Summary:
The Harbor Springs School District is home to a single high school, Harbor Springs High School, which serves grades 9 through 12 with a small enrollment of 260 students in a lakeside Michigan community. This intimate setting allows for a favorable 14.2:1 student-teacher ratio and a per-student spending level of $26,564, which is a substantial investment in each child's education.
For parents, the standout story here is academic strength paired with exceptional student engagement. Harbor Springs High School dramatically outperforms state averages in reading and math on both the SAT and PSAT. For example, 11th-grade SAT evidence-based reading and writing proficiency is 75.4% versus the state's 52.1%, and math proficiency is 44.6% versus 26.5%. The school also shines in keeping students on track: the graduation rate is a strong 91.6%, the dropout rate is just 4.1%, and chronic absenteeism is an incredibly low 5.5% compared to the state's 27.9%. The Harbor Springs School District itself is ranked in the 85th percentile in Michigan and holds a 4-star rating.
However, there is one notable weakness: science performance on the M-Step is below the state average (26.2% vs. 35.2%), which is surprising given the high scores elsewhere and suggests a potential area for curriculum focus. Also, only 13.85% of students are economically disadvantaged, indicating a predominantly higher-income population, which often correlates with greater out-of-school support. While the school's state ranking has dipped slightly from the 77th to 72nd percentile in recent years, SAT scores have improved year-over-year. Overall, this is a high-performing school with a clearly engaged student body, making it an excellent choice for families seeking a rigorous academic environment with strong community support.
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