Lakewood Elementary School

Lakewood Elementary School in Holland, MI, is a highly regarded public school serving 293 students in grades PK through 5 within the West Ottawa Public School District. For over a decade, it has consistently ranked among the top 5% of elementary schools in Michigan, earning a 5-star rating from SchoolDigger for ten straight years and currently placing 59th out of 1,492 schools statewide.

What truly sets Lakewood apart is the scale of its academic success compared to nearby schools. While the average M-Step proficiency rate across all subjects is roughly 73%, that figure is more than double the rates seen at Great Lakes Elementary School (about 25%) and Pine Creek Elementary School (about 19%). Even the next-best performing school in the district, Waukazoo Elementary School, averages around 49% proficiency—a gap of nearly 25 percentage points. Perhaps most impressive is Lakewood's performance with students from low-income backgrounds: it ranks 17th out of 1,352 schools statewide for this subgroup, placing it in the 99th percentile. This shows the school is exceptionally effective at ensuring economic disadvantage does not predict lower academic outcomes.

Lakewood also stands out for its strong attendance and efficient use of resources. Its chronic absenteeism rate of 17.7% is far better than the district average of 28.6% and significantly lower than rates at Woodside Elementary School and Great Lakes. Notably, Lakewood spends a comparable amount per student ($19,420) to its lower-performing district peers, suggesting its success comes from effective teaching and leadership rather than higher funding. While the school has seen a slight dip in rankings from its peak years, it remains a benchmark for excellence in the region and a compelling choice for parents seeking a school where students consistently achieve at the highest levels.