Besser Elementary School

www.alpenaschools.com

456 Students

Elementary School K - 5th

School Overview

Besser Elementary School, located on Wilson Street in Alpena, Michigan, is a public elementary school serving students within the Alpena Public Schools district. The school is committed to fostering a supportive learning environment that focuses on foundational academic development, social-emotional growth, and preparing students for future success. By leveraging the resources of the district, Besser Elementary emphasizes strong instruction in core subjects while encouraging student participation in a welcoming community atmosphere.

As part of the Alpena Public Schools system, Besser Elementary benefits from the district's broader mission to provide high-quality education through collaboration, modern learning tools, and dedicated staff. The school serves as a key pillar in the local neighborhood, prioritizing parent-teacher communication and student engagement to ensure that all learners can reach their potential. For families interested in enrollment, school calendars, or specific academic programs, the official district website provides comprehensive information regarding the school’s daily operations and educational philosophy.

456

Total Students

25.8

Full-Time Teachers

17.7

Student/Teacher Ratio

61.2%

Free/Reduced Lunch

Student Demographics

Student Demographics Data Table

Student Demographics for Besser Elementary School
Demographic	Student Count
White	413
Hispanic	14
Black	3
Asian	2
Two or More	22
American Indian	1
Pacific Islander	1

White
413 (90.6 %)
Two or More
22 (4.8 %)
Hispanic
14 (3.1 %)
Black
3 (0.7 %)
Asian
2 (0.4 %)
American Indian
1 (0.2 %)
Pacific Islander
1 (0.2 %)

School Location

School Details

Status:	Open
School Level:	Elementary School
School Type:	Regular School
Charter Status:*	Public Non-Charter
Virtual Instruction:	Supplemental Virtual
Shared Time Status:	No
District:	Alpena Public Schools
Phone:	(989)358-5100
Website:	http://www.alpenaschools.com
Grade Range:	K - 5th
Total Students:	456
Full-Time Teachers (FTE):	25.8
Pupil/Teacher Ratio:	17.7
NSLP Participation:¹	Yes under Community Eligibility Option (CEO)
Qualified Free Lunch:	263
Qualified Reduced Lunch:	16

* Charter Schools: A public charter school is a publicly funded school that operates independently under a legislative contract (or "charter") with a state, school district, or designated authorizing entity. Charters grant these schools greater operational flexibility over curriculum, staffing, and budgeting in exchange for strict accountability to achieve performance standards established in their charter agreement.

¹ National School Lunch Program (NSLP): The National School Lunch Program is a federally assisted meal program operating in public and nonprofit private schools. It provides nutritionally balanced, low-cost or free lunches to eligible children each school day based on household income thresholds or community eligibility options (CEO).

Title I Program Overview: Title I, Part A of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) allocates federal financial assistance to local educational agencies and public schools with high percentages of children from low-income families to help ensure that all children meet challenging state academic standards.

Grades Taught

Kindergarten 92

Grade 1 68

Grade 2 75

Grade 3 80

Grade 4 75

Grade 5 66