Hancock Public Schools

Hancock Public Schools is a small, highly-rated district in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, serving about 549 students across two schools—Barkell Elementary School (grades K-5) and Hancock MiddleHigh School (grades 6-12)—with both schools earning 4-star ratings despite over 40% of students qualifying for free/reduced lunch.

For parents, the standout story is the district’s exceptional early elementary math and strong literacy outcomes. At Barkell Elementary School, 3rd-grade math proficiency hits 67.4%—a whopping 24.5 points above the state average—and 3rd-grade ELA reaches 65.2% versus 38.2% statewide. However, this advantage fades by 5th grade, where math proficiency drops to near the state average. The transition to Hancock MiddleHigh School is particularly rocky: 6th graders see steep declines in both math (from 35.1% in 5th grade to 18.4%) and ELA (from 40.5% to 26.3%), suggesting a challenging adjustment period. By contrast, 9th-grade ELA is a bright spot, with an extraordinary 85.71% proficiency on the PSAT—25 points above the state—while 11th-grade SAT reading/writing also outpaces Michigan averages.

The district’s biggest weakness is upper-level math. At Hancock MiddleHigh School, 11th-grade SAT math proficiency is just 14.6%, creating a 41.5-point gap with reading/writing. There’s also notable year-to-year volatility—8th-grade science scores swung from 51.9% to 20.9% between cohorts—likely due to small class sizes (roughly 42 students per grade). On the positive side, chronic absenteeism is remarkably low (14.8% vs. 27.9% statewide), and the graduation rate is 88.4%, above the state’s 84.0%. With favorable student-teacher ratios and per-pupil spending around $14,200, Hancock Public Schools offers strong foundational learning and attendance, though parents should watch for the 6th-grade slump and consider supplemental math support in later grades.