Best Elementary Schools in Zip Code 49080

Zip code 49080 in Plainwell, Michigan, is home to two elementary schools—Gilkey Elementary School and Starr Elementary School—both serving grades PK-5 under the Plainwell Community Schools district, which itself ranks in the middle of Michigan districts.

These two schools present a stark contrast in academic outcomes despite sharing the same district leadership. Gilkey Elementary School is the clear standout, consistently ranking in the top 40% of Michigan elementary schools with stable, above-average performance across all subjects. For example, in 2025-2026, 52.9% of Gilkey’s 3rd graders were proficient in ELA compared to just 24.6% at Starr Elementary School—a 28-point gap. The math gap is similarly wide, with Gilkey’s 3rd graders at 45.7% proficiency versus Starr’s 18.3%. Starr, by contrast, has ranked in the bottom third of the state for three consecutive years, showing no meaningful improvement. Interestingly, Starr actually spends more per student ($16,349 vs. $13,126) and has a lower student-teacher ratio (15.0 vs. 18.2), yet still underperforms, suggesting that additional resources alone aren’t driving results. Poverty levels differ notably too, with 53.9% of Starr students qualifying for free/reduced lunch versus 32.35% at Gilkey.

One surprising finding is that Gilkey has a much higher chronic absenteeism rate (40.9%) than Starr (24.3%), yet Gilkey still outperforms academically—implying strong instructional quality at Gilkey that overcomes attendance challenges. Both schools struggle in social studies, falling below the state average, and both show declining math proficiency by 5th grade. However, Starr’s 5th graders nearly close the ELA gap (43.8% vs. Gilkey’s 47.8%), matching the state average exactly. For parents, the takeaway is clear: Gilkey Elementary School offers consistently stronger academics, while Starr Elementary School faces greater challenges despite higher funding—suggesting the district should investigate replicating Gilkey’s successful practices at Starr.