Hazel Park School District of the City of

The Hazel Park School District of the City of serves approximately 2,899 students across 11 schools, including elementary, middle, high, and alternative programs, and faces significant academic challenges with an overall state ranking in the 9th percentile.

For parents, the standout options in this district are the virtual and alternative schools, though they serve very different purposes. Michigan Cyber Academy is the highest-performing school academically, ranking in the 34th percentile statewide, with SAT reading/writing proficiency (56%) that actually beats the state average—a remarkable feat given the district's struggles. However, its graduation rate is just 15.2%. In contrast, Viking Virtual Academy achieves an 80.7% graduation rate despite serving the highest percentage of economically disadvantaged students (84.62%), though its test scores are mediocre. Among traditional schools, Hazel Park High School is the clear success story with an 89% graduation rate that exceeds the state average, even while its test scores are very low. For younger students, Webb Elementary School consistently outperforms its elementary peers, with the lowest chronic absenteeism rate (30.2%) among traditional schools and higher ELA proficiency than United Oaks Elementary School or Hoover Elementary School.

The district's biggest red flags are the alternative programs. Edison spends an extraordinary $103,833 per student yet has a 0% graduation rate and 73.9% chronic absenteeism, while Jardon Vocational School spends $86,190 per student for just a 50% graduation rate. Meanwhile, Invest Roosevelt Alternative High School ranks in the 1st percentile with a 51.6% graduation rate. The middle school transition is also a critical problem—Hazel Park Junior High School shows a dramatic drop in proficiency (9.2% ELA, 7.4% math in 6th grade) and a 58.1% chronic absenteeism rate. Overall, parents should know that while the district struggles academically, individual schools like Webb Elementary and Hazel Park High demonstrate that success is possible, and the virtual schools offer alternative pathways that may suit certain students better than traditional settings.