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Talent & Education

Top 10 School Districts

February 1, 2015

Talent & Education

Talent & Education

Top 10 School Districts

Below are top 10 lists of the most overachieving school districts in the state in 2014. The lists are sorted by grade level, demographics and region, as well as by overall excellence. As with all State Champs rankings, student income levels are factored into every list.

Please note that in the regional lists, not every district listed is an Academic State Champ. Click on the district name to get more information. Go here to search all districts.

Overall

District	County	Students	ASC score*	Overall rank
Central Academy	Washtenaw	576	114.46	1
Fairview Area School District	Oscoda	304	114.34	2
Kingsley Area Schools	Grand Traverse	1384	114.2	3
Ashley Community Schools	Gratiot	293	114.2	4
Star International Academy	Wayne	1586	113.6	5
Riverside Academy	Wayne	1059	113.4	6
West MI Academy of Environmental Science	Kent	623	112.92	7
Crawford AuSable Schools	Crawford	1653	112.3	8
Godwin Heights Public Schools	Kent	2274	111.6	9
Frankfort-Elberta Area Schools	Benzie	511	111.4	10

* Districts with scores between 99 and 101 are meeting expectations, taking into account the percentage of low-income students. Those districts scoring above 101 are exceeding expectations, and those below 99 are falling short. Go here to search all districts.

Elementary grades

District	County	Students	ASC score*	Elementary rank
Martin Luther King, Jr. Education Center Academy	Wayne	298	136.6	1
Hamtramck Academy	Wayne	493	123.9	2
Vanderbilt Charter Academy	Ottawa	459	118.6	3
Godwin Heights Public Schools	Kent	2274	118.3	4
Ellsworth Community School	Antrim	245	117.9	5
West MI Academy of Environmental Science	Kent	623	117.4	6
Onaway Area Community School District	Presque Isle	674	116.9	7
North Central Area Schools	Menominee	437	116.7	8
Detroit Merit Charter Academy	Wayne	734	115.3	9
Academy of Southfield	Oakland	319	114.7	10

* Districts with scores between 99 and 101 are meeting expectations, taking into account the percentage of low-income students. Those districts scoring above 101 are exceeding expectations, and those below 99 are falling short. Go here to search all districts.

Middle school grades

District	County	Students	ASC score*	Middle school rank
Martin Luther King, Jr. Education Center Academy	Wayne	298	140.9	1
Hamtramck Academy	Wayne	493	127.5	2
Detroit Merit Charter Academy	Wayne	734	117.4	3
Star International Academy	Wayne	1586	116.6	4
Ashley Community Schools	Gratiot	293	115.9	5
Crawford AuSable Schools	Crawford	1653	114.7	6
Burr Oak Community School District	St. Joseph	280	114.6	7
Deckerville Community School District	Sanilac	585	114.4	8
Joseph K. Lumsden Bahweting Anishnabe Academy	Chippewa	463	114.3	9
Central Academy	Washtenaw	576	113.9	10

* Districts with scores between 99 and 101 are meeting expectations, taking into account the percentage of low-income students. Those districts scoring above 101 are exceeding expectations, and those below 99 are falling short. Go here to search all districts.

High school grades

District	County	Students	ASC score*	High school rank
Ashley Community Schools	Gratiot	293	121.1	1
Fairview Area School District	Oscoda	304	120.6	2
Star International Academy	Wayne	1586	120.2	3
Central Academy	Washtenaw	576	120	4
Kingsley Area Schools	Grand Traverse	1384	118.8	5
Bloomfield Hills Schools	Oakland	5406	118.3	6
Bloomingdale Public School District	Van Buren	1210	117.2	7
Riverside Academy	Wayne	1059	116.6	8
Dollar Bay-Tamarack City Area Schools	Houghton	314	116.5	9
Baldwin Community Schools	Lake	561	116	10

* Districts with scores between 99 and 101 are meeting expectations, taking into account the percentage of low-income students. Those districts scoring above 101 are exceeding expectations, and those below 99 are falling short. Go here to search all districts.

Rural school districts

Based on federal education designation for rural.

District	County	Students	ASC score*	Overall rank
Fairview Area School District	Oscoda	304	114.3	2
Kingsley Area Schools	Grand Traverse	1384	114.2	3
Ashley Community Schools	Gratiot	293	114.2	4
Frankfort-Elberta Area Schools	Benzie	511	111.4	10
North Central Area Schools	Menominee	437	109.6	14
Stephenson Area Public Schools	Menominee	586	109.5	16
Madison School District (Lenawee)	Lenawee	1560	109.2	18
Mason County Eastern Schools	Mason	459	109.1	19
Roscommon Area Public Schools	Roscommon	1155	109	20
Benzie County Central Schools	Benzie	1633	108.8	22

* Districts with scores between 99 and 101 are meeting expectations, taking into account the percentage of low-income students. Those districts scoring above 101 are exceeding expectations, and those below 99 are falling short. Go here to search all districts.

High concentration of low-income students

Districts in which more than 80 percent of students are eligible for a free or reduced-price lunch.

District	County	Students	ASC score*	Overall rank
Central Academy	Washtenaw	576	114.5	1
Ashley Community Schools	Gratiot	293	114.2	4
Star International Academy	Wayne	1586	113.6	5
Riverside Academy	Wayne	1059	113.4	6
Godwin Heights Public Schools	Kent	2274	111.6	9
International Academy of Flint	Genesee	1101	109.5	15
Bloomingdale Public School District	Van Buren	1210	108.6	26
Baldwin Community Schools	Lake	561	107.9	36
Countryside Academy	Berrien	596	107.7	38
Covert Public Schools	Van Buren	342	107.2	47

* Districts with scores between 99 and 101 are meeting expectations, taking into account the percentage of low-income students. Those districts scoring above 101 are exceeding expectations, and those below 99 are falling short. Go here to search all districts.

Low concentration of low-income students

Districts in which fewer than 20 percent of students are eligible for a free or reduced-price lunch.

District	County	Students	ASC score*	Overall rank
Okemos Public Schools	Ingham	3997	110	12
Bloomfield Hills Schools	Oakland	5406	108.1	33
Rochester Community School District	Oakland	14951	107.3	46
South Lyon Community Schools	Oakland	7423	106.8	55
East Grand Rapids Public Schools	Kent	2995	106.8	57
Troy School District	Oakland	12547	106	74
Spring Lake Public Schools	Ottawa	2484	104.7	105
Forest Hills Public Schools	Kent	10107	104.6	107
Hudsonville Public School District	Ottawa	6245	104.3	116
Northville Public Schools	Wayne	7302	103.7	129

* Districts with scores between 99 and 101 are meeting expectations, taking into account the percentage of low-income students. Those districts scoring above 101 are exceeding expectations, and those below 99 are falling short. Go here to search all districts.

Michigan regional comparisons

Below are the best districts in each of the state's regions. See map for key.

Region 1

District	County	Students	ASC score*	Overall rank
Calumet, Laurium & Keweenaw	Houghton	1497	110.8	11
Dollar Bay-Tamarack City Area Schools	Houghton	314	109.9	13
North Central Area Schools	Menominee	437	109.6	14
Stephenson Area Public Schools	Menominee	586	109.5	16
Bessemer Area School District	Gogebic	450	107	51
Ironwood Area Schools of Gogebic County	Gogebic	837	106	76
West Iron County Public Schools	Iron	876	105.8	80
Brimley Area Schools	Chippewa	500	105.7	81
Chassell Township School District	Houghton	257	105.4	84
Gwinn Area Community Schools	Marquette	1117	105.3	89

* Districts with scores between 99 and 101 are meeting expectations, taking into account the percentage of low-income students. Those districts scoring above 101 are exceeding expectations, and those below 99 are falling short. Go here to search all districts.

Region 2

District	County	Students	ASC score*	Overall rank
Kingsley Area Schools	Grand Traverse	1384	114.2	3
Frankfort-Elberta Area Schools	Benzie	511	111.4	10
Benzie County Central Schools	Benzie	1633	108.8	22
Ellsworth Community School	Antrim	245	108.4	27
Pellston Public Schools	Emmet	607	108.2	30
Manton Consolidated Schools	Wexford	910	107.2	49
Mesick Consolidated Schools	Wexford	637	107.1	50
Boyne City Public Schools	Charlevoix	1307	106.7	59
Glen Lake Community Schools	Leelanau	770	106.4	63
Leland Public School District	Leelanau	426	106.2	70

* Districts with scores between 99 and 101 are meeting expectations, taking into account the percentage of low-income students. Those districts scoring above 101 are exceeding expectations, and those below 99 are falling short. Go here to search all districts.

Region 3

District	County	Students	ASC score*	Overall rank
Fairview Area School District	Oscoda	304	114.3	2
Crawford AuSable Schools	Crawford	1653	112.3	8
Roscommon Area Public Schools	Roscommon	1155	109	20
Johannesburg-Lewiston Area Schools	Otsego	739	108.6	24
Onaway Area Community School District	Presque Isle	674	107.7	37
Houghton Lake Community Schools	Roscommon	1442	107.6	39
Hale Area Schools	Iosco	462	107.6	40
West Branch-Rose City Area Schools	Ogemaw	2060	107.5	41
Cheboygan Area Schools	Cheboygan	1897	107.4	44
Gaylord Community Schools	Otsego	3041	106.9	54

* Districts with scores between 99 and 101 are meeting expectations, taking into account the percentage of low-income students. Those districts scoring above 101 are exceeding expectations, and those below 99 are falling short. Go here to search all districts.

Region 4

District	County	Students	ASC score*	Overall rank
West MI Academy of Environmental Science	Kent	623	112.9	7
Godwin Heights Public Schools	Kent	2274	111.6	9
Mason County Eastern Schools	Mason	459	109.1	19
West Ottawa Public School District	Ottawa	7195	108	35
Baldwin Community Schools	Lake	561	107.9	36
Byron Center Public Schools	Kent	3724	107	52
East Grand Rapids Public Schools	Kent	2995	106.8	57
Excel Charter Academy	Kent	1388	106.5	61
Grand Haven Area Public Schools	Ottawa	6141	106.4	62
Kelloggsville Public Schools	Kent	2168	106.3	68

* Districts with scores between 99 and 101 are meeting expectations, taking into account the percentage of low-income students. Those districts scoring above 101 are exceeding expectations, and those below 99 are falling short. Go here to search all districts.

Region 5

District	County	Students	ASC score*	Overall rank
Ashley Community Schools	Gratiot	293	114.2	4
Au Gres-Sims School District	Arenac	431	108.1	34
Midland Public Schools	Midland	7727	106.3	65
Gladwin Community Schools	Gladwin	1784	106.2	69
Chesaning Union Schools	Saginaw	1553	105.3	88
Pinconning Area Schools	Bay	1354	104.9	100
Beaverton Rural Schools	Gladwin	1256	103.2	150
Standish-Sterling Community Schools	Arenac	1657	103.2	152
Clare Public Schools	Clare	1535	102.2	189
Bangor Township Schools	Bay	2436	102.1	190

* Districts with scores between 99 and 101 are meeting expectations, taking into account the percentage of low-income students. Those districts scoring above 101 are exceeding expectations, and those below 99 are falling short. Go here to search all districts.

Region 6

District	County	Students	ASC score*	Overall rank
International Academy of Flint	Genesee	1101	109.5	15
Deckerville Community School District	Sanilac	585	108.6	25
Kingston Community School District	Tuscola	622	108.3	28
Brown City Community Schools	Sanilac	884	108.2	31
Croswell-Lexington Community Schools	Sanilac	2322	107.4	42
Ubly Community Schools	Huron	744	107.2	48
Davison Community Schools	Genesee	5557	107	53
Harbor Beach Community Schools	Huron	507	106.6	60
Carman-Ainsworth Community Schools	Genesee	5450	105.2	90
Bendle Public Schools	Genesee	1153	105.2	91

* Districts with scores between 99 and 101 are meeting expectations, taking into account the percentage of low-income students. Those districts scoring above 101 are exceeding expectations, and those below 99 are falling short. Go here to search all districts.

Region 7

District	County	Students	ASC score*	Overall rank
Okemos Public Schools	Ingham	3997	110	12
Haslett Public Schools	Ingham	2733	108.2	29
East Lansing School District	Ingham	3465	106.3	65
Michigan Connections Academy	Ingham	1504	103.7	131
Ovid-Elsie Area Schools	Clinton	1647	103.3	145
Fowler Public Schools	Clinton	539	101.2	227
Olivet Community Schools	Eaton	1506	100.9	240
Pewamo-Westphalia Community Schools	Clinton	646	100.8	243
Williamston Community Schools	Ingham	1799	100	276
Webberville Community Schools	Ingham	606	99.5	303

* Districts with scores between 99 and 101 are meeting expectations, taking into account the percentage of low-income students. Those districts scoring above 101 are exceeding expectations, and those below 99 are falling short. Go here to search all districts.

Region 8

District	County	Students	ASC score*	Overall rank
Burr Oak Community School District	St. Joseph	280	108.8	23
Bloomingdale Public School District	Van Buren	1210	108.6	26
Countryside Academy	Berrien	596	107.7	38
Edwardsburg Public Schools	Cass	2755	107.4	43
White Pigeon Community Schools	St. Joseph	759	107.3	45
Covert Public Schools	Van Buren	342	107.2	47
Berrien Springs Public Schools	Berrien	2448	106.8	56
Dowagiac Union School District	Cass	2323	106.7	58
Lawton Community School District	Van Buren	999	106.3	67
Lakeshore School District (Berrien)	Berrien	2829	106	77

* Districts with scores between 99 and 101 are meeting expectations, taking into account the percentage of low-income students. Those districts scoring above 101 are exceeding expectations, and those below 99 are falling short. Go here to search all districts.

Region 9

District	County	Students	ASC score*	Overall rank
Central Academy	Washtenaw	576	114.5	1
Madison School District (Lenawee)	Lenawee	1560	109.2	18
Ann Arbor Public Schools	Washtenaw	16453	108.9	21
Napoleon Community Schools	Jackson	1428	104.56	111
Saline Area Schools	Washtenaw	5267	103.4	142
Western School District	Jackson	2941	103	159
Hillsdale Community Schools	Hillsdale	1347	102.4	181
Hudson Area Schools	Lenawee	893	102.1	191
Chelsea School District	Washtenaw	2430	101.8	198
Springport Public Schools	Jackson	972	101.6	208

* Districts with scores between 99 and 101 are meeting expectations, taking into account the percentage of low-income students. Those districts scoring above 101 are exceeding expectations, and those below 99 are falling short. Go here to search all districts.

Region 10

District	County	Students	ASC score*	Overall rank
Star International Academy	Wayne	1586	113.6	5
Riverside Academy	Wayne	1059	113.4	6
Crestwood School District	Wayne	3549	109.3	17
Dearborn City School District	Wayne	19379	108.2	32
Bloomfield Hills Schools	Oakland	5406	108.1	33
Rochester Community School District	Oakland	14951	107.3	46
South Lyon Community Schools	Oakland	7423	106.8	55
Cesar Chavez Academy	Wayne	2190	106.1	72
Troy School District	Oakland	12547	106	74
Clintondale Community Schools	Macomb	3152	104.9	96

* Districts with scores between 99 and 101 are meeting expectations, taking into account the percentage of low-income students. Those districts scoring above 101 are exceeding expectations, and those below 99 are falling short. Go here to search all districts. Here’s a more detailed explanation of our methodology, which allows Bridge to compare school achievement across all regions and income levels.

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