

Elementary school ranking

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Michigan percentile	Rating
2026	36.5	908 of 1492	39.1%	★★☆☆☆
2025	28.8	1029 of 1488	30.8%	★★☆☆☆
2024	31.4	1001 of 1486	32.6%	★★☆☆☆
2023	26.4	1049 of 1470	28.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	34.3	851 of 1344	36.7%	★★☆☆☆
2021	27.5	850 of 1153	26.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	22.8	1090 of 1408	22.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	19.3	1216 of 1448	16.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2017	33.4	978 of 1466	33.3%	★★☆☆☆
2016	46.2	847 of 1548	45.3%	★★☆☆☆
2015	40.1	1008 of 1580	36.2%	★★☆☆☆
2014	44.1	941 of 1533	38.6%	★★☆☆☆
2013	36.1	1084 of 1563	30.6%	★★☆☆☆
2012	40.8	1047 of 1566	33.1%	★★☆☆☆
2011	54.9	904 of 1552	41.8%	★★☆☆☆
2010	52.5	1009 of 1552	35.0%	★★☆☆☆
2009	32.6	1306 of 1589	17.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2008	58.1	818 of 1577	48.1%	★★☆☆☆
2007	49.6	1011 of 1565	35.4%	★★☆☆☆
2006	43.5	1117 of 1545	27.7%	★☆☆☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Michigan percentile	Rating
2026	32.1	872 of 1343	35.1%	★★☆☆☆
2018	18.6	1212 of 1443	16.0%	★☆☆☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Michigan percentile	Rating
2026	41.1	768 of 1352	43.2%	★★☆☆☆
2025	34.3	888 of 1346	34.0%	★★☆☆☆
2024	37.2	865 of 1381	37.4%	★★☆☆☆
2018	20.9	1177 of 1397	15.7%	★☆☆☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Michigan percentile	Rating
2025	32.7	909 of 1366	33.5%	★★☆☆☆
2024	42.2	746 of 1347	44.6%	★★☆☆☆
2023	22.5	1029 of 1334	22.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	28.8	873 of 1196	27.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	22.5	1148 of 1446	20.6%	★☆☆☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Michigan percentile	Rating
2026	39.5	728 of 1199	39.3%	★★☆☆☆
2025	35.3	806 of 1206	33.2%	★★☆☆☆
2024	49.1	589 of 1204	51.1%	★★★☆☆
2023	35.2	799 of 1198	33.3%	★★☆☆☆
2018	32.0	908 of 1253	27.5%	★☆☆☆☆

Middle school ranking

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Michigan percentile	Rating
2026	57.9	323 of 896	64.0%	★★★☆☆
2025	44.5	485 of 890	45.5%	★★☆☆☆
2024	38.0	533 of 897	40.6%	★★☆☆☆
2023	42.9	488 of 883	44.7%	★★☆☆☆
2014	75.7	178 of 921	80.7%	★★★★☆
2013	70.9	222 of 919	75.8%	★★★★☆
2012	43.5	546 of 900	39.3%	★★☆☆☆
2011	72.1	234 of 858	72.7%	★★★★☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Michigan percentile	Rating
2025	52.4	328 of 789	58.4%	★★★☆☆
2024	41.9	425 of 771	44.9%	★★☆☆☆
2023	43.4	410 of 770	46.8%	★★☆☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Michigan percentile	Rating
2026	71.3	155 of 834	81.4%	★★★★☆
2025	41.8	477 of 832	42.7%	★★☆☆☆
2024	31.6	578 of 836	30.9%	★★☆☆☆
2023	32.5	562 of 825	31.9%	★★☆☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Michigan percentile	Rating
2026	55.4	299 of 813	63.2%	★★★☆☆
2025	42.8	432 of 798	45.9%	★★☆☆☆
2024	35.9	505 of 786	35.8%	★★☆☆☆
2023	51.0	325 of 776	58.1%	★★★☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Michigan percentile	Rating
2026	73.3	150 of 687	78.2%	★★★★☆
2025	56.2	263 of 696	62.2%	★★★☆☆
2024	61.6	218 of 701	68.9%	★★★☆☆
2023	51.0	292 of 688	57.6%	★★★☆☆

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)

Elementary school

Low Socio Economic Status (2026)43rd percentile+4 vs school

White (2026)39th percentile~ school

Female (2026)35th percentile-4 vs school

Male (2025)33rd percentile+3 vs school

Middle school

Low Socio Economic Status (2026)81st percentile+17 vs school

White (2026)78th percentile+14 vs school

Male (2026)63rd percentile~ school

Female (2025)58th percentile+13 vs school

By subject vs Michigan (2025-2026) ?

Social Studies60%+21 vs state

Science45%+5 vs state

English Language Arts34%-6 vs state

Math28%-8 vs state

Mathematics25%-8 vs state

★

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Schools Near Suttons Bay Elementary Middle 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 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)		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	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	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
Suttons Bay Elementary Middle School	Public	PK, KG-8	310 S Elm St	Suttons Bay	49682	Leelanau County	Suttons Bay Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(231) 271-8601	214	15	14.1	68.2%	105 (49.1%)	3 (1.4%)	51 (23.8%)	4 (1.9%)	32 (15.0%)	0 (0.0%)	19 (8.9%)	36.5	908^th of 1492 public elementary schools	39.1%		28.8	1029^th of 1488 public elementary schools	30.8%	121	70.0	25.0	47.4	25.0	35.0	1571.4	38.5	47.4	22.5	25.0	1561.6	23.1	40.0	50.0	1481.8	60.0	$18,719	$1,705	$17,013
Leelanau Montessori Public School Academy	Public, Charter	PK, KG-6	7401 E Duck Lake Rd	Lake Leelanau	49653	Leelanau County	Leelanau Montessori Public School Academy	Yes	No	No	Yes	(231) 994-2074	71	5	14.2	23.9%	52 (73.2%)	0 (0.0%)	9 (12.7%)	0 (0.0%)	3 (4.2%)	0 (0.0%)	7 (9.9%)								(n/a)																	$15,903	$938	$14,966
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		$12,285	$00	$12,285
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		$15,311	$1,255	$14,056
Willow Hill Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	1250 Hill St	Traverse City	49684	Grand Traverse County	Traverse City Area Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(231) 933-8540	429	23	18.3	14.0%	406 (94.6%)	5 (1.2%)	9 (2.1%)	3 (0.7%)	6 (1.4%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	78	287^th of 1492 public elementary schools	80.8%		79.8	273^rd of 1488 public elementary schools	81.7%	14			48.7	59.3	67.5			56.6	54.2	42.5			51.3		42.5		$13,949	$717	$13,232
Eastern Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	1600 Eastern Ave	Traverse City	49686	Grand Traverse County	Traverse City Area Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(231) 933-5600	475	26	18.5	20.2%	428 (90.1%)	10 (2.1%)	11 (2.3%)	19 (4.0%)	6 (1.3%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	65.5	483^rd of 1492 public elementary schools	67.6%		73.8	354^th of 1488 public elementary schools	76.2%	129			70.4	57.5	50.0			76.1	41.3	25.0			39.5		28.9		$14,502	$731	$13,770
Central Grade School	Public	PK, KG-7	301 W Seventh St	Traverse City	49684	Grand Traverse County	Traverse City Area Public Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(231) 933-5910	510	30	17.0	42.4%	426 (83.5%)	17 (3.3%)	26 (5.1%)	24 (4.7%)	13 (2.5%)	4 (0.8%)	0 (0.0%)	82.9	231^st of 1492 public elementary schools	84.5%		81.8	248^th of 1488 public elementary schools	83.3%	17			49.3	61.0	69.6			45.7	43.8	62.8			66.1		53.6		$15,714	$1,254	$14,461
Traverse Heights Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	933 Rose St	Traverse City	49686	Grand Traverse County	Traverse City Area Public Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(231) 933-3500	245	18	13.2	73.1%	148 (60.4%)	22 (9.0%)	36 (14.7%)	4 (1.6%)	32 (13.1%)	3 (1.2%)	0 (0.0%)	32.4	965^th of 1492 public elementary schools	35.3%		19.8	1162^nd of 1488 public elementary schools	21.9%	197			27.9	29.4	50.0			15.6	1374.9	18.8			40.0		1475.7		$19,376	$2,201	$17,175
TCAPS Montessori School	Public	PK, KG-8	4053 Franke Rd	Traverse City	49684	Grand Traverse County	Traverse City Area Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(231) 933-6420	331	20	16.4	17.5%	302 (91.2%)	11 (3.3%)	7 (2.1%)	5 (1.5%)	5 (1.5%)	1 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	81.7	241^st of 1492 public elementary schools	83.8%		85.5	199^th of 1488 public elementary schools	86.6%	42	506.7	529.2	60.4	57.5	68.3	74.1	76.7	54.2	50.0	43.9	85.2	76.7	58.5	66.7	36.6	1815.8	$16,808	$717	$16,092
Long Lake Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	7600 N Long Lake Rd	Traverse City	49685	Grand Traverse County	Traverse City Area Public Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(231) 933-7800	364	22	16.3	32.4%	325 (89.3%)	6 (1.6%)	14 (3.8%)	7 (1.9%)	10 (2.7%)	2 (0.5%)	0 (0.0%)	60.9	542^nd of 1492 public elementary schools	63.7%		47.9	754^th of 1488 public elementary schools	49.3%	212			50.8	36.2	53.2			53.8	29.8	38.3			55.3		25.5		$15,170	$1,114	$14,056

Frequently Asked Questions about Suttons Bay Elementary Middle School

What schools do graduates of Suttons Bay Elementary Middle School attend?

Students who attend Suttons Bay Elementary Middle School usually go on to attend:

High : Suttons Bay Senior High School

Is Suttons Bay Elementary Middle School a good school?

Suttons Bay Elementary Middle School ranks 908^th of 1492 Michigan elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

How many students attend Suttons Bay Elementary Middle School?

In the 2024-25 school year, 214 students attended Suttons Bay Elementary Middle School.

What district is Suttons Bay Elementary Middle School in?

Suttons Bay Public Schools

What is the racial makeup of Suttons Bay Elementary Middle School?

Students at Suttons Bay Elementary Middle School are 49% White, 24% Hispanic, 15% American Indian, 9% Two or more races, 2% Asian, 1% African American.

Rate Suttons Bay Elementary Middle School!

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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.