James Noble Sherwood House · Photo: rossograph · CC BY-SA 3.0Gun Plain Township’s public schools outscore 64% of Michigan districts
The grade covers the public school district serving Gun Plain Township, from kindergarten through graduation, on state tests and graduation. Each state writes its own tests, so this is the one TownRatings grade compared within Michigan, not nationally.
From Michigan state tests taken in spring 2022, when 96% of students in the tested grades sat them, and the class of 2023’s four-year graduation rate, as reported to the U.S. Department of Education.
Gun Plain Township’s schools, in brief
Against towns with similar incomes
Among the 903 Michigan towns with household incomes within a quarter of Gun Plain Township’s, its schools beat 47%, lower than their 64% against all the state’s districts. The grade ↓
Above the state on tests
Reading proficiency is 48% and math 37% in spring 2022, against 45% and 34% statewide; 81% of the class of 2023 graduated in four years, against 82%. Test scores ↓
Spending and class size
The district spends $13,495 per student, against $16,528 across Michigan (FY2024). Spending doesn’t count toward the grade. Districts ↓
Three elementary schools, then one middle school
Which elementary school depends on the address; from grade 6 the district’s path is Plainwell Middle School. See the path ↓
Written from the figures on this page. Tests are from 2021–22, graduation from the class of 2023; each school’s own letter uses 2020–21 results.
What’s behind Gun Plain Township’s grade
B: better than 64% of Michigan school districts, #374 of 699 Michigan towns. Test scores are above the Michigan average; graduation is below it.
Where will my kid go?
Pick a grade. These are the public schools that serve Gun Plain Township, with each school’s own grade.
Pre-K in Gun Plain Township · depends on your address
Gilkey Elementary School
Grades PK–5 · 439 students · 18:1 students per teacher · in Plainwell
Starr Elementary School
Grades PK–5 · 410 students · 15:1 students per teacher · in Plainwell
Cooper Elementary School
Grades PK–5 · 288 students · 17:1 students per teacher · in Kalamazoo
Kindergarten in Gun Plain Township · depends on your address
Gilkey Elementary School
Grades PK–5 · 439 students · 18:1 students per teacher · in Plainwell
Starr Elementary School
Grades PK–5 · 410 students · 15:1 students per teacher · in Plainwell
Cooper Elementary School
Grades PK–5 · 288 students · 17:1 students per teacher · in Kalamazoo
1st grade in Gun Plain Township · depends on your address
Gilkey Elementary School
Grades PK–5 · 439 students · 18:1 students per teacher · in Plainwell
Starr Elementary School
Grades PK–5 · 410 students · 15:1 students per teacher · in Plainwell
Cooper Elementary School
Grades PK–5 · 288 students · 17:1 students per teacher · in Kalamazoo
2nd grade in Gun Plain Township · depends on your address
Gilkey Elementary School
Grades PK–5 · 439 students · 18:1 students per teacher · in Plainwell
Starr Elementary School
Grades PK–5 · 410 students · 15:1 students per teacher · in Plainwell
Cooper Elementary School
Grades PK–5 · 288 students · 17:1 students per teacher · in Kalamazoo
3rd grade in Gun Plain Township · depends on your address
Gilkey Elementary School
Grades PK–5 · 439 students · 18:1 students per teacher · in Plainwell
Starr Elementary School
Grades PK–5 · 410 students · 15:1 students per teacher · in Plainwell
Cooper Elementary School
Grades PK–5 · 288 students · 17:1 students per teacher · in Kalamazoo
4th grade in Gun Plain Township · depends on your address
Gilkey Elementary School
Grades PK–5 · 439 students · 18:1 students per teacher · in Plainwell
Starr Elementary School
Grades PK–5 · 410 students · 15:1 students per teacher · in Plainwell
Cooper Elementary School
Grades PK–5 · 288 students · 17:1 students per teacher · in Kalamazoo
5th grade in Gun Plain Township · depends on your address
Gilkey Elementary School
Grades PK–5 · 439 students · 18:1 students per teacher · in Plainwell
Starr Elementary School
Grades PK–5 · 410 students · 15:1 students per teacher · in Plainwell
Cooper Elementary School
Grades PK–5 · 288 students · 17:1 students per teacher · in Kalamazoo
6th grade in Gun Plain Township
Plainwell Middle School
Grades 6–8 · 569 students · 17:1 students per teacher · in Plainwell
7th grade in Gun Plain Township
Plainwell Middle School
Grades 6–8 · 569 students · 17:1 students per teacher · in Plainwell
8th grade in Gun Plain Township
Plainwell Middle School
Grades 6–8 · 569 students · 17:1 students per teacher · in Plainwell
Gun Plain Township’s public schools are run by Plainwell Community Schools, which also serves Cooper and Plainwell. Parts of Gun Plain Township (7% of its land) are served by Martin instead. To confirm the school for a specific address, ask the district.
The district
Spending and class size are shown but don’t count toward the grade. Each district’s own page has every school.
Above the state in reading
Gun Plain Township vs. its neighbors
Schools grades for the Michigan towns that share Gun Plain Township’s borders.
| Town | Schools | Main districts |
|---|---|---|
| Gun Plain Township | B | Plainwell |
| Plainwell | B | Plainwell |
| Otsego | A | Otsego |
| Prairieville | A− | Delton-Kellogg PK–12 · Gull Lake PK–12 |
| Martin | B− | Martin |
| Cooper | B | Plainwell PK–12 · Parchment PK–12 |
2 of the 5 neighbors share Plainwell with Gun Plain Township, so their letters differ mainly through other districts.
Every school in Gun Plain Township
4 schools. Each public school’s letter compares its own 2020–21 reading and math results with Michigan’s other public schools (the newest school-level results we have).
Questions about Gun Plain Township’s schools
Are Gun Plain Township’s schools good?
They sit near the middle of Michigan: the public schools Gun Plain Township children attend outscore 64% of Michigan’s school districts on tests and graduation, a B Schools grade, #374 of 699 Michigan towns. Among towns with similar incomes they beat 47%. Tests are from 2021–22, graduation from the class of 2023.
What school district is Gun Plain Township in?
Plainwell Community Schools, which runs grades PK–12 and enrolls 2,620 students in 6 schools (2024–25). Small parts of Gun Plain Township are served by Martin.
What is Gun Plain Township’s graduation rate?
81% of the class of 2023 in Plainwell Community Schools graduated in four years, against 82% across Michigan.
How much does Gun Plain Township spend per student?
$13,495 in Plainwell Community Schools (FY2024), against $16,528 across Michigan. Spending doesn’t count toward the grade.
Parents talk
What Gun Plain Township families are saying about school.
Looking for colleges? Colleges near Gun Plain Township → They have their own page.
School data: state test results (2021–22, with participation) and four-year graduation rates (class of 2023) reported to the U.S. Department of Education (EDFacts via ED Data Express); each school’s own letter uses its 2020–21 results (EDFacts via the Urban Institute); schools and enrollment from NCES (2024–25; private schools 2023–24); spending from the Census Bureau’s school finance survey (FY2024). The School Grade is our own summary, graded within Michigan. Stars are from neighbors.