Summary:
The Hemlock Public School District serves roughly 1,239 students across five schools in Saginaw County, Michigan, including two elementary schools, a middle school, a traditional high school, and a virtual academy spanning grades PK through 12. Overall, the district earns a 4-star rating and ranks in the 71st percentile statewide, with notably low chronic absenteeism compared to the rest of Michigan.
For parents, the standout option is clearly Hemlock High School, which posts a 92.6% graduation rate, a 0% dropout rate, and SAT proficiency scores that beat state averages by roughly 15 points in both reading and math. Its 4-star rating and 83rd percentile ranking make it the academic flagship of the district. Hemlock Middle School is also a reliable choice, holding steady in the 82nd-83rd percentile for three straight years, with 6th-grade math proficiency (50.7%) nearly 19 points above the state average. At the elementary level, KC Ling Elementary School (grades 1-4) delivers strong 3rd-grade math results (57.4% proficient) and boasts the district's best attendance, with only 7.4% chronic absenteeism. Hemlock Elementary School serves PK-K and spends the most per student ($14,382), though no test data is available for that grade span.
The biggest concern is Hemlock Virtual, which ranks in just the 32nd percentile with a 2-star rating. It serves the highest-poverty population (48.15% free/reduced lunch) yet receives the least funding ($6,951 per student) and operates with a staggering 37.2:1 student-teacher ratio—more than double any other school in the district. Its graduation rate (81.8%) and dropout rate (9.0%) both trail district and state averages. Parents should also note a sharp "5th-grade cliff" at the middle school, where ELA proficiency plunged from 60.5% to 38.6% in one year, though those same students rebound strongly by 6th-8th grade. If considering virtual education, be aware that while 9th-grade reading scores at Hemlock Virtual actually exceed state averages, overall outcomes suggest the format struggles to serve most students effectively.
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