Gaines Elementary School

Located at 300 LANSING ST, in GAINES, Michigan, Gaines Elementary School is a tiny primary school that caters to 93 students (grades K through 5), operated by Swartz Creek Community Schools. That puts it 75% below the typical public school in Michigan, which averages around 369 students.

Swartz Creek Community Schools comprises 8 schools with combined enrollment of 3,483 students; Gaines Elementary School is among them.

For racial and ethnic makeup, Gaines Elementary School logs that nearly all students (87%) are White. Other groups include 6% Hispanic, 4% multiracial, 2% Black. That is considerably more White than the county at large, where the share is closer to 72%.

In terms of school funding signals, Gaines Elementary School lists 7 full-time-equivalent teachers, putting the student-to-teacher ratio at about 13.3:1. That figure is tighter than the state norm's 15.8:1 average. Roughly 35% of students at Gaines Elementary School qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, a commonly cited indicator of low-income enrollment. That share is lower than Genesee County's rate of about 61%.

Across the wider county, the surrounding county (Genesee County) reports that median household income runs about $62,281, roughly 23% of adults have completed at least a four-year degree, and the poverty rate sits near 12%. Gaines Elementary School is one of 158 public schools in Genesee County (combined enrollment of about 58,534 students).

The closest other public school is Byron Area Elementary School, roughly 3.4 miles away. Within five miles, there are 6 other public schools.

Gaines Elementary School operates from an outlying location.

Trend over the last 7 years. Over the past 7-year window, the student count contracted 42%: 161 students in 2018 compared to 93 in 2025. The student-to-teacher ratio tightened from 18.9:1 in 2018 to 13.3:1 today.

On the community side, the feed for Gaines Elementary School typically covers sports schedules, lunch menu changes, and school spirit week. Anyone with firsthand experience at this school can post or comment.