Summary:
Harbor Beach Elementary School is the sole elementary school in the Harbor Beach Community Schools district, serving grades K-4 with 165 students in a small, rural Michigan community. This single school has become a standout performer, showing one of the most dramatic academic turnarounds in the state.
For parents, the most exciting news is the school’s remarkable improvement over the past year. In the 2025-2026 school year, Harbor Beach Elementary School jumped to 430th place out of 1,492 Michigan elementary schools (71st percentile, 4 stars), a massive leap from 873rd place the year before. This surge is reflected in test scores: 3rd graders went from 31% proficient in English Language Arts to 58.6%, and 4th graders improved from 28.6% to 48.5% in ELA. The school now outperforms the state average in 3rd grade ELA (58.6% vs. 38.2%), 3rd grade math (55.2% vs. 42.9%), and 4th grade ELA (48.5% vs. 41.3%), while matching the state in 4th grade math. This is a stark contrast to the prior year, when the school lagged behind state averages in nearly every subject.
Beyond academics, the school excels in creating a supportive environment. Its chronic absenteeism rate is exceptionally low at 7.0%, compared to 14.3% for the district and 27.9% statewide. With a favorable student-teacher ratio of 11.6:1, students receive more individualized attention. The school also invests heavily in its students, spending $15,801 per pupil, which is notable given that 52.73% of students qualify for free/reduced lunch. While the data includes 5th grade scores from the previous year (a quirk since the school serves K-4), those students outperformed the state in math and social studies. Overall, Harbor Beach Elementary School combines high attendance, strong resources, and a recent academic surge to offer a promising educational experience for families in the area.
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