Napoleon Community Schools

Napoleon Community Schools is a Michigan district of four schools—one elementary, one middle, and two high schools—serving roughly 1,290 students in a moderate-income area, with overall district performance ranking in the 52nd percentile statewide.

Families will find a stark contrast between the district’s two high schools. Napoleon High School is the clear academic leader, boasting a 94.2% graduation rate (well above the state’s 84%), a low 1.4% dropout rate, and rising state rankings that now place it in the 68th percentile. Its SAT reading scores also exceed state averages. In contrast, Ackerson High School faces severe challenges: only 24% of students graduate, 84% are chronically absent, and test scores lag far behind every other school in the district. Ackerson also serves a much higher percentage of students from low-income households (74% free/reduced lunch) compared to Napoleon High (31%), yet it receives the least per-student funding ($13,357) and has the largest class sizes (28:1)—an equity concern worth noting.

At the lower grades, Ezra Eby Elementary School shows strong science achievement, with 62.9% of 5th graders proficient—23 points above the state—though math and some ELA scores trail state averages. Napoleon Middle School reveals a troubling slide: while 5th graders hit 58.4% ELA proficiency, only 19.3% of 7th graders are proficient, a 39-point drop that suggests transition challenges. Science remains a district-wide strength, with middle and high school scores also beating state averages. Chronic absenteeism is a reliable predictor of outcomes—Ackerson’s 84% rate aligns with its struggles, while the other three schools hover near 20-22%. For parents, Napoleon High offers strong outcomes and momentum, but the district’s overall rating masks the urgent needs at Ackerson and the middle school’s academic decline.