OKEMOS - Several Okemos elementary schools were ranked in the top 15 of niche.com's "Best Public Elementary Schools in Michigan."

Hiawatha Elementary is ranked No. 6, Bennett Woods Elementary is ranked No. 8, Okemos Public Montessori School-Central is ranked No. 9 and Cornell Elementary is ranked No. 13.

"We are proud of how we rank compared to others and to be honest, it's intentional," said Dr. Catherine Ash, Superintendent of Okemos Public Schools. "(We promote) lots of work and reflection and intentional behaviors to encourage student success. It just doesn't happen."

Niche.com's rankings are determined by considering the district's grades in academics, overall experience, teachers and student culture and diversity. Grades are given based on statistical data, parent, student and alumni surveys. Each category has a different weight, with academics being the heaviest.

"We have this collaborative environment with parents, staff and students," Ash said. "We work to identify individual needs and work to implement strategies to have students to be successful."

"We are always growing. We constantly reflect adjust and grow professionally on our practice so we can set all our students up for success."

This is the second time Okemos schools has been at the top of a niche.com "best of Michigan" list. A set of data released in late 2014 ranked Okemos High School as the No. 2 best public high school in the state. In that same list, Haslett High School ranked No. 34 in the state.

A couple elementary schools in Haslett were also ranked in the 2015 "Best Public Elementary Schools in Michigan", Murphy Elementary Schoolwas ranked No. 113 and Ralya Elementary School was ranked No. 126.