For the 2025 school year, there are 14 public preschools serving 4,723 students in Traverse City, MI.
The top ranked public preschools in Traverse City, MI are Tcaps Montessori School, Courtade Elementary School and Willow Hill Elementary School. Overall testing rank is based on a school's combined math and reading proficiency test score ranking.
Traverse City, MI public preschools have an average math proficiency score of 45% (versus the Michigan public pre school average of 34%), and reading proficiency score of 56% (versus the 40% statewide average). Pre schools in Traverse City have an average ranking of 8/10, which is in the top 30% of Michigan public pre schools.
Minority enrollment is 13% of the student body (majority Hispanic and Black), which is less than the Michigan public preschool average of 39% (majority Black).
Best Public Preschools in Traverse City, MI (2025)
School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Quick Facts
Rank: #11.
Tcaps Montessori School
(Math: 60-64% | Reading: 65-69%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 10%10
4053 Franke Rd
Traverse City, MI 49684
(231) 933-6420
Traverse City, MI 49684
(231) 933-6420
Gr: PK-8 | 297 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 11%
Rank: #22.
Courtade Elementary School
(Math: 55-59% | Reading: 65-69%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 10%10
1111 Rasho Rd
Traverse City, MI 49686
(231) 933-5800
Traverse City, MI 49686
(231) 933-5800
Gr: PK-5 | 209 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 14%
Rank: #33.
Willow Hill Elementary School
(Math: 60-64% | Reading: 60-64%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
1250 Hill St
Traverse City, MI 49684
(231) 933-8540
Traverse City, MI 49684
(231) 933-8540
Gr: PK-5 | 444 students Student-teacher ratio: 21:1 Minority enrollment: 9%
Rank: #44.
North Ednew Horizons
Special Education School
(Math: 40-49% | Reading: 80-89%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
933 Rose St
Traverse City, MI 49686
(231) 933-5685
Traverse City, MI 49686
(231) 933-5685
Gr: PK-12 | 80 students Student-teacher ratio: 7:1 Minority enrollment: 10%
Rank: #55.
Central Grade School
(Math: 50% | Reading: 62%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
301 W Seventh St
Traverse City, MI 49684
(231) 933-5910
Traverse City, MI 49684
(231) 933-5910
Gr: PK-6 | 537 students Student-teacher ratio: 17:1 Minority enrollment: 20%
Rank: #66.
Grand Traverse Academy
Charter School
(Math: 50% | Reading: 60%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
1245 Hammond Rd E
Traverse City, MI 49686
(231) 932-6008
Traverse City, MI 49686
(231) 932-6008
Gr: PK-12 | 798 students Student-teacher ratio: 16:1 Minority enrollment: 11%
Rank: #77.
Eastern Elementary School
(Math: 45-49% | Reading: 60-64%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
1600 Eastern Ave
Traverse City, MI 49686
(231) 933-5600
Traverse City, MI 49686
(231) 933-5600
Gr: PK-5 | 480 students Student-teacher ratio: 19:1 Minority enrollment: 11%
Rank: #88.
North Edbridgeway
Special Education School
(Math: 50-59% | Reading: 40-59%)
Rank:
Rank:
8/
Top 30%10
301 S Garfield Ave
Traverse City, MI 49686
(231) 933-5683
Traverse City, MI 49686
(231) 933-5683
Gr: PK-12 | 59 students Student-teacher ratio: 3:1 Minority enrollment: 9%
Rank: #99.
Westwoods Elementary School
(Math: 40-44% | Reading: 50-54%)
Rank:
Rank:
7/
Top 50%10
1500 Fisher Rd
Traverse City, MI 49685
(231) 933-7900
Traverse City, MI 49685
(231) 933-7900
Gr: PK-5 | 347 students Student-teacher ratio: 17:1 Minority enrollment: 4%
Rank: #10 - 1110. - 11.
Cherry Knoll Elementary School
(Math: 35-39% | Reading: 50-54%)
Rank:
Rank:
7/
Top 50%10
1800 3 Mile Rd N
Traverse City, MI 49696
(231) 933-8940
Traverse City, MI 49696
(231) 933-8940
Gr: PK-5 | 341 students Student-teacher ratio: 16:1 Minority enrollment: 17%
Rank: #10 - 1110. - 11.
Long Lake Elementary School
(Math: 35-39% | Reading: 50-54%)
Rank:
Rank:
7/
Top 50%10
7600 N Long Lake Rd
Traverse City, MI 49685
(231) 933-7800
Traverse City, MI 49685
(231) 933-7800
Gr: PK-5 | 357 students Student-teacher ratio: 18:1 Minority enrollment: 10%
Rank: #1212.
Blair Elementary School
(Math: 30-34% | Reading: 40-44%)
Rank:
Rank:
5/
Bottom 50%10
1625 Sawyer Rd
Traverse City, MI 49685
(231) 933-5700
Traverse City, MI 49685
(231) 933-5700
Gr: PK-5 | 205 students Student-teacher ratio: 11:1 Minority enrollment: 18%
Rank: #1313.
Silver Lake Elementary School
(Math: 25-29% | Reading: 35-39%)
Rank:
Rank:
4/
Bottom 50%10
5858 Culver Rd
Traverse City, MI 49684
(231) 933-3580
Traverse City, MI 49684
(231) 933-3580
Gr: PK-5 | 293 students Student-teacher ratio: 16:1 Minority enrollment: 8%
Rank: #1414.
Traverse Heights Elementary School
(Math: 10-14% | Reading: 20-24%)
Rank:
Rank:
2/
Bottom 50%10
933 Rose St
Traverse City, MI 49686
(231) 933-3500
Traverse City, MI 49686
(231) 933-3500
Gr: PK-5 | 276 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 34%
Traverse City, Michigan Public Schools (Closed)
School
Location
Quick Facts
3723 Shore Road
Traverse City, MI 49685
(231) 933-6420
Traverse City, MI 49685
(231) 933-6420
Gr: K-6 | 240 students Student-teacher ratio: 17:1 Minority enrollment: 6%
301 West Seventh St
Traverse City, MI 49684
(231) 933-5600
Traverse City, MI 49684
(231) 933-5600
Gr: 4-5 | 69 students Student-teacher ratio: 23:1 Minority enrollment: 3%
Cherry Knoll Children's Center (Closed 2009)
Special Education School
91800 N. Three Mile Road
Traverse City, MI 49686
(231) 922-625
Traverse City, MI 49686
(231) 922-625
Gr: Inquire with school | 88 students Student-teacher ratio: 7:1 Minority enrollment: 15%
1009 S. Oak Street
Traverse City, MI 49685
(231) 933-7860
Traverse City, MI 49685
(231) 933-7860
Gr: K-6 | 265 students Student-teacher ratio: 17:1 Minority enrollment: 12%
3113 J Maddy Pkwy
Traverse City, MI 49686
(231) 933-1780
Traverse City, MI 49686
(231) 933-1780
Gr: PK-12
Montessori At Courtade (Closed 2015)
Special Education School
1111 Rasho Rd
Traverse City, MI 49696
(231) 933-5800
Traverse City, MI 49696
(231) 933-5800
Gr: PK-5 | 30 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 13%
10781 East Cherry Bend Road
Traverse City, MI 49685
(231) 933-8660
Traverse City, MI 49685
(231) 933-8660
Gr: K-6 | 261 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 12%
P.o. Box 32
Traverse City, MI 49685
(231) 933-6570
Traverse City, MI 49685
(231) 933-6570
Gr: PK-6 | 72 students Student-teacher ratio: 6:1 Minority enrollment: 13%
2699 Island View Rd
Traverse City, MI 49686
(231) 933-7420
Traverse City, MI 49686
(231) 933-7420
Gr: PK-5 | 152 students Student-teacher ratio: 22:1 Minority enrollment: 17%
P.o. Box 32
Traverse City, MI 49685
(231) 933-7910
Traverse City, MI 49685
(231) 933-7910
Gr: PK-6 | 210 students Student-teacher ratio: 16:1 Minority enrollment: 9%
Tba Central Elementary School (Closed 2010)
Special Education School
301 West 7th
Traverse City, MI 49684
(231) 922-6244
Traverse City, MI 49684
(231) 922-6244
Gr: Inquire with school | 74 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 13%
1101 Red Drive
Traverse City, MI 49696
(231) 922-7863
Traverse City, MI 49696
(231) 922-7863
Gr: Inquire with school | 20 students
Tba Se Early Childhood (Closed 2012)
Special Education School
1101 Red Dr
Traverse City, MI 49684
(231) 922-6200
Traverse City, MI 49684
(231) 922-6200
Gr: PK
Traverse Bay Area Early College High School (Closed 2015)
Vocational School
880 Parsons Rd
Traverse City, MI 49686
(231) 922-6262
Traverse City, MI 49686
(231) 922-6262
Gr: 9-12 | 43 students Minority enrollment: 4%
1402 Carlisle Rd
Traverse City, MI 49686
(231) 929-4539
Traverse City, MI 49686
(231) 929-4539
Gr: 9-12 | 58 students Student-teacher ratio: 10:1 Minority enrollment: 33%
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the top ranked public preschools in Traverse City, MI?
The top ranked public preschools in Traverse City, MI include Tcaps Montessori School, Courtade Elementary School and Willow Hill Elementary School.
How many public preschools are located in Traverse City?
14 public preschools are located in Traverse City.
What is the racial composition of students in Traverse City?
Traverse City public preschools minority enrollment is 13% of the student body (majority Hispanic and Black), which is less than the Michigan public preschools average of 39% (majority Black).
Which public preschools in Traverse City are often viewed compared to one another?
Popular comparisons of public preschools in Traverse City include: North Edbridgeway vs. North Ednew Horizons, Blair Elementary School vs. Central Grade School, Courtade Elementary School vs. Cherry Knoll Elementary School
Recent Articles
Why Single-Sex Public Schools are Growing in Popularity
This article examines the growing trend of single-sex public schools in the United States. It explores the potential benefits, research findings, and controversies surrounding gender-specific education, as well as the factors driving its increasing popularity among parents and educators.
When Teachers Cheat: The Standardized Test Controversies
Teachers across the country are being accused of cheating on standardized tests, using erasers to conveniently change their students’ answers. However, are these teachers driven to cheat because the funding system is flawed?
When Field Trips Turn Deadly: Who is Responsible?
Recent deaths during field trips have parents and school officials questioning the safety of these excursions. Learn about these tragedies and what parameters should be in place to ensure a safe field trip.
