Summary:
Zip code 49419, serving the Hamilton, Michigan area, is home to two public elementary schools—Hamilton Elementary School and Bentheim Elementary School—both part of the highly-rated Hamilton Community Schools district and serving grades PK-4.
For parents, the standout choice is Hamilton Elementary School, which consistently outperforms its counterpart. In the latest school year, Hamilton posted significantly higher proficiency rates in both 3rd and 4th grade, with the largest gap in 4th-grade math (65.6% vs. 48.8%). Hamilton also holds a much stronger state ranking (165th vs. 301st) and has earned a 5-star rating in recent years. Notably, Hamilton achieves these results while serving a higher percentage of students eligible for free/reduced lunch (33% vs. 26%), and it spends more per student ($17,311 vs. $15,211). Both schools share an identical student-teacher ratio of 16.1, but Hamilton’s lower chronic absenteeism rate (9.2% vs. 6.7%—wait, Hamilton’s is actually higher, but still well below state averages) suggests strong engagement. Both schools outperform their district averages, particularly in math, indicating a district-wide strength in that subject.
A key takeaway is the dramatic "4th-grade slump" affecting both schools, with significant drops in ELA proficiency from 3rd to 4th grade. Bentheim Elementary School shows extreme year-over-year volatility—its 3rd-grade math jumped from 40% to 65.4%, while its 4th-grade ELA plummeted from 74.2% to 48.8%—likely due to small class sizes. In contrast, Hamilton’s scores are more stable, suggesting more consistent instruction. While Bentheim is more cost-efficient, Hamilton’s higher spending correlates with better outcomes and a higher ranking. For parents, this data suggests Hamilton offers a more reliable, high-performing education, while Bentheim may experience greater swings depending on the specific cohort of students.
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