Summary:
The Port Huron Area School District in Michigan is home to 9 elementary schools serving grades PK-5, with a total enrollment of roughly 3,150 students, and the district overall ranks in the bottom quarter of Michigan districts, though individual school performance varies dramatically from the 77th to the 4th percentile statewide.
For parents, the standout school is Edison Elementary School, which is an outlier in every positive metric. It ranks in the 77th percentile statewide, achieving proficiency rates 2-3 times higher than the district average, while also having the lowest chronic absenteeism (10.6%) and the lowest poverty rate (29.7% free/reduced lunch). In contrast, Woodrow Wilson Elementary and Roosevelt Elementary rank in the bottom 4% of Michigan schools, with chronic absenteeism above 29% (44.5% at Woodrow Wilson) and poverty rates above 77%. Keewahdin Elementary shows the most improvement, climbing from the 37th to 45th percentile, with 5th grade ELA jumping from 39.8% to 50% proficiency. The middle tier includes Indian Woods Elementary, Michigamme Elementary, Garfield Elementary, and H D Crull Elementary, all ranking between the 14th and 45th percentiles.
District-wide, academic proficiency trails the state by 10-15 percentage points in every subject and grade, with 3rd grade math showing the largest gap (27.9% vs. 42.9% statewide). Chronic absenteeism is a critical issue, affecting 34.6% of students district-wide, compared to 27.9% statewide. A striking finding is the spending paradox: the lowest-performing schools spend the most per student. Woodrow Wilson spends $21,548 per student (50% more than Edison's $14,371) yet scores at the 4th percentile, while Cleveland Elementary spends $20,509 with a 92.8% poverty rate and ranks at the 14th percentile. This suggests that concentrated poverty and high absenteeism—not funding levels—are the primary drivers of low achievement, and that Edison's model of low poverty, strong attendance, and efficient spending may offer a blueprint for improvement across the district.
Thank you for your feedback!