Fenton Area Public Schools

Fenton Area Public Schools is a highly rated Michigan district serving approximately 2,875 students across six schools—three elementary schools, one middle school, and two high schools—and ranks in the 90th percentile statewide. For parents, the standout is TomekEastern Elementary School, which ranks in the 90th percentile and outperforms district averages in nearly every subject, achieving 67.6% proficiency in 4th grade math and 69.2% in 5th grade science—all while serving a population where nearly 40% of students qualify for free/reduced lunch. Andrew G Schmidt Middle School is the district’s most improved school, climbing from the 78th to 84th percentile over three years, with exceptional 8th grade PSAT ELA scores at 84.7% proficiency. In contrast, Fenton Horizon Academy, an alternative high school with just 48 students, struggles significantly—its graduation rate is 66.6% versus 93.7% at Fenton Senior High School, and its SAT EBRW proficiency is only 27.8% compared to the district’s 70.3%.

District-wide, students consistently beat state averages, especially in early grades: 4th grade math proficiency is 60.1% (state: 39.4%), and 5th grade science is 59.3% (state: 40%). Social studies is a hidden strength, with proficiency running 19–21 points above state levels across all grades. However, math proficiency declines as students age—from roughly 49–68% in elementary school to just 32.2% on the SAT math at Fenton Senior High. A notable transition dip occurs between 5th and 6th grade, with ELA proficiency dropping from about 60% to 47% and math from about 50% to 39%, suggesting middle school presents new challenges.

Resource allocation raises equity concerns. Fenton Horizon Academy receives only $5,897 per student—less than 40% of what other district schools spend—despite serving the highest poverty rate (62.5%) and worst attendance metrics. Meanwhile, North Road Elementary School spends the most ($18,735 per student) with the lowest student-teacher ratio (12.3:1), yet posts the weakest elementary results, likely tied to its 23.3% chronic absenteeism rate. Chronic absenteeism varies widely, from an excellent 9.6% at State Road Elementary School to 28.7% at Horizon Academy, and generally correlates with lower performance. TomekEastern’s success—improving from the 85th to 90th percentile while serving a high-poverty population—offers a promising model for the district to replicate.