Howell Public Schools

The Howell Public Schools district in Michigan serves approximately 7,045 students across 10 schools—7 elementary schools (including one K-8), 1 middle school, and 2 high schools—and holds a solid 3-star rating, ranking in the 65th percentile of Michigan districts.

For parents, the standout academic performer is Howell High School, which earned a 4-star rating and ranks in the 77th percentile statewide, with a 94.7% graduation rate and strong SAT scores in both reading and science. Challenger Elementary School is the most improved, climbing from the 53rd to the 73rd percentile over three years. Meanwhile, Innovation Academy presents a unique profile: it has the district’s highest graduation rate (97.7%) and zero dropouts, but the lowest test scores and a 1-star rating—likely because it serves a higher proportion of economically disadvantaged students (50% free/reduced lunch) and focuses on keeping at-risk students on track to graduate. Parker Middle School (a K-8 school) shows volatile test scores, with 5th-grade ELA proficiency swinging from 26% to 70% in one year, suggesting cohort differences rather than a consistent trend.

District-wide, the biggest challenge is chronic absenteeism: at 31.8%, it exceeds the state average of 27.9%, and every school in the district is above that state mark. Rates range from 23.4% at Parker Middle School to 45% at Innovation Academy, and schools with higher absenteeism tend to have lower rankings. On the positive side, the district excels at graduation (95.2% vs. 84% statewide) and has a very low dropout rate (1.4%). Math proficiency also declines sharply as students advance—from 44.4% in 3rd grade to just 26.2% in 11th-grade SAT math—suggesting a systemic issue. Interestingly, per-student spending varies widely ($10,907 to $19,237) with no clear link to performance; Voyager Elementary School spends less but outperforms higher-spending Northwest Elementary School. For parents, this means focusing on school-specific attendance and math support may be more impactful than looking at budget figures alone.