Summary:
The Hemlock Public School District serves the city of Hemlock, Michigan, with five schools covering pre-kindergarten through 12th grade and enrolling roughly 1,239 students in a small, close-knit community setting. Overall, this is a solidly above-average district, ranking 182nd out of 625 Michigan districts with a 4-star rating, but the experience varies dramatically depending on which school your child attends.
The traditional brick-and-mortar schools are the clear strength here. Hemlock High School is the standout, ranking in the 83rd percentile statewide with a 92.6% graduation rate and a 0% dropout rate. Its students post huge advantages over state averages—15.7 points higher on SAT Reading/Writing and 14.9 points higher on SAT Math. Hemlock Middle School is a consistent performer, holding steady in the 82nd-83rd percentile for three straight years, with 8th graders excelling in social studies (62.7% vs. 50.3% statewide) and science (51% vs. 39.2%). At the elementary level, KC Ling Elementary School (grades 1-4) beats state averages in most subjects, though scores have slipped slightly over two years. Hemlock Elementary School (PK-K) serves the youngest students with the district's highest per-student spending at $14,382.
The major caution flag is Hemlock Virtual, which ranks at just the 32nd percentile with 2 stars. It has a 37.2:1 student-teacher ratio, a 25.6% chronic absenteeism rate, and a 9% dropout rate—the only school in the district with meaningful dropouts. Its SAT Reading/Writing proficiency (35%) is roughly half of Hemlock High's (67.8%), yet it spends only $6,951 per student. Additionally, watch for a 5th grade achievement dip at the middle school, where math proficiency fell from 57.9% to 26.3% in one year, and chronic absenteeism runs high (18-19%) at both the middle and high school despite strong test scores. For most families, the traditional schools offer excellent value and results; the virtual option appears under-resourced and struggling.
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