operational schools · 2023–24
School district or education agency · NCES 2628530
Plainwell Community Schools
Kalamazoo, MI
Students2,647
Student membership reported by NCES for 2023–24.
students in linked records
federal comparable series
per student
Profile coverage
8 of 8 core data areas available
Each area is matched to this district’s NCES ID. Dates show the reporting year. Source links and coverage were last checked August 26, 2026.
✓Academic results2025Current release✓Attendance2022–23Current release✓Spending2022–23Current release✓Enrollment & staffing2023–24Current release✓Student support2021–22Older federal release✓Safety & civil rights2021–22Older federal release✓Community context2023Current release✓Programs & opportunities2021–22Older federal release
Five things to know
The district at a glance
Every answer links to the underlying measure. Reporting years stay attached to the data.
01Comparable nationwide
Explore outcomes by student group →Are students making academic progress?
5 years of resultsLatest research estimate: 2025Explore →02Comparable nationwideAre students missing too much school?
22.9% chronically absent2022–23 · 2,607 students measuredExplore →03Comparable nationwideIs the district improving?
Declined overallCompare the earliest and latest available yearsExplore →04Comparable nationwideHow much does the district spend?
$13,191current spending per studentExplore →05Comparable nationwideDoes the district have enough support staff?
490:1 counselor ratioStudents per counselor in the 2023–24 federal staffing fileExplore →Student outcomes
How are students doing?
Four views answer different questions. State test percentages show grade-level expectations; the national research trend shows change over time; graduation and dropout measures describe high-school outcomes.
Are results improving over time?
42ndlatest estimated national standing
20192022202320242025
13 percentile points lower than 2019.
How many high-school students left during the year?
2.9%of students enrolled in grades 9–12
District2.9%
MI3.6%
U.S.2.6%
Lower is better. This annual rate is not the opposite of the graduation rate because the measures use different students and time periods.
State proficiency standards differ and should not be used for cross-state rankings. Graduation ranges and privacy protections are preserved exactly. The academic trend uses Stanford Education Data Archive estimates and is not a state proficiency percentage.
Graduation · 2022–23
How many students graduated within four years?
Loading the district's official graduation record…
What has changed?
The district’s recent direction
Each card uses its own clearly labeled period. Measures from different sources are never blended.
Lower than the first comparable year.
2019–2025 · Stanford research estimateHigher than the first year. More students were chronically absent.
2020–21–2022–23Student enrollment declined.
2021–22 to 2023–24 · NCESSpending per student increased before adjusting for inflation.
FY 2022 to FY 2023 · NCES F-33Enrollment 2023–24Finance 2022–23Attendance 2022–23State tests 2024–25 where published
Enrollment · 2023–24
Who attends this district?
Pre-K13 students
0.5%Kindergarten–grade 51,142 students
43.1%Grades 6–8587 students
22.2%Grades 9–12905 students
34.2%See enrollment for every grade
Pre-Kindergarten13
Kindergarten228
Grade 1168
Grade 2185
Grade 3189
Grade 4199
Grade 5173
Grade 6186
Grade 7199
Grade 8202
Grade 9209
Grade 10229
Grade 11236
Grade 12231
Students by race and ethnicity
Final NCES Common Core of Data membership file, 2023–24. Suppressed or missing cells are not estimated.
Early learning · 2023–24
How much public pre-K is reported?
Pre-K students as a share of district enrollment
Final NCES Common Core of Data membership and staff files, 2023–24. Enrollment shows children attending district-run public pre-K. It does not show open seats, waitlists, private providers, program hours, eligibility or the cost to families.
Current staffing · 2023–24
How many staff members support students?
See detailed staffing
Pre-K teachers1 FTE
Kindergarten teachers11 FTE
Elementary teachers49.3 FTE
Secondary teachers70.5 FTE
Ungraded teachers18.4 FTE
Secondary school counselors3.4 FTE
District administrators6.9 FTE
District administrative support2 FTE
School administrative support22 FTE
Library and media support4.5 FTE
Other support staff52.1 FTE
Final NCES Common Core of Data staff file, 2023–24. These are full-time-equivalent positions, not employee headcounts, vacancies or caseloads.
High-school outcomes · 2023–24
How many students completed school or dropped out?
Regular diplomas among completers
Annual dropouts among students in grades 9–12
Final NCES Common Core of Data completer and dropout files, 2023–24. The dropout rate divides the reported annual grades 9–12 dropout count by complete grades 9–12 enrollment. It is not a cohort graduation rate. The diploma share describes credentials among completers and should not be read as a graduation rate.
Teachers and staff
Teacher workforce
Loading the district’s workforce comparison…
Community context · 2024
How many school-age children live in poverty?
This Census estimate provides context about families in the district. It does not measure school quality or describe every student enrolled in the district.
U.S. Census Bureau Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates, 2024. The estimate covers related children ages 5 to 17 in families in poverty and uses 2024–25 district boundaries.
District geography · 2024–25
What area does this district cover?
NCES publishes a geographic boundary for traditional school districts. Charter agencies and some special-purpose agencies may not have one.
Loading the official district boundary…
Source: NCES EDGE School District Boundaries, school year 2024–25.
Comparable districts
Districts serving a similar student population
These peers are matched using enrollment and available student population measures. Districts in MI receive geographic preference, but a closer national match may appear when it is more comparable. Open any profile for a full comparison.
Lakeshore School District (Berrien)Stevensville, MI
- Students
- 2,672
- Community poverty
- 7.1%
- English learners
- 3.4%
- Special education
- 10.2%
- Students
- 2,648
- Community poverty
- 11.1%
- English learners
- 0.9%
- Special education
- 15.1%
- Students
- 2,600
- Community poverty
- 4.8%
- English learners
- 0.9%
- Special education
- 9.4%
- Students
- 2,687
- Community poverty
- 9.8%
- English learners
- 0.6%
- Special education
- 10.4%
- Students
- 2,600
- Community poverty
- 8.6%
- English learners
- 3.6%
- Special education
- 10.2%
District, state and country
How does this district compare?
State and national figures use the same measure and reporting period. They are weighted by students or staffing whenever the source provides a denominator.
MeasureDistrictMIUnited States
Academic standing2025Mixed comparison
42nd percentile41st percentile45th percentileThis district is 1 percentile points higher than the state figure and 3 percentile points lower than the U.S. figure.
Students chronically absent2022–23Stronger than benchmarks
22.9%33.3%27.8%This district is 10.4 percentage points lower than the state figure and 4.9 percentage points lower than the U.S. figure.
Revenue per studentFY 2023Context only
$17,212$18,803$19,509This district is $1,591 per student lower than the state figure and $2,297 per student lower than the U.S. figure.
Spending per studentFY 2023Context only
$13,191$15,316$15,859This district is $2,125 per student lower than the state figure and $2,668 per student lower than the U.S. figure.
Capital outlay per studentFY 2023Context only
$4,257$2,346$1,964This district is $1,911 per student higher than the state figure and $2,293 per student higher than the U.S. figure.
Equipment spending per studentFY 2023Context only
$457$571$336This district is $114 per student lower than the state figure and $121 per student higher than the U.S. figure.
Special-education spending per studentFY 2023Context only
$0$0$1,793This district is about the same as the state figure and $1,793 per student lower than the U.S. figure.
Salaries per studentFY 2023Context only
$5,643$6,165$8,742This district is $522 per student lower than the state figure and $3,099 per student lower than the U.S. figure.
Benefits per studentFY 2023Context only
$4,772$5,003$3,769This district is $231 per student lower than the state figure and $1,003 per student higher than the U.S. figure.
Debt outstanding per studentFY 2023Context only
$24,362$15,337$11,715This district is $9,025 per student higher than the state figure and $12,647 per student higher than the U.S. figure.
Debt retired per studentFY 2023Context only
$1,721$1,154$869This district is $567 per student higher than the state figure and $852 per student higher than the U.S. figure.
Students per teacher2023–24Needs attention
18:117:115:1This district is 1.0 students per teacher higher than the state figure and 3.0 students per teacher higher than the U.S. figure.
Students per counselor2023–24Mixed comparison
490:1574:1376:1This district is 84 students per counselor lower than the state figure and 114 students per counselor higher than the U.S. figure.
District staff per 1,000 students2023–24Needs attention
127.0142.6138.9This district is 15.6 staff per 1,000 students lower than the state figure and 11.9 staff per 1,000 students lower than the U.S. figure.
Instructional aides per 1,000 students2023–24Needs attention
15.015.418.5This district is 0.4 aides per 1,000 students lower than the state figure and 3.5 aides per 1,000 students lower than the U.S. figure.
School psychologists per 1,000 students2023–24Needs attention
0.40.70.9This district is 0.3 psychologists per 1,000 students lower than the state figure and 0.5 psychologists per 1,000 students lower than the U.S. figure.
Regular diplomas among completers2023–24Mixed comparison
98.9%98.5%99.0%This district is 0.4 percentage points higher than the state figure and 0.1 percentage points lower than the U.S. figure.
Annual dropouts among students in grades 9–122023–24Mixed comparison
2.9%3.6%2.6%This district is 0.7 percentage points lower than the state figure and 0.3 percentage points higher than the U.S. figure.
Pre-K students as a share of enrollment2023–24Context only
0.5%3.4%2.9%This district is 2.9 percentage points lower than the state figure and 2.4 percentage points lower than the U.S. figure.
Students learning English2021–22 · reporting schoolsContext only
1.4%8.0%12.0%This district is 6.5 percentage points lower than the state figure and 10.6 percentage points lower than the U.S. figure.
Students receiving IDEA services2021–22 · reporting schoolsContext only
10.2%13.4%14.0%This district is 3.3 percentage points lower than the state figure and 3.8 percentage points lower than the U.S. figure.
Students with Section 504 plans2021–22 · reporting schoolsContext only
9.0%2.9%3.9%This district is 6.1 percentage points higher than the state figure and 5.1 percentage points higher than the U.S. figure.
Teachers reported as certified2021–22 · reporting schoolsContext only
93.6%95.7%95.8%This district is 2.1 percentage points lower than the state figure and 2.2 percentage points lower than the U.S. figure.
Enrollment change2021–22 to 2023–24Context only
-0.4%+1.6%+0.5%This district is 2.0 percentage points lower than the state figure and 0.9 percentage points lower than the U.S. figure.
Students eligible for free or reduced-price meals2021–22 · valid district recordsContext only
39.4%51.1%50.6%This district is 11.7 percentage points lower than the state figure and 11.2 percentage points lower than the U.S. figure.
Out-of-school suspension rate · students without disabilities2021–22 · matched enrollmentNeeds attention
9.9%6.1%4.5%This district is 3.8 percentage points higher than the state figure and 5.4 percentage points higher than the U.S. figure.
Out-of-school suspension rate · students receiving IDEA services2021–22 · matched enrollmentNeeds attention
14.0%11.6%9.0%This district is 2.4 percentage points higher than the state figure and 5.0 percentage points higher than the U.S. figure.
Out-of-school suspension rate · students with Section 504 plans2021–22 · matched enrollmentNeeds attention
7.9%7.0%6.7%This district is 0.9 percentage points higher than the state figure and 1.2 percentage points higher than the U.S. figure.
School-age children in poverty2024 Census estimateStronger than benchmarks
6.8%16.4%14.4%This district is 9.6 percentage points lower than the state figure and 7.6 percentage points lower than the U.S. figure.
Learning support · 2021–22 federal snapshot
How many students may need specialized support?
Counts and shares use only schools with a usable value for that measure. The reporting-school denominator prevents missing schools from being counted as zero.
1.4%Students learning English37 students · 6 of 7 schools reported both this measure and enrollment
10.2%Students receiving IDEA special-education services242 students · 6 of 7 schools reported both this measure and enrollment
9.0%Students with Section 504 plans239 students · 7 of 7 schools reported both this measure and enrollment
0.0%English learners also receiving IDEA services1 students · 6 of 7 schools reported both this measure and enrollment
U.S. Department of Education Civil Rights Data Collection, 2021–22. Public-use counts are privacy-protected. These figures describe the reporting year, not current enrollment, diagnoses, service quality or unmet need.
Teacher quality and early learning · 2021–22
What did the district report about teachers and preschool?
Teacher certification comparison
U.S. Department of Education Civil Rights Data Collection, 2021–22. Certification status is district-reported and may not match current staffing. Preschool counts cover the federal reporting year and are not a measure of available seats.
Academic results · 2025
How do results differ among student groups?
Students not economically disadvantaged1,426 assessments
48 out of 100White students1,950 assessments
43 out of 100Fem1,070 assessments
42 out of 100Mal1,180 assessments
42 out of 100Hispanic students69 assessments
41 out of 100Economically disadvantaged students824 assessments
31 out of 100A score of 50 marks the national 2019 midpoint. Higher numbers indicate stronger results on the comparable Stanford research scale. This is not a state proficiency rate.
District makeup
What kinds of schools are in the district?
School levels, settings and types use the NCES 2021–22 directory matched to the federal civil-rights collection.
District finances
How is the district funded, and how does it spend?
Sources of funds
Where the money comes from
Share of district revenue supplied by each level of government.
Uses of funds
Where the money goes
Annual spending for each enrolled student.
Revenue by source: percentages and dollars
How operating money was used
People costs
Equipment, buildings and debt
Selected federal program revenue
What changed since FY 2022
FY 2022$11,416
→FY 2023$13,191+15.5% year over year
FY 2022$2,502
→FY 2023$4,257+70.1% year over year
FY 2022$16,061
→FY 2023$24,362+51.7% year over year
Revenue shares and spending categories answer different questions and should not be added together. Source: NCES F-33 district finance, FY 2023.
Attendance
How has chronic absence changed?
412 of 2,644 students
807 of 2,658 students
597 of 2,607 students
Specialized support and security · 2021–22
What specialized roles were reported?
Staffing is reported as full-time equivalents in the 2021–22 CRDC collection.
Learning opportunities
What do district schools offer?
Algebra I3 reporting schools
100%
Calculus3 reporting schools
33%
Biology3 reporting schools
100%
Chemistry3 reporting schools
100%
Physics3 reporting schools
67%
Computer science3 reporting schools
0%
Advanced Placement3 reporting schools
33%
Dual enrollment3 reporting schools
33%
Gifted programs7 reporting schools
0%
International Baccalaureate3 reporting schools
0%
Athletics3 reporting schools
33%
Shares use only schools for which the program was applicable and reported. A districtwide percentage does not guarantee availability at every grade or campus. Source: 2021–22 CRDC.
Safety and discipline
What was reported across district schools?
229Out-of-school suspensions7 reporting schoolsSee schools →175In-school suspensions7 reporting schoolsSee schools →19Law-enforcement referrals7 reporting schoolsSee schools →2School-related arrests7 reporting schoolsSee schools →
Counts are from the 2021–22 CRDC collection. Open a measure to see the schools behind the district total.
Technology and safety · 2021–22
What access and incident data is available?
Technology and incident figures are from the 2021–22 CRDC collection. Device counts describe the reporting year, not current inventory.
8 of 8 national data layers are matched to this NCES district ID. Identity and school counts use NCES records. Academic estimates use SEDA, attendance uses EDFacts, finance uses NCES F-33, staffing and enrollment use 2023–24 NCES CCD where available, teacher certification, preschool and policy fields use the 2021–22 CRDC, and community poverty context uses Census SAIPE. Four-year graduation rates use 2022–23 EDFacts. Every detailed view preserves its reporting year.
See all sources →