RJ Steeby School

RJ Steeby School, a modestly sized elementary school in WAYLAND, Michigan, one of the schools within Wayland Union Schools, caters to 256 students, covering grades 2 through 3. Enrollment runs roughly 31% leaner than the state mean of about 369.

Within Wayland Union Schools, which oversees 7 schools and 2,708 students, RJ Steeby School is one campus in the system.

Demographically, RJ Steeby School records that nearly all students (84%) are White; the rest looks like 7% multiracial, 6% Hispanic, 2% Black. That composition is broadly in line with Allegan County as a whole.

Looking at school resources, On paper, RJ Steeby School has 15 full-time-equivalent teachers, translating to a class-load average of around 17.6:1. The state averages around 15.8:1, so this campus is higher than the state norm typical. Around 44% of the student body qualifies for free or reduced-price meals, which schools and policymakers use as a rough income-mix signal.

With demographic context factored in, RJ Steeby School sits in the middle band of the BeatsExpectations distribution. Schools with this campus's student mix typically land near 46.7%; this one delivers 39.6%.

In the surrounding community, ACS estimates for Allegan County put the typical household earns roughly $83,283 per year, about 27% of the adult population holds a bachelor's degree or above, and census figures put the poverty rate at about 5%. Across Allegan County's 55 public schools (combined enrollment of about 17,174 students), RJ Steeby School is one campus in the mix.

The closest other public school is Career Connections Academy, roughly 0.3 miles away. Counting just inside five miles, 5 other public schools cluster around RJ Steeby School. Ranking that nearby cluster on reported proficiency puts RJ Steeby School at 6th of 6; the average score across the group is 60.5%.

Geographically, the school is in a town-center area.

Five-year trend. Looking back 7 years, enrollment at RJ Steeby School has contracted 33%, going from 383 students in 2018 to 256 in 2025. Class-load math has fell: from 19.4:1 in 2018 to 17.6:1 in 2025.

In the discussion threads here, posts here usually surface around science fair prep, picture-day reminders, and bus-route questions. Contributors range from current parents to recent graduates and teachers.