Harbor Springs School District

The Harbor Springs School District in Michigan serves 751 students across three schools—Harbor Springs High School (grades 9-12), Harbor Springs Middle School (grades 5-8), and Shay Elementary School (grades K-4)—in a high-performing, lakeside community that ranks in the 85th percentile of Michigan districts with a 4-star rating.

The standout is Harbor Springs Middle School, which earned a 5-star rating and jumped to the 90th percentile of Michigan middle schools—outpacing its peers. Its 8th-grade Social Studies proficiency (70.6%) and 5th-grade Science proficiency (67.4%) are the highest in the district, far exceeding state averages. Meanwhile, Harbor Springs High School posts a 91.6% graduation rate and strong SAT scores, with 75.4% of 11th graders proficient in reading and writing. Shay Elementary School performs above state averages but trails the middle school in proficiency gains, suggesting the academic surge begins in grades 5-8.

District-wide, chronic absenteeism is remarkably low at 9.3% versus the state’s 27.9%, though the middle school’s rate (12.1%) is the highest—an interesting disconnect given its academic dominance. Literacy is a clear strength across all grades, but math is a relative weakness: 4th-grade math proficiency (37.9%) falls below the state average, and 9th-grade PSAT math (34.2%) barely exceeds it. With spending over $24,000 per pupil and low student-teacher ratios (12.2:1 to 14.2:1), the district invests heavily in success. For parents, this is a district where the middle school shines brightest, the high school excels in college readiness, and targeted math support could unlock even greater achievements.