Summary:
Zip code 49769 is home to a single elementary school, Pellston Elementary School, which serves grades PK-5 within the Pellston Public Schools district, a rural area with a student body of 220 where over half of students qualify for free or reduced lunch.
As the only elementary school in the area, Pellston Elementary School stands out for its consistently strong academic performance, ranking in the top 20% of Michigan elementary schools for three straight years with a stable 4-star rating. The school is particularly impressive in STEM subjects, with 5th-grade math and science proficiency rates of 62.2% in the 2025-2026 school year—nearly double the state average in math (32.2%) and well above the state's 40% science proficiency. English language arts scores also exceed state averages across all grade levels, ranging from 45.9% to 55.9% proficiency. The school benefits from substantial resources, spending $18,426 per student and maintaining a favorable 11:1 student-teacher ratio, which likely supports more individualized instruction and helps explain the strong outcomes despite a majority-low-income student population.
Parents should note that while the school performs exceptionally well overall, test scores show significant year-over-year fluctuation—for example, 3rd-grade ELA jumped from 36.8% to 55.9% between 2024-2025 and 2025-2026, while 4th-grade math dropped from 73% to 59.1%. This volatility is common in small schools where a single class can skew percentages. On a positive note, the chronic absenteeism rate of 22.6% is notably lower than both the district (26.9%) and state (27.9%) averages, indicating good attendance. The combination of high per-student spending, low class sizes, and strong academic results—particularly in math and science—makes Pellston Elementary School a high-performing option that appears to be effectively serving its community.
Thank you for your feedback!