Summary:
Zip code 49801 is home to a single elementary school, North Elementary School, which serves grades Kindergarten through 4th grade within the Iron Mountain Public Schools district, enrolling 263 students in a mid-sized, predominantly low-income community setting.
As the only elementary option in this area, North Elementary presents a mixed profile for parents to consider. The school’s greatest academic strength is mathematics, where students consistently outperform state averages. In the most recent testing year, 3rd graders achieved a 58.8% math proficiency rate—nearly 16 points above the state average—and 4th graders posted a 43.5% rate, also above the state norm. English Language Arts performance is more variable: 3rd grade ELA proficiency dipped to 40.4% (still slightly above the state’s 38.2%), while 4th grade ELA matched the state average at 41.3%. Notably, the school’s state ranking has slipped from the 81st percentile (4 stars) in 2023-2024 to the 64th percentile (3 stars) in 2025-2026, though this decline appears tied to other schools improving faster rather than a collapse in absolute test scores.
One of the most encouraging findings is the school’s chronic absenteeism rate of just 14.8%, which is nearly half the district average (28.5%) and well below the state average (27.9%)—a remarkable achievement given that 63.5% of students qualify for free or reduced lunch. This suggests strong family engagement and a supportive school culture. However, parents should note the school spends a relatively high $14,557 per student while maintaining a student-teacher ratio of 18.2:1, implying funds may go toward specialized programs or non-instructional staff rather than smaller class sizes. Overall, North Elementary offers solid math instruction and excellent attendance, but families should weigh the declining state ranking and uneven ELA results when making enrollment decisions.
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