The top reported proficiency rate is 56% in English language arts. The lowest is 25% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on Hiawatha Elementary School
Hiawatha Elementary School sits on Jolly Road in Okemos, serving kindergarten through fourth grade as part of Okemos Public Schools. It is a regular public school with an enrollment typical for an elementary building of its grade band in this area. The student body is diverse in a way that reflects the community around it. A little over half of students are white, with the next largest group being Asian students, followed by children of two or more races and a smaller Black population. A modest share of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, lower than what many schools in Ingham County see, which lines up with the relatively affluent character of Okemos itself. Data on English learners and students with individualized education programs was not available, so those populations cannot be described here.
On state assessments, Hiawatha shows solid results. Third graders tested above the midpoint in both math and English language arts, with a majority reaching proficiency in math and roughly half in ELA. Fourth grade tells a similar but slightly more mixed story: ELA proficiency was strong, while math proficiency dipped below the third-grade mark. Taken together, the school's overall proficiency across tested subjects and grades places it in the top quartile relative to districts in Ingham County, which is a meaningful standing given the county's mix of urban Lansing, university-adjacent East Lansing, and suburban communities. A parent may want to look into the fourth-grade math dip with the school, as it could reflect a single cohort or something worth addressing. Science results were last reported many years ago and are too dated to characterize current performance.
Okemos itself is a suburban census-designated place bordering East Lansing and closely tied to Michigan State University. The community mixes residential neighborhoods with commercial corridors along Grand River Avenue and around Meridian Mall. There is no traditional walkable downtown; the historic "Four Corners" at Hamilton Road and Okemos Road, anchored by the Hamilton Building and Ferguson Park along the Red Cedar River, marks the original village center, but modern Okemos is defined by suburban subdivisions and strip commercial development. The community has grown steadily over recent decades, and publicly reported projections indicate continued growth. Housing vacancy rates are tight, and home values sit well above the state benchmark, reflecting the area's desirability and proximity to the university. A CNN Money Magazine ranking once placed Okemos among the best places to live in the country, citing its appeal for affluent singles, though the community also supports many families.
The broader school district is investing heavily in facilities. A bond issue passed by voters authorized the reconstruction of both middle schools, Chippewa and Kinawa, with planned reopening around the end of this decade, along with a rebuild of Cornell Elementary. These projects will reshape the district's buildings for years to come, though Hiawatha itself is not named in that capital plan.
For a parent evaluating Hiawatha, the academic results are a genuine strength. The school outperforms most of its county peers on state proficiency measures, and the ELA results in fourth grade are particularly strong. The student body is racially and ethnically diverse in a community where educational attainment runs high, which can provide a peer environment that mirrors the broader world while still sitting in a stable suburban setting. The housing market is on the expensive side for the region, and the car-dependent layout means daily life revolves around driving, though proximity to MSU and Lansing keeps cultural and employment resources close. Families drawn to a suburban community with strong schools, a university-adjacent economy, and a diverse elementary population will find Hiawatha fitting that profile well.
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