Summary:
The four elementary schools serving grades PK-5 within Marshall Public Schools in Michigan present a starkly divided picture of academic performance, ranging from a top-tier, 5-star school to one facing severe challenges, with enrollments between 236 and 293 students per building.
For parents, the standout choice is clearly Walters Elementary, which ranks in the 91st percentile statewide (5 stars) and leads the district in nearly every metric. Its test scores dramatically exceed state averages, such as an 81.8% proficiency rate in 4th grade ELA compared to the state's 41.3%, and it boasts the lowest chronic absenteeism rate (17.8%) and the lowest poverty indicator (37.54% free/reduced lunch). Hughes Elementary School and Gordon Elementary School are also solid, reliable choices, ranking in the 81st and 72nd percentiles respectively (both 4 stars). Gordon shows particular strength in math, with 3rd and 4th grade proficiency rates near 68%, while Hughes has shown a gradual decline from a 90th percentile peak but still performs well above state averages. In contrast, Harrington Elementary School is in crisis, ranking in the 5th percentile with a 0-star rating. Its chronic absenteeism rate is an alarming 53.6%, and its test scores are extremely low, such as 9.09% proficiency in 4th grade math.
The most striking finding is the achievement gap between Walters and Harrington, which mirrors a significant socioeconomic divide (37.54% vs. 81.78% free/reduced lunch). Notably, Harrington actually spends the most per student ($23,817) and has the lowest student-teacher ratio (11.6), yet produces the worst outcomes, suggesting that money and smaller classes alone cannot overcome the combined challenges of extreme poverty and absenteeism. While the district as a whole outperforms state averages when students are present, the data clearly indicates that a child's school choice within this district can have a profound impact on their academic trajectory.
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