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Whitman Elementary School

125 W MONTCALM ST, PONTIAC, MI 48342

About Whitman Elementary School

Walt Whitman Elementary School is located at 125 W. Montcalm St. in Pontiac and sits in an urban community-based setting. They serve students from grades K-5 and enrolls approximately 559 students with a student-teacher ratio of 11:1. 13% of students are proficient in math and 14% meet or exceed grade-level reading benchmarks. The student population is made up of 46% female students and 54% male students. The school fosters a caring, inclusive environment in which teachers incorporate social-emotional supports, character development and community partnerships to help students thrive.

Walt Whitman hosts the “Empowerment Zone” in partnership with Honor Community Health which offers on-site counselling, behavioural screenings and student support services. Parents praise the caring staff, strong student-support systems, and commitment to whole-child development shown by Walt Whitman Elementary which helped them to earn the recognition as one of the best elementary schools in Michigan.

Whitman Elementary School Contact Information

Address

125 W MONTCALM ST, PONTIAC, MI 48342

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Phone

(248) 451-7950

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Academic Performance

Subject Proficiency

Mathematics 13%
Reading 14%
State average proficiency is 13% in Math and 14% in Reading.
53
Full-time Teachers
11 : 1
Student-Teacher Ratio
559
Total Students
$45663
Avg. Teacher Salary
TOP 199 IN STEM IN STATE

Robotics & STEM
at Whitman Elementary School

2.5X
More likely to pursue STEM Careers
80%
Jobs that will require STEM in 2030
2.5X
More likely to persue STEM Careers
80%
Jobs that will require STEM in 2030
  • 🤖 Coding & Debugging
  • 🧪 Hobby Electronics and Engineering
  • 👩‍💻 Apply Math in Science and Engineering
  • 🛠️ 3D Printing
🚀
Hands-on with real robots
🏆
Led by competition winners
🎓
STEM career pathways

Recent News & Updates

New Playground Name

We are so excited to announce the name of our new playground! Following a school-wide and Robinson community vote we narrowed a large list of names down to four. Since our students will be using the playground on a daily basis, we gave them the final vote! 476.....

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Mansfield Public Schools Educator Spotlight: Pathways of a Fourth-Grade Teacher

MANSFIELD — Inside the brick building on East Street, four educators who began teaching within 2 years of each other, all spending the beginning of their careers teaching fourth grade at Jordan/Jackson Elementary School...

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School Timings

Regular School Hours

All Grades: 9:10 AM - 4:11 PM

Early Dismissal Days

Dismissal Time: 12:15 PM

Note: Doors open at 8:55 AM for student arrival. Please refer to the school calendar for specific early dismissal dates.

After School Activities

Information coming soon

School Session Dates

September to June

School session starts in September 1st week and ends in June 3rd week. For exact dates, please contact the school.

Student Demographics

White 4%
Asian 2.7%
Hispanic 43.9%
Black 44.8%
Two+ Races 4.3%
Native Am. 1%
White
4%
Asian
2.7%
Hispanic
43.9%
Black
44.8%
Two+ Races
4.3%
Native Am.
1%

Gender Distribution

Total Students: 559
43.4%
243 Female
56.6%
316 Male

Student Population

559 Students

With a student-teacher ratio of 11 : 1

Minority Enrollment

25%

Percentage of minority students

Remarkable Alumni

Being Updated

Map

Latest News

Walt Whitman Elementary School received a surprise visit from Joe Lunghamer Chevrolet, creating an exciting and memorable day for students and staff.

FAQ

Q1. Who is the principal of Walt Whitman Elementary School?

Ans. The principal, Dr. Letha Hopkins-Powell, brings over 31 years of teaching and 17+ years of leadership experience within the Pontiac School District.

Q2. How does Walt Whitman Elementary School provide information about its meal menus?

Ans. The school uses Nutrislice, a digital menu service that lets parents, students, and staff view detailed breakfast and lunch options online.

Q3. What is the policy for excused absences at Walt Whitman Elementary School?

Ans. Students have five days after returning to make up any missed work or tests from excused absences.

Q4. What technology enhancements are available at Walt Whitman Elementary School?

Ans. The school features Chromebooks, tablets, interactive panels, improved Wi-Fi, Z-space labs, and advanced security systems.

Q5. What is “green” busing at Walt Whitman Elementary School?

Ans. The school is introducing electric buses that offer safer, quieter rides with cleaner emissions.

Games & Extracurricular Activities

Sports

  • Soccer Club Grades 1-3 | Mon/Wed 3:30-4:30pm
  • Basketball Grades 2-4 | Tue/Thu 3:30-4:45pm
  • Track & Field Grades 3-5 | Fri 3:30-5:00pm

Arts

  • Art Club Grades K-2 | Mon 3:00-4:00pm
  • Drama Club Grades 3-5 | Wed 3:30-5:00pm
  • Choir Grades 2-5 | Thu 3:15-4:15pm

Clubs

  • Chess Club Grades 2-5 | Fri 3:15-4:15pm
  • Garden Club All Grades | Tue 3:15-4:00pm
  • Robotics Club Grades 3-5 | Thu 3:30-5:00pm

Note: Schedules may change during school holidays. Please contact School for exact Schedule.

Summer Suggested Reading

Horn Book Selections

Vocabulary.com +3 Horn Book +3 What to Read to Your Kids +3
ML

Maggie Lou, Firefox

by Arnolda Dufour Bowes

PS

The Puppets of Spelhorst

by Kate DiCamillo

MLV

The Mona Lisa Vanishes

by Nicholas Day

Vocabulary.com Top Picks

Penguin Random House +10 Vocabulary.com +10 Wikipedia +10
F

Frindle

by Andrew Clements

WR

The Wild Robot

by Peter Brown

JGP

James and the Giant Peach

by Roald Dahl

Penguin Random House Features

Horn Book +2 Penguin Random House +2 The Guardian +2
SLB

The Secret Language of Birds

by Lynne Kelly

S

The Swifts: A Dictionary of Scoundrels

by Beth Lincoln

Free Robotics and Stem In-person Workshop in Your Neighbourhood for 7-14 Years Tech Enthusiasts.

Local kids are transforming ideas into real-world.

See the projects happening right in your neighborhood

What Parents Say

Whitman Elementary School

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DISCLAIMER

The information provided about schools is for general reference only and may not be 100% accurate or up to date. We recommend contacting the respective school directly to confirm the latest details and ensure accuracy.