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Central Elementary School

Q: Is Central Elementary School a good school?

Central Elementary School ranks 942 nd of 1492 Michigan elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

Public, Magnet Grades K-5

942^nd

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 1,492 Michigan Elementary Schools

Better than 37% of Michigan elementary schools

Summary

Central Elementary School in White Pigeon, MI, serves 366 students in grades K-5 within the White Pigeon Community Schools district, a rural district where more than half of students qualify for free or reduced lunch.

Central Elementary is showing real signs of momentum. After years of ranking in the bottom half of Michigan elementary schools, the school hit its highest state ranking in over a decade during the 2025-2026 school year, jumping to the 37th percentile. Perhaps the most impressive story is attendance: chronic absenteeism has plummeted from a staggering 44.5% in 2021-2022 to just 16.4% in 2024-2025. That rate is now far better than the state average (27.9%) and dramatically lower than nearby Eastside Elementary School in Constantine, which sits at 47.9%, or Ruth Hoppin School in Three Rivers at 29.9%. This improvement in attendance likely plays a big role in the school's rising academic performance.

While English Language Arts and Math scores are below state averages, they aren't drastically far off. The bigger concern is Social Studies, where only 9.5% of 5th graders were proficient in 2025-2026, compared to the state average of 27.5% and 34.9% at nearby Centreville Elementary School. On a positive note, Central shows a relative strength in serving its low-income students, ranking in the 42nd percentile for that group—higher than its overall rank. The school also achieves these results while spending less per student ($13,049) than many neighbors like Eastwood School in Sturgis, which spends more yet performs similarly. With attendance improving and rankings trending upward, Central Elementary appears to be on a promising path forward.

366

Students ?

16.7

Student/teacher ratio ?

$13,049

Per pupil spending ?

51.4%

Free/discounted lunch ?

305 E Hotchin Ave
White Pigeon, MI 49099-9709

(269) 483-7107

District: White Pigeon Community Schools

Students who attend Central Elementary School usually attend:

High:

White Pigeon JrSr High School

Racial breakdown:

White:

89.6%

Hispanic:

7.4%

Two or more races:

2.7%

See top rated Michigan elementary schools

Compare Central Elementary School to nearby elementary schools!

At a glance

▲ Ranking trend: Improving — 32nd percentile in 2016 → 37th in 2026

Strengths

✓Ranking is trending up — up 5 percentile points since 2016

Worth a look

!Test scores below the Michigan average (30% vs 38% meeting standards)

!Some student groups rank well below the school's overall statewide standing

!Social Studies scores 18 pts below the Michigan average

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school30%

District avg30%

Michigan avg38%

942^nd of 1,492

Michigan public elementary schools ?

Bottom 37%▲ up 5 pts since 2016

From bottom 32% (2016) to bottom 37% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of Michigan Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

477^th of 625White Pigeon Community 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	34.0	942 of 1492	36.9%	★★☆☆☆
2025	22.3	1122 of 1488	24.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	25.6	1085 of 1486	27.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	20.7	1136 of 1470	22.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	17.2	1116 of 1344	17.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	15.5	1010 of 1153	12.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	24.0	1065 of 1408	24.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	31.0	1064 of 1448	26.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2017	22.6	1123 of 1466	23.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2016	33.4	1058 of 1548	31.7%	★★☆☆☆
2015	36.3	1067 of 1580	32.5%	★★☆☆☆
2014	48.1	862 of 1533	43.8%	★★☆☆☆
2013	34.6	1119 of 1563	28.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2012	42.7	1008 of 1566	35.6%	★★☆☆☆
2011	52.7	947 of 1552	39.0%	★★☆☆☆
2010	55.3	962 of 1552	38.0%	★★☆☆☆
2009	63.9	699 of 1589	56.0%	★★★☆☆
2008	54.3	930 of 1577	41.0%	★★☆☆☆
2007	55.8	860 of 1565	45.0%	★★☆☆☆
2006	53.1	897 of 1545	41.9%	★★☆☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Michigan percentile	Rating
2026	35.9	820 of 1343	38.9%	★★☆☆☆
2025	17.5	1119 of 1338	16.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	15.2	1165 of 1342	13.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	18.7	1084 of 1321	17.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	21.2	912 of 1106	17.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	10.3	861 of 902	4.5%	☆☆☆☆☆
2019	19.1	987 of 1171	15.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	33.2	1003 of 1443	30.5%	★★☆☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Michigan percentile	Rating
2026	40.2	787 of 1352	41.8%	★★☆☆☆
2025	32.2	924 of 1346	31.4%	★★☆☆☆
2024	25.1	1079 of 1381	21.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	21.6	1090 of 1350	19.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	42.0	620 of 1099	43.6%	★★☆☆☆
2021	20.2	661 of 749	11.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	29.0	856 of 1134	24.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	27.1	1108 of 1397	20.7%	★☆☆☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Michigan percentile	Rating
2026	31.4	915 of 1372	33.3%	★★☆☆☆
2025	21.1	1064 of 1366	22.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	27.1	967 of 1347	28.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	16.2	1124 of 1334	15.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	22.9	885 of 1139	22.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	29.6	672 of 915	26.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	20.8	989 of 1196	17.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	28.5	1075 of 1446	25.7%	★☆☆☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Michigan percentile	Rating
2026	20.8	996 of 1199	16.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	11.5	1122 of 1206	7.0%	☆☆☆☆☆
2024	14.5	1077 of 1204	10.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	12.3	1103 of 1198	7.9%	☆☆☆☆☆
2022	10.4	1046 of 1102	5.1%	☆☆☆☆☆
2021	15.5	909 of 1005	9.6%	☆☆☆☆☆
2019	15.8	1017 of 1128	9.8%	☆☆☆☆☆
2018	20.0	1080 of 1253	13.8%	★☆☆☆☆

Middle school ranking

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Michigan percentile	Rating
2009	68.2	316 of 847	62.7%	★★★☆☆
2008	68.5	286 of 839	65.9%	★★★☆☆
2007	65.9	323 of 823	60.8%	★★★☆☆
2006	47.0	559 of 806	30.6%	★★☆☆☆

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)42nd percentile+5 vs school

Female (2026)39th percentile~ school

Male (2026)33rd percentile-4 vs school

White (2026)17th percentile-20 vs school

By subject vs Michigan (2025-2026) ?

Science35%-5 vs state

English Language Arts35%-6 vs state

Math30%-8 vs state

Social Studies10%-18 vs state

★

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Schools Near Central Elementary 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)				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	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 Math 6th 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
Central Elementary School	Public, Magnet	K-5	305 E Hotchin Ave	White Pigeon	49099	St. Joseph County	White Pigeon Community Schools	No	Yes	No	Yes	(269) 483-7107	366	22	16.7	51.4%	328 (89.6%)	1 (0.3%)	27 (7.4%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	10 (2.7%)	34	942^nd of 1492 public elementary schools	36.9%		22.3	1122^nd of 1488 public elementary schools	24.6%	180	42.6	31.3	31.7		34.0	31.3	26.6		34.9	9.5	$13,049	$1,370	$11,679
Eastside Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-2	935 White Pigeon Rd	Constantine	49042	St. Joseph County	Constantine Public School District	No	No	No	Yes	(269) 435-8960	230	18	12.8	63.0%	194 (84.3%)	5 (2.2%)	25 (10.9%)	1 (0.4%)	1 (0.4%)	0 (0.0%)	4 (1.7%)								(n/a)											$17,091	$1,916	$15,175
Riverside Elementary School	Public	3-5	600 W 6th St	Constantine	49042	St. Joseph County	Constantine Public School District	No	No	No	Yes	(269) 435-8950	256	17	15.3	59.0%	217 (84.8%)	6 (2.3%)	26 (10.2%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	7 (2.7%)	28.1	1034^th of 1492 public elementary schools	30.7%		30.6	1004^th of 1488 public elementary schools	32.5%	30	22.6	26.3	37.8		36.9	26.3	25.7		24.3	14.9	$14,656	$1,857	$12,799
Andrews Elementary School	Public, Magnet	PK, KG-5	200 S Douglas Ave	Three Rivers	49093	St. Joseph County	Three Rivers Community Schools	No	Yes	No	Yes	(269) 279-1140	296	17	17.4	47.6%	225 (76.0%)	31 (10.5%)	9 (3.0%)	3 (1.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	28 (9.5%)	71.1	390^th of 1492 public elementary schools	73.9%		51.5	696^th of 1488 public elementary schools	53.2%	306	54.9	56.3	48.1		72.5	72.9	38.5		50.0	17.3	$14,029	$1,412	$12,617
Norton Elementary School	Public	K-5	59692 Al Jones Rd	Three Rivers	49093	St. Joseph County	Three Rivers Community Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(269) 244-1144	186	12	15.5	50.5%	138 (74.2%)	8 (4.3%)	24 (12.9%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.5%)	15 (8.1%)								(n/a)	33.3				50.0						$16,526	$1,557	$14,969
Centreville Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-6	190 Hogan St	Centreville	49032	St. Joseph County	Centreville Public Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(269) 467-5201	482	29	16.6	56.6%	423 (87.8%)	11 (2.3%)	16 (3.3%)	4 (0.8%)	3 (0.6%)	0 (0.0%)	25 (5.2%)	49.4	705^th of 1492 public elementary schools	52.7%		39.4	874^th of 1488 public elementary schools	41.3%	169	31.1	30.1	44.4	58.3	32.8	26.0	28.6	36.1	42.9	34.9	$14,942	$843	$14,099
Ruth Hoppin School	Public, Magnet	K-5	415 N Main St	Three Rivers	49093	St. Joseph County	Three Rivers Community Schools	No	Yes	No	Yes	(269) 279-1142	293	17	17.2	47.4%	215 (73.4%)	26 (8.9%)	29 (9.9%)	1 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (0.7%)	20 (6.8%)	48.8	716^th of 1492 public elementary schools	52.0%		50.7	708^th of 1488 public elementary schools	52.4%	8	28.8	39.6	47.3		38.5	29.2	42.6		46.3	24.1	$15,256	$1,304	$13,953
Wenzel School	Public	K-2	403 East St	Sturgis	49091	St. Joseph County	Sturgis Public Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(269) 659-1575	148	8	18.2	85.8%	82 (55.4%)	0 (0.0%)	55 (37.2%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	11 (7.4%)								(n/a)											$13,509	$1,993	$11,516
Congress School	Public	K-2	421 E Congress St	Sturgis	49091	St. Joseph County	Sturgis Public Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(269) 659-1565	162	12	14.0	70.4%	94 (58.0%)	0 (0.0%)	64 (39.5%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	4 (2.5%)								(n/a)											$15,065	$1,701	$13,363
Wall School	Public	K-2	702 E Lafayette St	Sturgis	49091	St. Joseph County	Sturgis Public Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(269) 659-1570	292	20	14.6	71.2%	157 (53.8%)	4 (1.4%)	123 (42.1%)	2 (0.7%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	6 (2.1%)								(n/a)											$15,274	$1,826	$13,448

Frequently Asked Questions about Central Elementary School

Is Central Elementary School a good school?

Central Elementary School ranks 942^nd of 1492 Michigan elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

How many students attend Central Elementary School?

In the 2024-25 school year, 366 students attended Central Elementary School.

What district is Central Elementary School in?

White Pigeon Community Schools

What is the racial makeup of Central Elementary School?

Students at Central Elementary School are 90% White, 7% Hispanic, 3% Two or more races.

What schools do graduates of Central Elementary School attend?

Students who attend Central Elementary School usually go on to attend:

High : White Pigeon JrSr High 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.