Michigan’s 10 Best Elementary Schools Outside Metro Detroit
Novi. Troy. Northville.
Blah, blah, blah.
It's no surprise that most of the highest-rated public elementary schools in Michigan are in some of the state's most affluent Metro Detroit suburbs.
Why Leave Metro Detroit Out?
They get enough attention.
The school ratings website Niche takes an annual look around the whole state — not just those rich school districts around Detroit.
READ MORE: These Are the 10 Best School Districts in Michigan
Let's take a look at Niche's 10 highest-rated public elementary schools in Michigan that aren't in Metro.
10. Bennett Woods Elementary School in Okemos
Bennett Woods benefits from being practically in Michigan State University's backyard. The school works with MSU's teacher intern program, and the district says families connected to the university help give Bennett Woods an international mix of languages, customs and backgrounds.
That's a pretty cool bonus to the classroom experience, and one of those things you probably wouldn't know just by looking at a ranking.
9. Countryside Elementary School in Byron Center
Countryside Elementary has some serious Blue Ribbon history. It was named a National Blue Ribbon School in 2017, then got Blue Ribbon recognition again from the Michigan Department of Education in 2025 after the federal program was discontinued.
The school's academic philosophy also stresses individualized education in what it calls a positive, child-centered environment.
8. Brown Elementary School in Byron Center
If they handed out frequent-flyer miles for Blue Ribbon awards, Brown Elementary in Byron Center would be doing pretty well. Brown was recognized as a National Blue Ribbon School in 2001, 2015 and again in 2022.
In fact, Brown was one of only two Michigan schools to receive the national honor in 2022. The school uses the "Leader in Me" program to work leadership and life skills into the regular school experience.
7. Eagle Crest Charter Academy in Holland
Eagle Crest Charter Academy opened in 1997, so this Holland charter school has been doing its thing for nearly three decades.
Eagle Crest says it has outperformed its local district in every tested subject for 17 consecutive years, and it received an "A" on Michigan's 2022-24 Context and Performance Report Card. That's a pretty consistent run.
6. Hiawatha Elementary School in Okemos
Another Okemos entry on the list, Hiawatha Elementary also takes advantage of its relationship with nearby Michigan State University's teacher intern program. Fifth-year teaching interns work alongside classroom teachers at Hiawatha for much of the school year.
Hiawatha also points to its proximity to MSU as one reason its student body includes families from around the world, giving the school an especially international flavor.
5. Excel Charter Academy in Grand Rapids
Excel Charter Academy in Grand Rapids is a tuition-free public charter school that's been open since 1995.
In the 2026 U.S. News & World Report rankings, Excel came in #10 among Michigan charter elementary schools. In addition to the typical subjects covered in elementaries, character education is also built in through the school's "Moral Focus" program.
4. Ada Elementary School in Ada
Here's a fun random fact about Ada Elementary: Chase works there. He's a golden retriever mix and one of Forest Hills Public Schools' PRIDE Pup support dogs, spending his days helping students around the school.
Ada Elementary also houses the district's Early Childhood Special Education program for kids ages 3 to 5.
3. New Buffalo Elementary School in New Buffalo
New Buffalo Elementary is one of the smaller schools on this list, but it has some pretty big credentials. It was named a National Blue Ribbon School in 2020, an honor given to schools recognized for academic performance or progress in closing achievement gaps.
The school offers arts, athletics, and technology opportunities, along with its Bison After School Enrichment program. According to Niche, only 211 students go here. That gives it a much smaller feel than most of the other schools in our Top 10.
2. Cross Creek Charter Academy in Byron Center
Cross Creek Charter Academy isn't just showing up high on Niche's list. The tuition-free charter school ranked #4 among Michigan charter schools in U.S. News & World Report's 2026 rankings.
The school also puts a big emphasis on its "Moral Focus" program, which works character lessons like respect, gratitude and perseverance into the school day.
1. Okemos Public Montessori School at Central in Okemos
Michigan's top elementary school that's not in Metro Detroit? Okemos Public Montessori School at Central. It's a little different than your typical neighborhood elementary.
While this school is a free public Montessori program, you can't just decide to send your kids there.
When there are more applicants than openings, the school uses a random lottery, with Okemos residents getting preference. Classrooms use multi-age groupings and a two-year looping model.
