Linden Community Schools

Linden Community Schools is a unified district in Linden, Michigan, serving roughly 2,335 students across five schools—three elementary schools, one middle school, and one high school—with a strong 4-star rating and a statewide rank of 82 out of 625 districts (87th percentile).

For parents, the standout is Linden High School, which posts a 95.6% graduation rate (well above the 84% state average), a tiny 1.6% dropout rate, and chronic absenteeism at 12.6%—less than half the state rate. Its 2025-2026 state ranking jumped to 166th out of 800 high schools, a major improvement from 327th the prior year. In math, Linden Middle School shines, with 6th and 7th grade proficiency around 47-48% versus roughly 32-33% statewide. Among elementary schools, Central Elementary School (grades 4-5) is the district’s most efficient performer: it ranks in the 87th percentile of Michigan elementary schools while spending the least per student ($12,734). Its 5th grade math proficiency (57.3%) is 25 points above the state average, and social studies proficiency (56.7%) is more than double the state rate. Meanwhile, Hyatt Elementary and Linden Elementary School (both PK-3) serve similar demographics, but Linden Elementary improved dramatically in 3rd grade math (from 52.6% to 67.6%) while Hyatt slipped slightly (69.4% to 60.8%).

One notable concern is Linden Middle School’s chronic absenteeism rate of 20.8%—nearly double that of Linden Elementary (11.5%) and well above the district average—yet it still achieves strong math results. Another pattern: the district excels in elementary math (3rd grade proficiency hits 60-68%), but that advantage fades by 11th grade, where SAT math proficiency (26.1%) dips just below the state average. Similarly, ELA proficiency drops in middle school (6th grade: 40.9%; 7th grade: 38.8%) before rebounding strongly in 9th grade PSAT ELA (74.2%). With free/reduced lunch rates between 20-33% across schools—far below state averages—the district benefits from a comparatively affluent population, which likely supports its low absenteeism and high graduation rates. Overall, Linden offers a solid foundation with clear targets: improving middle school attendance, sustaining math gains through high school, and addressing the middle school ELA dip.