Ludington Area School District

The Ludington Area School District serves approximately 2,045 students across three schools—Ludington Elementary School (PK-5), OJ DeJonge Middle School (6-8), and Ludington High School (9-12)—in a lakeside Michigan community. The district overall ranks in the 79th percentile statewide, with each school earning consistent 3-4 star ratings.

Ludington High School is the clear standout, ranking in the 87th percentile and showing strong year-over-year improvement. Its SAT reading proficiency (63.8%) beats the state by nearly 12 points, and its 90.1% graduation rate far exceeds the state average. Notably, the high school achieves these results while spending about $2,000 less per student than the elementary school and with a higher student-teacher ratio (20.5:1 vs. 15.8:1). OJ DeJonge Middle School is the consistent performer, ranking in the 73-77th percentile for three straight years. Its 6th grade ELA proficiency (50%) exceeds the state by 12.5 points, and 8th grade PSAT reading scores (73.5%) are nearly 9 points above average. Ludington Elementary School ranks lower (54th percentile) but shows strengths in 5th grade social studies, where proficiency (36.4%) is nearly 9 points above the state.

A district-wide strength is social studies, with all three schools outperforming state averages by 9 to 17 points. However, the elementary school faces a notable math challenge: 4th grade proficiency drops to 30.6% (8.8 points below state), and 5th grade math declined 8.3 points year-over-year. Chronic absenteeism presents a paradox—the elementary school has the lowest rate (13.4%) despite having the highest poverty level (53.2% free/reduced lunch), while middle and high schools exceed 24% absenteeism despite serving more affluent populations. The high school's upward trajectory in science and math, combined with the middle school's strong ELA foundation, suggests a pipeline of academic success that parents may find encouraging, though elementary math trends warrant attention.