Enrollment
280
Elementary
DISTRICT 315 · STATE 369
SCHOOL COMMUNITY·WAYLAND UNION SCHOOLS·NCES 263555007165
Bessie B Baker School
507 W SYCAMORE ST, WAYLAND, MI 49348 · (269) 792-9208 · Allegan County
GRADES PK–01ELEMENTARY31-TOWNTITLE IREGULAR SCHOOL280 STUDENTS
·
allk12 Grade
Not graded
This school has no state test results for 2023-24 or 2024-25 to grade, which is common for schools that end before third grade. How grades work
Student : Teacher
13.0:1
22 FTE teachers
DISTRICT 16.2:1 · STATE 15.8:1
Free / Reduced Lunch
45%
126 students
DISTRICT 42% · STATE 55%
Community
0
0 members
Enrollment and student:teacher ratio compared against other elementary schools. Free/Reduced Lunch and demographics compared against all schools.
Enrollment by grade, 2024-25
| Grade | Students | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Kindergarten | 155 | 55% |
| Grade 1 | 125 | 45% |
Student demographics
30%Diversity index
The chance that two students picked at random belong to different racial or ethnic groups.
DISTRICT 27% · STATE 56% · US 70%
Student head counts by race/ethnicity from federal NCES enrollment data. District, state, and US figures are each group's share of all public school students in that area (US excludes territories). Very small groups may be suppressed in the source, so categories do not always sum exactly to total enrollment.
Gender split
School pathway
Students here typically continue to
Based on grade levels within Wayland Union Schools. Attendance zones can vary; confirm enrollment with the district.
Schools most like Bessie B Baker School
| School | Students | Low-income | Proficient |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bessie B Baker School this school | 280 | 45.0% | N/A |
| Hughes Elementary School MARSHALL | 261 | 45.6% | 62.0% |
| Dorr School DORR | 311 | 44.1% | 70.9% |
| Coopersville East Elementary COOPERSVILLE | 315 | 45.7% | 50.8% |
| Mary A White School GRAND HAVEN | 260 | 45.4% | 56.5% |
| RJ Steeby School WAYLAND | 256 | 44.1% | 39.6% |
Matched among Michigan elementary schools on enrollment, the share of students from low-income families (eligible for free or reduced-price lunch), and racial and ethnic makeup. Proficient is the average share of students meeting the state standard across all of the school's state tests in 2023-24 and 2024-25, the same combined score our test-score rankings use. Online schools and schools serving specialized populations are not matched.
Where Bessie B Baker School ranks
Among elementary schools| Measure | This school | In Michigan | In Allegan County |
|---|---|---|---|
| Enrollment ranked largest first | 280 | #1,161 of 1,630 | #15 of 26 |
| Students per teacher ranked fewest first | 13.0:1 | #151 of 1,424 | #3 of 21 |
| Diversity index ranked most diverse first | 30.2% | #818 of 1,424 | #8 of 21 |
| Free and reduced lunch ranked highest share first | 45.0% | #980 of 1,563 | #12 of 23 |
| Enrollment change since 2017-18 ranked steepest decline first | -18.1% | #303 of 979 | #7 of 16 |
Ranked against other public elementary schools. Online schools are left out of every list, and test-score lists leave out schools that serve specialized populations. Each rank links to the full list. Arrows under a test-score rank show places moved since the prior test year, among schools tested both years.
4-year change
SY 2020-21 vs SY 2024-25Enrollment
280
-38 (-12%) vs 2020
-55% since 1990-91, when it was 622
Student : Teacher
13.0:1
was 14.4:1
Source: NCES Common Core of Data
Enrollment and staffing by year
| School year | Students | Teachers (FTE) | Students per teacher | Free and reduced lunch |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024-25 | 280 | 21.6 | 13.0:1 | 45% (126) |
| 2023-24 | 313 | 19.1 | 16.4:1 | 49% (152) |
| 2022-23 | 297 | 18.3 | 16.2:1 | 47% (141) |
| 2020-21 | 318 | 22 | 14.4:1 | 47% (150) |
| 2017-18 | 342 | 23.5 | 14.5:1 | 52% (179) |
| 2015-16 | 300 | 18 | 16.7:1 | 48% (144) |
| 2010-11 | 382 | 22 | 17.4:1 | 54% (206) |
| 2000-01 | 418 | 18 | 23.2:1 | 22% (93) |
| 1990-91 | 622 | N/A | N/A | N/A |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data. Rows are the federal collections on file for Bessie B Baker School.
Since 2017-18: students down 18% (342 to 280); teachers down 8% (23.5 to 21.6).
About Bessie B Baker School
Bessie B Baker School is a public elementary school run by Wayland Union Schools in WAYLAND, Michigan. Its grade span covers pre-K through 1, with 280 students on the rolls. Elementary schools in Michigan average about 369 students, which makes this school 24% below average.
Bessie B Baker School is one school in a 7-school district, Wayland Union Schools, which enrolls 2,708 students.
The share of students at Bessie B Baker School who are White is 83%. Other groups make up 9% Hispanic and 6% multiracial. A diversity index of 30% means there is a 30% chance two randomly chosen students at Bessie B Baker School are from different groups.
Bessie B Baker School reported 21.6 full-time-equivalent teachers in 2024-25, a ratio of 13.0:1. Elementary schools in Michigan average 15.8:1, 2.9 more students per teacher than here. There are 126 students eligible for free or reduced-price lunch, 45% of enrollment. The average for public schools in Allegan County is similar, at 43%.
In Allegan County, where the school is located, median household income comes to about $83,283, about 27% of adults have at least a bachelor's degree, and the poverty rate is about 5%. The county has 55 public schools and about 17,174 students.
Among nearby public schools, Pine Street Elementary is closest at about 0.2 miles. Bessie B Baker School is one of several public schools in the area, with 5 others within five miles.
NCES assigns Bessie B Baker School the locale Town: Fringe, meaning in a town close to an urbanized area.
From 318 students in 2020-21, enrollment fell to 280 by 2024-25. Students per teacher dropped from 14.4 in 2020-21 to 13.0 in 2024-25.
On allk12, people connected to Bessie B Baker School can post about pickup and drop-off, after-school programs, and teacher feedback. Members of the school community can share what they know.
Allegan County at a glance
View full county profilePopulation
121,456
Census ACS
Median income
$83,283
Household, ACS
Bachelor's+
27%
Adults 25+
Poverty rate
5%
Below federal line
Schools in county
55
17,174 students
Quick facts
Related schools
Other schools in Wayland Union Schools
- Wayland High SchoolHigh · 800 students
- Wayland Union Middle SchoolMiddle · 611 students
- Pine Street ElementaryElementary · 413 students
- Dorr SchoolElementary · 311 students
- RJ Steeby SchoolElementary · 256 students
- Career Connections AcademyHigh · 37 students
Other schools in WAYLAND
- Wayland High SchoolHigh · 800 students
- Wayland Union Middle SchoolMiddle · 611 students
- Pine Street ElementaryElementary · 413 students
- RJ Steeby SchoolElementary · 256 students
- Career Connections AcademyHigh · 37 students
Nearby schools
- Pine Street Elementary0.2 mi · 413
- RJ Steeby School0.7 mi · 256
- Wayland High School0.9 mi · 800
- Career Connections Academy0.9 mi · 37
- Wayland Union Middle School1.1 mi · 611
- Dorr School5.1 mi · 311
Frequently asked questions
About Bessie B Baker SchoolHow many students attend Bessie B Baker School?
Bessie B Baker School enrolls approximately 280 students in grades PK-01.
What grades does Bessie B Baker School serve?
Bessie B Baker School serves grades PK-01.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Bessie B Baker School?
The student-to-teacher ratio at Bessie B Baker School is approximately 13.0:1 (22 FTE teachers).
What is the student diversity at Bessie B Baker School?
Student demographics at Bessie B Baker School are roughly 83% White, 9% Hispanic, 1% Black, 6% Two or more.
Who oversees Bessie B Baker School?
Bessie B Baker School is overseen by Wayland Union Schools in Allegan County.
Data sourceSchool profile facts are sourced from the NCES. Community content is posted by allk12 members.