Summary:
Zip code 49685 in Traverse City, MI is home to three elementary schools—Westwoods Elementary School, Long Lake Elementary School, and Blair Elementary School—all serving grades PK through 5 under the Traverse City Area Public Schools district, which holds a 4-star state rating.
Westwoods is the clear academic leader, ranking in the 83rd percentile statewide with average proficiency around 55% across subjects. It outperforms district and state averages in nearly every grade and subject, with standout results like 69.1% proficiency in 4th-grade ELA and 67.2% in 3rd-grade math. Long Lake sits in the middle (64th percentile) but is improving, jumping from the 49th percentile the prior year. It also excels in 5th-grade science (55.3% proficient). Blair, by contrast, ranks in the 22nd percentile (1 star) and struggles significantly—only 12.9% of its 4th graders were proficient in ELA, far below the district average of 49.5%. Blair also has the highest chronic absenteeism rate (32%) and the largest share of students from low-income families (63.86%), compared to roughly 24-32% at the other two schools.
One striking finding is the spending paradox: Blair spends about $20,986 per student—$6,000 more than Westwoods—and has a lower student-teacher ratio (11.2 vs. 17.7), yet its outcomes are dramatically lower. This suggests that while resources are being directed to the neediest school, they haven’t yet translated into academic gains, likely due to challenges tied to poverty and absenteeism. Long Lake’s upward trend and Westwoods’ consistent strength offer models of success, while Blair’s declining ranking (from the 50th to 22nd percentile over three years) signals an urgent need for targeted interventions beyond funding alone. For parents, Westwoods offers the strongest academics, Long Lake is a solid and improving option, and Blair, despite extra resources, faces significant hurdles that families should investigate closely.
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