Summary:
Kimball, Michigan is home to two public schools serving students from Pre-K through 12th grade: Landmark Academy, a K-12 charter school operating as its own district, and Indian Woods Elementary School, part of the larger Port Huron Area School District.
For parents, the most important takeaway is that these two schools serve very different roles. Landmark Academy is the only option for middle and high school students, and it posts a strong graduation rate of 89.5%—well above the state average of 84%—with a dropout rate of just 4.4%. However, this success is tempered by a chronic absenteeism rate of 39.6%, nearly double that of Indian Woods Elementary School (24.1%). Academically, Landmark struggles significantly in math and reading, with proficiency rates falling far below state averages as students advance; for example, only 6.5% of 6th graders were proficient in math. Meanwhile, Indian Woods Elementary School outperforms its own district in most subjects, particularly in 3rd grade math where 35.6% of students were proficient—7.7 points higher than the district average. Both schools serve high numbers of economically disadvantaged students, with Landmark at 67.8% and Indian Woods at 56.3% free/reduced lunch eligibility.
Financially, Indian Woods Elementary School spends significantly more per student ($16,426) than Landmark Academy ($12,404), yet its test scores are not dramatically better, raising questions about resource efficiency. A positive trend at Indian Woods is the year-over-year improvement in 3rd grade scores, suggesting early interventions may be working. At Landmark, 11th graders showed a relative strength in social studies (34% proficiency), but the overall pattern shows students falling further behind state averages as they progress through the grades, highlighting a need for stronger middle school support.
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