The top reported proficiency rate is 55% in English language arts. The lowest is 31% in Social studies.
Original Research by School Decision on Warner Elementary School
Warner Elementary School sits in Spring Arbor, a small unincorporated community in Jackson County along State Highway M-60. The town blends residential neighborhoods with Spring Arbor University, a liberal arts institution affiliated with the Free Methodist Church, and several nursing homes and retirement centers that shape the local population. Publicly reported sources describe Spring Arbor as a place that promotes itself for raising children, and the township has been recognized in that vein. The community has artesian springs, small lakes, and the Falling Waters Trail running through Lime Lake County Park. Population figures have fluctuated over recent census cycles rather than climbing steadily, and some estimates point to modest decline. No major new housing developments surfaced in available sources.
The most important thing a parent needs to know is that Warner Elementary, along with Parma Elementary and Bean Elementary, was closed and consolidated into a new Western Elementary School that opened in early 2026, according to publicly reported district information. The academic data here reflects the final year before that consolidation. Families considering this area should understand that the building itself is no longer operating as a standalone school, and attendance boundaries across the district's communities were redrawn. Anyone with questions about where their child would attend elementary school in the Western School District should check directly with the district for current assignment maps.
Looking at the last available state assessment results, Warner's performance was mixed but leaned positive in English language arts. Fourth graders posted the strongest results across the board, with a solid majority proficient in ELA and nearly half proficient in math. Third grade ELA was also respectable, while third grade math was weaker. Fifth grade math was the softest spot in the building, with fewer than three in ten students reaching proficiency. Fifth grade ELA and science landed in a healthier middle range. Social studies was the weakest subject overall. A parent may want to look into the fifth grade math results and social studies performance further with the district, though the consolidation means these patterns now belong to the new Western Elementary rather than a standalone Warner.
Measured against districts in Jackson County, Warner's overall proficiency sat above the midpoint. The comparison set covers all districts in the county, and Warner's combined proficiency index was closer to the top than the bottom of that group. That positions the school as a reasonably strong academic performer in its local context for the year measured.
The student body was predominantly white, with small Hispanic and multiracial populations and very small Black and Asian enrollments. A moderate share of students qualified for free or reduced-price lunch. The school had no reported data on English learners or students with individualized education programs, so those population sizes are unknown from what was available.
Because Warner is an elementary school serving kindergarten through fifth grade, it has no graduation rate and no high school course access data. Chronic absenteeism data was not available. Participation rates for state assessments were listed as missing in the source data.
On the housing side, Spring Arbor's typical home value sits slightly above the Michigan state benchmark and well below the national benchmark. The price-to-income ratio is under three, which suggests relative affordability compared with many markets nationally. Estimated monthly mortgage costs came in lower than estimated rent, a somewhat unusual pattern that may reflect the current mortgage rate environment and local rental supply. Rent data specific to the zip code was not available in the source material.
For families drawn to a small community with a university presence, natural features, and a quiet residential character, the Western School District now offers a consolidated elementary experience rather than the neighborhood model Warner represented. The academic record from Warner's final year suggests a school that was doing reasonably well by county standards, with particular strength in upper-elementary reading and room to grow in math, especially at fifth grade.
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