Ann Arbor's King Elementary ranks fifth in Michigan

Martin Luther King Elementary School on Waldenwood Drive earned the highest ranking of any Ann Arbor elementary school in the 2027 U.S. News & World Report Best Elementary Schools rankings, placing No. 5 statewide out of 1,499 ranked schools.

The school scored 99.73 out of 100. At King Elementary, 85% of students scored at or above the proficient level in math and 81% in reading, according to U.S. News. Both figures far exceed the Ann Arbor Public Schools (AAPS) elementary-school averages of 60% in math and 62% in reading.

Statewide, the gap is even wider. Across Michigan, just 38% of elementary students tested proficient in math and 42% in reading.

The U.S. News profile lists 511 students in grades K-5, 33 full-time-equivalent teachers and a 15-to-1 student-teacher ratio. All full-time teachers were listed as certified.

Four other Ann Arbor schools also placed in the top 55 statewide. Angell School ranked No. 11 with a 99.33 score, followed by Wines Elementary at No. 24, Lawton School at No. 43 and Bach Elementary at No. 52.

On the school’s administration page, Principal Orlando Bogins emphasizes relationships with students, families and staff. “I believe education has the power to change lives,” he writes.

The U.S. News rankings weigh four factors equally at 25% each: math proficiency, math performance, reading proficiency and reading performance. Half the formula assesses raw test scores, while the other half factors in results relative to a school's socioeconomic demographics, according to U.S. News' methodology explanation. Only public schools are included because they participate in common statewide assessments.

The assessment data underlying the 2027 edition comes from the 2023-2024 school year. In total, U.S. News ranked 46,713 elementary schools nationwide.