Best Elementary Schools in Zip Code 49337

Zip code 49337 is served by a single elementary school, Newaygo Elementary School, which educates students in grades kindergarten through 4th grade in the Newaygo, Michigan area.

As the only elementary school in this zip code, Newaygo Elementary School serves as the primary educational hub for the community's youngest learners, with a substantial enrollment of 635 students. The school maintains a student-to-teacher ratio of 18.2:1. Academically, the school shows a mixed picture. In the most recent 2025-2026 school year, 4th grade students demonstrated notable strength in both English Language Arts (38.7% proficiency) and math (38.7% proficiency), nearly matching state averages in both subjects. However, 3rd grade performance lags significantly, particularly in English Language Arts where only 23.3% of students are proficient compared to the state average of 38.2%. This represents a concerning decline from the previous year when 3rd grade ELA proficiency was 29.3%. The school's overall ranking has remained stable over three years, consistently placing in the 35th to 38th percentile among Michigan elementary schools.

For parents, several key factors stand out. The school serves a predominantly low-income population, with 61.57% of students qualifying for free or reduced lunch, yet per-student spending of $15,023 is relatively robust. Chronic absenteeism affects 20.8% of students, which is notably lower than the district's 27.9% rate, suggesting effective attendance initiatives at this school. The school is part of the Newaygo Public School District, which holds a 2-star rating statewide. A positive trend is the significant improvement in 4th grade math proficiency, which jumped from 34.2% to 38.7% year-over-year, nearly reaching the state average. However, the decline in 3rd grade reading proficiency is a concern, as this is a critical predictor of future academic success. The consistent pattern of 4th graders outperforming 3rd graders suggests that students may be making academic gains as they progress through the school.