Willow Ridge Elementary School

Located at 12840 NIXON RD, in GRAND LEDGE, Michigan, Willow Ridge Elementary School is a reasonably sized elementary-level community that hosts 542 students (grades K through 4), operated by Grand Ledge Public Schools. Enrollment runs roughly 47% larger than the state mean of about 369.

Within Grand Ledge Public Schools, which oversees 8 schools and 5,406 students, Willow Ridge Elementary School is one campus in the system.

Demographically, Willow Ridge Elementary School reports that the largest single group is White, at 72% of enrollment. The remainder is composed of 12% Hispanic, 7% multiracial, 6% Asian, 3% Black. That is considerably less White than the county at large, where the share is closer to 81%.

On the resource side, Willow Ridge Elementary School shows 28 full-time-equivalent teachers, putting the student-to-teacher ratio at about 19.1:1. Statewide, the average ratio sits near 15.8:1, putting Willow Ridge Elementary School higher than the state norm the norm. Around 22% of the student body qualifies for free or reduced-price meals, a commonly cited indicator of low-income enrollment. By comparison, Eaton County runs at roughly 42%, so the school's eligibility rate is meaningfully below the surrounding baseline.

With demographic context factored in, Willow Ridge Elementary School sits in the top 10% of Michigan schools after the BeatsExpectations adjustment. Predicted proficiency for the school's FRL share is roughly 56.5%; actual is 70.3%, +13.8 points clear of the demographic baseline.

Zooming out to the county, census data for Eaton County shows median household income runs about $79,597, roughly 31% of adults have completed at least a four-year degree, and roughly 5% of residents live below the federal poverty line. Willow Ridge Elementary School is one of 47 public schools in Eaton County (combined enrollment of about 17,025 students).

Leon W Hayes Intermediate School is the nearest neighboring public school, about 0.2 miles from this campus. 8 of the 8 nearest public schools sit inside a five-mile radius. Ranking that nearby cluster on reported proficiency puts Willow Ridge Elementary School at 1st of 6; the average score across the group is 44.6%.

The campus sits in an outer-ring setting.

Five-year trend. Over the past 7-year window, the student count changed only slightly: 532 students in 2018 compared to 542 in 2025. The Black share of enrollment ticked down from 9% to 3% over that span. Class-load math has pulled in: from 20.5:1 in 2018 to 19.1:1 in 2025.

On the community side, the feed for Willow Ridge Elementary School typically covers school events, parent volunteer needs, and clubs. Parents, students, alumni, and staff are welcome to weigh in.