Summary:
The Hillman Community Schools district in Michigan operates two schools - Hillman Community JrSr High School and Hillman Elementary School. Based on the available data, neither school appears to be a standout performer, as both are struggling to meet state averages on key metrics like test scores, graduation rates, and chronic absenteeism.
The high school had a four-year graduation rate of 82.8% in 2023-2024, which is below the state average, and a dropout rate of 7.6%, which is higher than the state norm. Both schools also had extremely high chronic absenteeism rates of 29.5%, well above the state average. On state assessments, Hillman Community Schools students scored significantly below their peers across Michigan, with proficiency rates often 10-20 percentage points lower than the state average.
The data suggests the Hillman Community Schools district faces significant socioeconomic challenges, with Hillman Elementary having an exceptionally high free/reduced lunch rate of 71.28% and the high school at 56.03%. Despite spending above the state average per student, the district's academic performance remains poor, indicating that factors beyond just funding, such as instructional quality, family engagement, and school climate, may be more significant drivers of student outcomes. Addressing chronic absenteeism and supporting the district's economically disadvantaged student population should be top priorities for district leadership.
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