The top reported proficiency rate is 54% in Science. The lowest is 28% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on Ck Schickler Elementary School
CK Schickler Elementary School is a regular public school in Lapeer, Michigan, serving pre-kindergarten through fifth grade as part of Lapeer Community Schools. It sits in a small city that doubles as the county seat, a place with a historic downtown built around one of the oldest continuously operating courthouses in the state. Lapeer's economy leans heavily on automotive supply manufacturing, including gray iron casting, molded plastics, and electrical harnesses, with county government also providing steady employment. The city has a walkable historic core near the courthouse but is largely auto-dependent beyond that, with Interstate 69 running east-west south of town and M-24 cutting north-south through it. Growth has been slow and steady, with the city adding population modestly since the last census. Publicly reported sources describe Lapeer as billing itself a vibrant small town with family-friendly charm and a historic commercial district.
The school's enrollment is moderate for an elementary building, with the largest concentrations in the upper elementary grades. A substantial majority of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. The student body is predominantly white, with smaller Hispanic and multiracial populations. Data on English learners and special education enrollment was not available in the sources reviewed, so those dimensions of the school's population cannot be characterized here.
On state assessments, the most recent M-STEP results show a mixed academic picture. English language arts is the stronger area, with fifth-grade proficiency notably higher than the lower grades and fifth-grade science results also standing out as a relative bright spot. Third-grade ELA was solid as well. Mathematics was more uneven, with fourth-grade proficiency notably lower than both third and fifth grade. Social studies results for fifth grade were the weakest area reported. Across all tested subjects and grades, the school's combined proficiency sits in the bottom quartile relative to districts in Lapeer County, which is the comparison set available. This is a softer result than the county midpoint, and a parent may want to look into this further with the school, particularly in math instruction across the intermediate grades.
Participation rates for the state assessments were not reported, and no multi-year trend data was available, so it is not possible to say whether these results represent improvement or decline from prior years. Because the school serves only elementary grades, there is no graduation rate to report, and chronic absenteeism data was also missing from the available sources.
Within the broader district context, Lapeer Community Schools has seen some movement worth noting for parents. Publicly reported coverage indicates that in May 2025, voters narrowly approved a bond measure to fund construction of a new Lynch Elementary School, the district's first new elementary building in over half a century, along with safety upgrades, technology, and bus replacements. The new school is expected to open in fall 2027. The district is also renovating its Center for Innovation facility to expand career and technical education programs in construction trades, welding, STEM, and health sciences, serving both Lapeer students and those from surrounding districts through schools of choice. A sinking fund millage renewed in 2022 continues to support building maintenance across the district.
Housing in the school's zip code is relatively affordable compared with national benchmarks, with typical home values below both state and national levels. Rents are also moderate. The price-to-income ratio sits below the national average, and rental costs take up a comparatively small share of household income. Mortgage rates remain elevated in the current environment, which affects affordability for families looking to buy.
For a family considering this school, the strengths appear in upper-grade ELA and science results and in a district that is actively investing in facilities and program expansion. The weaker math proficiency and the school's standing relative to county peers are areas worth asking about directly. The community offers a small-city setting with manufacturing roots, historic character, and transit access including Amtrak and local bus service, though daily life outside the downtown core is car-oriented.
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