Lansing Public School District, MI

Original Research by School Decision on Lansing Public School District

Lansing Public School District is an urban Michigan system serving students from pre-kindergarten through twelfth grade across Ingham County. The district is large for its setting, with an enrollment that places it among the bigger operations in the region. Its student body is diverse: the largest group identifies as Black, followed by Hispanic and White students in similar proportions, with a smaller but present Asian population and a notable share of students identifying as two or more races. The district's Free or Reduced-Price Lunch count, special education rate, and English learner figures were not available in the data provided, so those dimensions of need cannot be characterized here.

The district operates more than two dozen schools. Its high school options include Eastern, Everett, and JW Sexton, along with Lansing Technical High School, which suggests a career-oriented pathway alongside the traditional comprehensive programs. The district also runs a Montessori magnet, an international-themed school, an online K-through-twelve option, and a learning hub. Specialized centers such as Beekman Center, Hill Center, and the Ingham County Youth Center serve targeted populations. Two schools, Riddle Elementary and Reo School, are listed as closed, and the district brief explains that Riddle has been used as temporary housing for Willow Elementary students during that school's reconstruction.

On state assessments, the picture is one of low proficiency across nearly every tested grade and subject. Math results are the weakest area, with proficiency sliding from the early grades through middle school and landing at very low levels by eighth grade. English language arts results are somewhat stronger but still modest across grades three through seven, with a jump in eighth grade that reflects the PSAT rather than the M-STEP used in earlier grades. Science and social studies proficiency sits in a similar low range. Among Ingham County's districts, the district's overall proficiency index falls in the bottom quartile. A parent may want to look into how individual schools within the district perform relative to one another, since district-wide averages can mask variation between buildings.

Chronic absenteeism is flagged in the comparison data as sitting in the bottom quartile among the county's districts, at a level far above the county median. This is a serious indicator. A parent trying to understand the academic results should know that attendance at this scale can depress proficiency independent of instruction quality, and the district would be a reasonable place to ask what interventions are in place. Per-pupil spending, by contrast, sits in the upper range among the county's districts, above the county median. The graduation rate was not available in the data.

The housing market across the district's zip codes is mixed. Weighted home values sit well below the state and national benchmarks, which makes ownership relatively accessible for families with steady income. Rents vary widely across the district's footprint, with some areas quite affordable and others approaching levels more typical of college-town markets. The price-to-income ratio indicates a market that remains within reach for many working households compared to national norms.

The district is in a period of physical investment and fiscal strain at the same time. Voters approved a bond in November 2022, structured to avoid raising the current tax rate, that funds facility improvements, security upgrades, technology, a new Willow Elementary building, a new early childhood center, and athletic upgrades. The early childhood center broke ground in August 2024 and is slated to open in fall 2025, serving children from birth through age five. Willow Elementary is being rebuilt on its existing site with an expected opening for the 2025-2026 year. These are tangible improvements that families in the district will see directly.

At the same time, the district is running a budget deficit for the 2024-2025 year, driven by declining enrollment and the expiration of federal COVID-19 relief funds. Publicly reported coverage indicates the district has begun discussing potential school consolidation, though no specific buildings have been named for closure. A parent considering this district should be aware that program offerings, school configurations, or building assignments could shift in the near term. The combination of strong per-pupil spending, new facility investment, low proficiency, and high absenteeism tells a complicated story. The district is putting resources into its infrastructure and its youngest learners while grappling with academic outcomes and engagement that lag most of its county peers.

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District Context

Officially reported figures, 2024-25.

Enrollment

10,194

Grades

PK–12

Schools

Student body

Hispanic 21%

Black 37%

White 22%

Asian 6%

Two+ 14%

Am. Indian / AK Native 0%

Hawaiian / Pac. Isl. 0%

By economic status

Percent proficient by grade, as reported

Economically disadvantaged

Not disadvantaged

ELA

Gr 3

17%

43%

Gr 4

18%

32%

Gr 5

18%

35%

Gr 6

12%

37%

Gr 7

16%

39%

Gr 8

37%

65%

Math

Gr 3

17%

49%

Gr 4

13%

37%

Gr 5

10%

21%

Gr 6

25%

Gr 7

25%

Gr 8

18%

Science

Gr 5

15%

31%

Gr 8

14%

36%

Social studies

Gr 5

21%

Gr 8

16%

34%

Schools in this District

28 schools are officially reported under this district.

Forrest G Averill School

Gier Park School

JW Sexton High School

Wexford Montessori Magnet School

North School

Ingham County Youth Center

Dwight Rich School of the Arts

Gardner International School

Lansing Learning Hub

Capital Area K12 Online

Lansing Technical High School

Academic Performance

Percent of students meeting or exceeding state standards, by grade.

Mathematics

6 grades reported

21%

Grade 3

15%

Grade 4

11%

Grade 5

Grade 6

Grade 7

Grade 8

English Language Arts

6 grades reported

21%

Grade 3

19%

Grade 4

20%

Grade 5

14%

Grade 6

18%

Grade 7

40%

Grade 8

Science

2 grades reported

17%

Grade 5

16%

Grade 8

Social Studies

2 grades reported

10%

Grade 5

17%

Grade 8

Housing & Real Estate

Data as of April 2026 | District-weighted from constituent ZIP codes

Home Values

Typical home value$175,989

Year-over-year change+3.6%

Range across 10 ZIP codes$127K to $364K

vs. state typical0.67x

vs. national typical0.48x

Home value trend (12 months)

ZIP code home values (10 ZIP codes)

ZIP	City	Value	YoY	Weight
48906	Lansing	$167K	+3.7%	34.9%
48910	Lansing	$144K	+5.1%	19.9%
48911	Lansing	$170K	+3.0%	19.8%
48912	Lansing	$137K	+0.1%	9.4%
48915	Lansing	$127K	+3.0%	3.5%
48820	Dewitt	$364K	+2.1%	3.4%
48823	East Lansing	$325K	+4.2%	3.0%
48808	Bath	$326K	+2.3%	2.9%
48933	Lansing	$171K	+12.8%	2.1%
48917	Lansing	$263K	+2.7%	1.0%

Rental Market

Typical monthly rent$1,180/mo

Year-over-year change+5.4%

Range across 9 ZIP codes$872 to $2,133/mo

Rent trend (12 months)

ZIP code rents (9 ZIP codes)

ZIP	City	Rent/mo	YoY	Weight
48906	Lansing	$1,152	+4.8%	34.9%
48910	Lansing	$1,272	+5.0%	19.9%
48911	Lansing	$995	+7.8%	19.8%
48912	Lansing	$1,270	+4.2%	9.4%
48915	Lansing	$1,018	—	3.5%
48820	Dewitt	$2,133	—	3.4%
48823	East Lansing	$1,101	+3.1%	3.0%
48933	Lansing	$872	—	2.1%
48917	Lansing	$1,376	+6.1%	1.0%

Affordability

Est. monthly mortgage (20% down at 6.48%)$888/mo

Home price / national median income2.1x

Annual rent / national median income16.9%

Rent exceeds est. mortgage by$292/mo

Comparison

State typical home value$263,590 (+4.2% YoY)

National typical home value$368,198 (+0.6% YoY)

State ZHVI trend (12 months)

National ZHVI trend (12 months)

Economic Context

30-year fixed mortgage rate6.48%

National unemployment rate4.3%

National median household income$83,730

CPI: Rent of shelter (index)447.05

30-year fixed mortgage rate (12 months)

National unemployment rate (12 months)

National median household income (12 months)

CPI: Rent of shelter (index) (12 months)

Sources: Zillow Home Value Index and Zillow Observed Rent Index (Zillow Group), Realtor.com via Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis (FRED)

Data Currently Unavailable

Civil Rights Data (CRDC)

This profile is derived exclusively from publicly available federal and state datasets. It may not reflect the most current information available. We encourage parents and families to supplement this data with information published directly on the school’s website, which may include more recent figures, additional programs, or updated enrollment data.