Suttons Bay Public Schools, MI

Original Research by School Decision on Suttons Bay Public Schools

Suttons Bay Public Schools is a small, single-community district in Leelanau County serving students from pre-kindergarten through twelfth grade across three buildings: an elementary-middle school, a senior high school, and a virtual school. The enrollment is modest for a district covering this grade span, which means small class cohorts and a setting where families and staff tend to know one another. The student body is predominantly white, with a substantial Hispanic presence and one of the larger proportions of American Indian and Alaska Native students among the county's districts. This demographic mix gives the district a more varied peer environment than some neighboring communities in Leelanau County.

On state assessments, the district's results tell a mixed story. English language arts is the relative bright spot, particularly in the middle grades, where proficiency climbs to levels that exceed what the elementary grades show. By eighth grade, more than half of tested students reach proficiency in ELA, and social studies results in that same grade are similarly strong. Science in eighth grade also shows a healthy share of proficient students. The elementary grades, by contrast, show weaker results across subjects, and mathematics is the most consistent soft spot throughout. Math proficiency sits low in nearly every tested grade, with fifth grade particularly weak. A parent considering the elementary years may want to look into this further with the school, especially given that the tested cohorts are small enough that a few students can shift the picture meaningfully.

When placed among Leelanau County's districts, Suttons Bay sits in the bottom quartile on an overall proficiency index and also reports a higher chronic absenteeism rate than its county peers. Per-pupil spending is on the lower end of the county's range. These comparisons are drawn from a county-level set of four districts, so the peer group is small and local rather than statewide. Still, the pattern is clear: the district faces academic and engagement challenges that are more pronounced than those of nearby systems.

Several data gaps are worth naming. The district's graduation rate was not available in this dataset. Free-or-reduced-price lunch counts, English learner rates, and special education rates were also missing, so it is not possible from these data to characterize the economic need or the share of students receiving specialized services. No information on course access, staffing ratios, discipline, or program offerings such as Advanced Placement, career pathways, or dual enrollment was available. The district brief search found no confirmed parent-relevant changes from the recent past with lasting impact, so there is little to report on strategic direction or recent initiatives.

The housing market in the district's zip codes is expensive relative to income. Typical home values across the area sit well above both state and national benchmarks, with the Lake Leelanau zip code the highest and the Traverse City portion the most affordable. The price-to-income ratio is steep, and estimated monthly mortgage costs run substantially higher than local rents, which are only reported for the Traverse City portion. Home values in the Suttons Bay zip code itself have dipped slightly over the past year, while the Lake Leelanau area has seen appreciation. Rent costs, where reported, have risen noticeably. For a family considering a move into the district, buying a home requires a strong income, and rental options appear limited in the data.

What this district offers is a small-scale, community-rooted environment with a diverse student body for the region and some genuine strength in upper-grade English and social studies. The challenges are real, particularly in elementary math, chronic absenteeism, and relative spending levels. Families drawn to a smaller setting with personal attention may find it worth engaging directly with school leadership about how the district is addressing these gaps and what the academic pathway looks like from the early grades through high school.

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District Context

Officially reported figures, 2024-25.

Enrollment

551

Grades

PK–12

Schools

Student body

Hispanic 17%

Black 0%

White 62%

Asian 1%

Two+ 8%

Am. Indian / AK Native 12%

By economic status

Percent proficient by grade, as reported

Economically disadvantaged

Not disadvantaged

ELA

Gr 3

—

62%

Gr 4

21%

—

Gr 5

16%

—

Gr 6

32%

—

Gr 7

24%

—

Gr 8

44%

—

Math

Gr 3

11%

46%

Gr 6

16%

—

Gr 8

—

40%

Science

Gr 8

38%

70%

Social studies

Gr 8

43%

70%

Schools in this District

3 schools are officially reported under this district.

Suttons Bay Senior High School

Suttons Bay Elementary Middle School

Suttons Bay Virtual School

Academic Performance

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

Mathematics

5 grades reported

22%

Grade 3

17%

Grade 4

23%

Grade 6

19%

Grade 7

18%

Grade 8

English Language Arts

6 grades reported

22%

Grade 3

30%

Grade 4

19%

Grade 5

46%

Grade 6

42%

Grade 7

57%

Grade 8

Science

2 grades reported

14%

Grade 5

48%

Grade 8

Social Studies

1 grade reported

52%

Grade 8

Housing & Real Estate

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

Home Values

Typical home value$603,300

Year-over-year change-1.7%

Range across 3 ZIP codes$480K to $827K

vs. state typical2.29x

vs. national typical1.64x

Home value trend (12 months)

ZIP code home values (3 ZIP codes)

ZIP	City	Value	YoY	Weight
49682	Suttons Bay	$613K	-2.6%	75.4%
49684	Traverse City	$480K	+0.3%	18.1%
49653	Lake Leelanau	$827K	+3.4%	6.5%

Rental Market

Typical monthly rent$2,010/mo

Year-over-year change+10.9%

Rent trend (12 months)

ZIP code rents (1 ZIP codes)

ZIP	City	Rent/mo	YoY	Weight
49684	Traverse City	$2,010	+10.9%	18.1%

Affordability

Est. monthly mortgage (20% down at 6.48%)$3,044/mo

Home price / national median income7.2x

Annual rent / national median income28.8%

Est. mortgage exceeds rent by$1,034/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.