El Sol Elementary

El Sol is a bilingual/dual-language elementary school (K–5) with about 358 students and a student–teacher ratio near 17:1, the best elementary school. 22% of students are proficient at math, and 32% are at reading. There are 52% female students and 48% male students in the school. 54% of the students at the school come from low-income families. There are 22 full-time teachers who are the same as each other.

The school has a diverse student body and gets help from the district for bilingual students. Full-time teacher FTEs are listed in NCES profiles. Nearby elementary schools: Winchell has much higher proficiency rates (math ~55%, reading ~63%), while several schools in the area have lower math rates (about 5–25%). Depending on the exact location and amenities, rents for three-bedroom apartments in the area usually range from $1,300 to $1,800 or more per month.

The Kalamazoo Public Schools Board decided in January 2025 to move the school to a new location in the Baker Street/Eastside neighborhood as part of a $41 million construction plan.

Q.1 How do parents and community groups collaborate?

Ans: The school receives a lot of help from community partners like Western Michigan University, Kalamazoo College, and Communities In Schools of Kalamazoo.

Q.2: What are the rules about snacks and lunches?

Yes, the handbook says that kids receive a nutrition break in the morning, that healthy snacks are encouraged, and that the school has a lunch program that costs $2.15 a day and offers free or reduced-price lunch for families who qualify.

Q.3 Can you bring your own snacks or lunch?

Yes, you can bring snacks and lunches from home, but you have to obey the rules above.

Q.4 Is the lunch program free or less expensive for some kids?

Yes, the school provides free or reduced-price lunch to families who qualify.

Q.5 Does the school take applications from families who don't live nearby?

Ans: The dual-language model and district information suggest that it might work as a magnet program, but the sources I looked at did not confirm an explicit lottery process.