Mahadev Maitri Foundation
US Initiatives
Elementary· 1 schools in district

Muskegon Montessori Academy for Environmental Change

2950 MCCRACKEN ST, Norton Shores, MI 49441Muskegon Montessori Academy for Environmental Change →
Federal DataRegular SchoolGrades PK–08Charter
166
Students
Total enrolled
$9,836
Per-Pupil Spend
Nat'l avg $14,347
↓ 31% vs nat'l
22.1 : 1
Student:Teacher
Nat'l avg 15.4:1
↑ 44% vs nat'l
⇄ Compare with another school
Small public school
Serves 166 students in grades PK–08 in Norton Shores, Michigan.
31% below average funding
District spends $9,836 per pupil, 31% less than the national average of $14,347.
22.1 : 1 student-teacher ratio
This is above the national average — larger classes of 15.4:1.
About This School

Muskegon Montessori Academy for Environmental Change is a small elementary in Norton Shores, Michigan, serving grades PK–08 with 166 students. The district invests $9,836 per student — 31% below the national average of $14,347, with a 22.1:1 student-teacher ratio that is higher than the national norm of 15.4:1. About 75% of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, reflecting significant economic challenges in the surrounding community.

Student Body & Demographics at Muskegon Montessori Academy for Environmental Change

166
Total Students
22.1 : 1
Student:Teacher
75%
Free Lunch
8
Teacher FTE
Grade Range
PK
K
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
Highlighted grades (PK–08) are served by this school
Gender Distribution96 male · 70 female
58%
42%
Male 58%Female 42%
Free / Reduced Lunch Eligibility75%
National avg 52% · 125 students
Student Composition
56%
14%
17%
12%
White56%
Hispanic / Latino14%
Black17%
Multiracial12%
Pacific Islander1%
NCES Common Core of Data · Race/ethnicity self-reported · NCES ID: 260106708568

School Resources & Funding

Per-Pupil Expenditure$9,836Below avg
National avg $14,347
Per-Pupil Spending Comparison
This school
$9,836
State avg
$37,188
National avg
$14,347
How School Funding Is Typically Spent
44%
19%
12%
15%
Instruction$4,328
Student Support$1,869
Administration$1,180
Operations$1,475
Other$984
Estimated using national average spending distribution (NCES) · School-level breakdowns not publicly reported
Of the $9,836 spent per student, an estimated $4,357 (~44%) goes directly to classroom instruction.
Where Funding Comes From
75%
State government
75.4%
Local (property tax)
7.3%
Federal programs
17.3%
NCES F-33 Finance Survey · District-level data applied to this school
Strengths & Considerations
Strengths
  • Charter school — may offer specialized curriculum or alternative teaching approaches
Worth Considering
  • Below-average funding — $9,836/student, 31% less than the national average
  • 22.1:1 student-teacher ratio — larger classes than the national average of 15.4:1
  • 75% of students on free or reduced lunch — a high share that can indicate resource pressure
Strengths and considerations are derived from federal data thresholds — not editorial judgements. See data sources below.
School Profile
TypeRegular School
LevelElementary
GradesPK – 08
Location—
CountyMuskegon County
CharterYes
VirtualNo
DistrictMuskegon Montessori Academy for Environmental Change →
Phone: (231)766-7500
NCES ID: 260106708568
Who Is This School For?

Best suited for families in Norton Shores seeking a charter elementary school, especially those prioritizing a diverse, community-focused learning environment. We always recommend an in-person visit and a conversation with current families before making any enrollment decision.

More in Muskegon Montessori Academy for Environmental Change
No other schools found
District School Rankings
Location
2950 MCCRACKEN ST, Norton Shores, MI 49441
Data Sources & Transparency
Enrollment & Profile
NCES Common Core of Data. Grades, enrollment, demographics, school characteristics. Updated annually.
Funding & Spending
NCES F-33 Finance Survey. District-level spending data. School-level breakdowns are not publicly reported.
Graduation Rate
EDFacts Adjusted Cohort Graduation Rate (ACGR). High schools only. Small cohorts may be range-coded for privacy.
Opportunity Score
Opportunity Atlas (Chetty, Friedman et al., Harvard/Census Bureau). Census tract outcomes for children born in the 1980s.
Fact-Based Rankings
Best-school rankings are computed from federal metrics only — enrollment, per-pupil spending, student-teacher ratio, opportunity score, and graduation rate. No editorial opinion or paid placements.
Equity Data (Coming Soon)
AP access, counselor ratios, and chronic absenteeism from the CRDC will be added in a future update.

Questions to Ask on Your School Visit

Research shows the most important factors are invisible in the data. Here is what to ask when you visit.

Elementary
1
How is early reading and literacy taught?
Look for evidence-based, structured approaches
2
How does the school communicate with families?
Frequency, channels, translation support
3
What support exists for students who fall behind?
Tutoring, intervention programs, IEPs
4
What's the average class size here?
National avg is ~23 for elementary
5
What before/after-school programs are available?
Important for working parents
6
How is student social-emotional wellbeing supported?
Counselors, community circles, conflict resolution
7
What does the school do with student performance data?
How data is used to personalize instruction
8
How would you describe teacher retention here?
High turnover can disrupt continuity of learning
9
What's the culture around student diversity and inclusion?
How differences are celebrated and managed

Frequently Asked Questions

About this school and the data on this page

About This Data

All figures on this page come directly from US federal open datasets — NCES Common Core of Data, EDFacts, and the Opportunity Atlas — and we work hard to keep them accurate and up to date. That said, federal data is published on an annual cycle, so some figures may not yet reflect the very latest school-year changes or local updates. We recommend using this page as a helpful starting point and cross-checking with the school or district directly, or visiting the NCES Common Core of Data and ed.gov for the most authoritative figures before making any important decisions.