Norton Elementary School

Located at 59692 AL JONES RD, in THREE RIVERS, Michigan, Norton Elementary School is a compact K-5 school that serves 186 students (grades K through 5), run under Three Rivers Community Schools. That puts it 50% below the typical public school in Michigan, which averages around 369 students.

Norton Elementary School is one of 6 schools operated by Three Rivers Community Schools, a district that serves 2,145 students overall.

In terms of who attends, Norton Elementary School records that the largest single group is White, at 74% of enrollment; the rest consists of 13% Hispanic, 8% multiracial, 4% Black. By comparison, St. Joseph County as a whole is about 85% White, so the school skews meaningfully less White than its surroundings.

In terms of school funding signals, Norton Elementary School shows 12 full-time-equivalent teachers, putting the student-to-teacher ratio at about 15.5:1. That tracks the state average closely. Around 51% of the student body qualifies for free or reduced-price meals, a number frequently used as a low-income enrollment indicator.

Adjusting for the school's free-and-reduced-lunch share, Norton Elementary School sits in the middle band of the BeatsExpectations distribution. Schools with this campus's student mix typically land near 43.9%; this one delivers 47.2%.

In the surrounding community, St. Joseph County reports that the typical household earns roughly $66,425 per year, roughly 17% of adults have completed at least a four-year degree, and census figures put the poverty rate at about 8%. Across St. Joseph County's 32 public schools (combined enrollment of about 9,517 students), Norton Elementary School is one campus in the mix.

Nearest neighbor: Andrews Elementary School, around 3.7 miles off. Within five miles, there are 2 other public schools. Among the 6 schools in that immediate cluster with test data (this one included), Norton Elementary School ranks 2nd on composite proficiency, higher than the local average of 38.8%.

The school occupies an outlying site.

Five-year trend. Over the past 7-year window, the student count fell 30%: 267 students in 2018 compared to 186 in 2025. Over the same period, the White share ticked down from 82% to 74%.

On the community side, recent activity here tends to focus on school events, parent volunteer needs, and clubs. The community welcomes input from current and former families.