Trenton Public Schools

Trenton Public Schools is a compact Michigan district serving about 2,582 students across four schools—two elementary schools, one middle school, and one high school—in a relatively affluent suburban area where free/reduced lunch rates (24.6%–33.5%) run well below state averages.

Trenton High School is the district’s standout, ranking in the 77th percentile statewide (up from the 61st percentile last year) with a 97.6% graduation rate—far above the state’s 84.0%—and a dropout rate of just 1.1%. Its 11th-grade SAT reading proficiency (56.4%) and science scores (44.2%) both beat state averages, though SAT math (27.9%) remains a weak spot. Among the elementary schools, Jesse L Anderson Elementary is the clear academic leader, ranking in the 77th percentile with 3rd-grade math proficiency at 67.3% (vs. 44.2% at Richard C Hedke Elementary) and a remarkably low 6.8% chronic absenteeism rate. Boyd W Arthurs Middle School is the district’s concern: its ranking slipped from the 75th to 62nd percentile, and 6th-grade ELA proficiency plunged from 43.1% to 31.3% year-over-year, now below the state average.

Two findings stand out for parents. First, Hedke spends $25,650 per student—87% more than the high school and 77% more than Anderson—yet consistently underperforms Anderson in nearly every subject, raising questions about resource efficiency. Second, both elementary schools hit a “5th-grade math cliff”: Anderson drops from 67.3% proficiency in 3rd grade to 30.1% in 5th grade, and Hedke falls from 44.2% to 17.9%, with both ending below the state average. Chronic absenteeism also triples between Anderson (6.8%) and the high school (20.9%), suggesting engagement fades as students age. Despite these challenges, the district overall ranks in the 73rd percentile statewide, and the high school’s strong upward momentum—plus Anderson’s excellent early-grade results—offers bright spots for families weighing school options.