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Will Carleton Charter School Academy

Q: Is Will Carleton Charter School Academy a good school?

Will Carleton Charter School Academy ranks 546 th of 1492 Michigan alternative schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

Public, Charter, Alternative Grades K-12

546^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 1,492 Michigan Alternative Schools

Better than 63% of Michigan alternative schools

Summary

Will Carleton Charter School Academy is a small K-12 public charter school in Hillsdale, MI, serving 276 students with a notably low 13.2:1 student-to-teacher ratio. This school stands out dramatically from its neighbors, achieving a perfect 100% graduation rate and 0% dropout rate for the 2024-2025 school year—a stark contrast to nearby alternatives like Greenfield School (0% graduation, 100% dropout) and Pansophia Academy (56.2% graduation, 25% dropout). Even traditional districts like Waldron Area Schools (88.4%) and Camden-Frontier K12 School (94.1%) trail behind.

Academically, Will Carleton excels in upper-grade subjects. In 11th-grade Science, 70.8% of students are proficient—more than double the state average (35.2%) and far ahead of Camden-Frontier (39.4%) and Pansophia Academy (11.1%). Similarly, 9th-grade PSAT English Language Arts proficiency sits at 75%, compared to 53.8% at Pansophia and 51.7% at Camden-Frontier. SAT Evidence-Based Reading and Writing scores (70.8%) also crush the state average (52.1%). However, elementary math is a weak spot: 3rd, 4th, and 5th-grade proficiency rates (29.4%, 31.6%, and 28.6%) all fall below state averages, though this gap closes by middle and high school. The school also boasts a chronic absenteeism rate of just 11.2%—less than half the state average (27.9%) and far better than Greenfield School's 58.7%.

Despite being labeled "alternative," Will Carleton functions as a high-performing mainstream school. It achieves these results while spending just $10,360 per student—significantly less than Camden-Frontier ($16,477), Waldron Area Schools ($16,809), or even Pansophia Academy ($11,869). The school serves a lower percentage of economically disadvantaged students (30.07% free/reduced lunch) compared to peers, but its efficiency and outcomes are remarkable. For parents seeking a school with strong high school preparation, perfect graduation rates, and engaged students, Will Carleton Charter School Academy is clearly a standout choice in the Hillsdale area—just be aware of the elementary math challenge that the school successfully corrects by later grades.

276

Students ?

13.2

Student/teacher ratio ?

$10,360

Per pupil spending ?

30.1%

Free/discounted lunch ?

2001 W Hallett Rd
Hillsdale, MI 49242-1959

(517) 437-2000

District: Will Carleton Charter School Academy

Racial breakdown:

White:

90.9%

Hispanic:

3.6%

Two or more races:

3.3%

See top rated Michigan elementary schools

Compare Will Carleton Charter School Academy to nearby alternative schools!

At a glance

▲ Ranking trend: Rebounding — 46th percentile in 2025 → 85th in 2026

Strengths

✓Test scores above the Michigan average (48% vs 41% meeting standards)

✓100% graduate in 4 years — above the Michigan average (84%)

✓Ranking is rebounding — up to 85th (2026) from a 46th-percentile low (2025)

Worth a look

!Some student groups rank well below the school's overall statewide standing

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school48%

District avg48%

Michigan avg41%

Elementary school

546^th of 1,492

Michigan public elementary schools ?

Top 37%▼ down 4 pts since 2016

From top 33% (2016) to top 37% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of Michigan Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

Middle school

365^th of 896

Michigan public middle schools ?

Top 41%▼ down 24 pts since 2016

From top 16% (2016) to top 41% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of Michigan Middle Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

High school

119^th of 800

Michigan public high schools ?

Top 15%▲ up 48 pts since 2016

From bottom 37% (2016) to top 15% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of Michigan High Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

Statewide rank percentile over time (100 = the top-ranked school in the state; click a legend item to add a student group)

Elementary school ranking

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Michigan percentile	Rating
2026	60.8	546 of 1492	63.4%	★★★☆☆
2025	44.5	801 of 1488	46.2%	★★☆☆☆
2024	47.0	743 of 1486	50.0%	★★★☆☆
2023	41.6	826 of 1470	43.8%	★★☆☆☆
2022	42.2	728 of 1344	45.8%	★★☆☆☆
2021	48.6	538 of 1153	53.3%	★★★☆☆
2019	52.1	625 of 1408	55.6%	★★★☆☆
2018	67.2	490 of 1448	66.2%	★★★☆☆
2017	54.1	611 of 1466	58.3%	★★★☆☆
2016	65.1	504 of 1548	67.4%	★★★☆☆
2015	64.5	540 of 1580	65.8%	★★★☆☆
2014	46.5	892 of 1533	41.8%	★★☆☆☆
2013	42.7	981 of 1563	37.2%	★★☆☆☆
2012	48.6	870 of 1566	44.4%	★★☆☆☆
2011	52.8	946 of 1552	39.0%	★★☆☆☆
2010	58.2	901 of 1552	41.9%	★★☆☆☆
2009	64.5	674 of 1589	57.6%	★★★☆☆
2008	58.6	805 of 1577	49.0%	★★☆☆☆
2007	55.7	863 of 1565	44.9%	★★☆☆☆
2006	48.2	1014 of 1545	34.4%	★★☆☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Michigan percentile	Rating
2026	62.8	438 of 1343	67.4%	★★★☆☆
2025	42.0	733 of 1338	45.2%	★★☆☆☆
2024	57.2	512 of 1342	61.8%	★★★☆☆
2021	55.4	353 of 902	60.9%	★★★☆☆
2018	63.8	514 of 1443	64.4%	★★★☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Michigan percentile	Rating
2025	49.6	641 of 1346	52.4%	★★★☆☆
2024	69.2	308 of 1381	77.7%	★★★★☆
2023	71.1	261 of 1350	80.7%	★★★★☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Michigan percentile	Rating
2026	61.8	476 of 1372	65.3%	★★★☆☆
2025	52.7	618 of 1366	54.8%	★★★☆☆
2024	43.1	732 of 1347	45.7%	★★☆☆☆
2023	42.4	743 of 1334	44.3%	★★☆☆☆
2018	74.6	338 of 1446	76.6%	★★★★☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Michigan percentile	Rating
2026	49.9	587 of 1199	51.0%	★★★☆☆
2025	33.1	832 of 1206	31.0%	★★☆☆☆
2024	36.9	772 of 1204	35.9%	★★☆☆☆
2023	31.7	841 of 1198	29.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	28.9	805 of 1102	27.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	40.6	592 of 1005	41.1%	★★☆☆☆
2019	38.4	713 of 1128	36.8%	★★☆☆☆
2018	55.4	553 of 1253	55.9%	★★★☆☆

Middle school ranking

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Michigan percentile	Rating
2026	54.6	365 of 896	59.3%	★★★☆☆
2025	65.5	253 of 890	71.6%	★★★★☆
2024	63.4	255 of 897	71.6%	★★★★☆
2023	64.6	248 of 883	71.9%	★★★★☆
2022	69.7	174 of 776	77.6%	★★★★☆
2021	72.1	136 of 675	79.9%	★★★★☆
2019	57.6	294 of 792	62.9%	★★★☆☆
2018	67.5	262 of 838	68.7%	★★★☆☆
2017	46.1	395 of 821	51.9%	★★★☆☆
2016	78.7	147 of 894	83.6%	★★★★☆
2015	68.1	243 of 919	73.6%	★★★★☆
2014	61.5	341 of 921	63.0%	★★★☆☆
2013	55.0	407 of 919	55.7%	★★★☆☆
2012	38.9	602 of 900	33.1%	★★☆☆☆
2011	67.7	302 of 858	64.8%	★★★☆☆
2010	61.8	439 of 851	48.4%	★★☆☆☆
2009	60.8	429 of 847	49.4%	★★☆☆☆
2008	60.9	424 of 839	49.5%	★★☆☆☆
2007	70.4	257 of 823	68.8%	★★★☆☆
2006	51.7	501 of 806	37.8%	★★☆☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Michigan percentile	Rating
2023	44.7	397 of 770	48.4%	★★☆☆☆
2018	47.1	430 of 794	45.8%	★★☆☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Michigan percentile	Rating
2026	59.9	265 of 813	67.4%	★★★☆☆
2025	54.6	318 of 798	60.2%	★★★☆☆
2023	73.7	144 of 776	81.4%	★★★★☆
2018	88.3	70 of 797	91.2%	★★★★★

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Michigan percentile	Rating
2026	41.1	401 of 687	41.6%	★★☆☆☆
2025	55.8	265 of 696	61.9%	★★★☆☆
2024	55.9	253 of 701	63.9%	★★★☆☆
2023	50.5	295 of 688	57.1%	★★★☆☆
2022	59.0	210 of 638	67.1%	★★★☆☆
2021	63.7	168 of 577	70.9%	★★★★☆
2019	49.3	293 of 624	53.0%	★★★☆☆
2018	52.9	295 of 678	56.5%	★★★☆☆

High school ranking

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Michigan percentile	Rating
2026	79.3	119 of 800	85.1%	★★★★☆
2025	64.5	229 of 739	69.0%	★★★☆☆
2024	87.6	73 of 743	90.2%	★★★★★
2023	89.2	57 of 735	92.2%	★★★★★
2018	87.4	79 of 824	90.4%	★★★★★
2017	93.6	36 of 835	95.7%	★★★★★
2016	33.4	539 of 852	36.7%	★★☆☆☆
2015	50.9	430 of 832	48.3%	★★☆☆☆
2014	74.5	165 of 799	79.3%	★★★★☆
2013	48.4	441 of 805	45.2%	★★☆☆☆
2012	88.4	71 of 773	90.8%	★★★★★
2011	82.2	105 of 784	86.6%	★★★★☆
2008	48.7	470 of 750	37.3%	★★☆☆☆
2007	63.4	333 of 767	56.6%	★★★☆☆
2006	78.0	143 of 705	79.7%	★★★★☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Michigan percentile	Rating
2025	57.2	255 of 629	59.5%	★★★☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Michigan percentile	Rating
2026	81.4	89 of 693	87.2%	★★★★☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Michigan percentile	Rating
2026	74.4	126 of 671	81.2%	★★★★☆
2025	44.3	349 of 639	45.4%	★★☆☆☆
2024	75.2	117 of 638	81.7%	★★★★☆
2023	87.4	62 of 647	90.4%	★★★★★
2018	81.7	100 of 708	85.9%	★★★★☆

How student groups rank statewide ? (each group's percentile vs the same group at other schools — higher is better; the +/- beside each compares the group with this school's overall percentile)

Elementary school

Female (2026)67th percentile+4 vs school

Male (2026)65th percentile~ school

Low Socio Economic Status (2025)52nd percentile+6 vs school

White (2026)51st percentile-12 vs school

Middle school

Male (2026)67th percentile+8 vs school

Female (2023)48th percentile-23 vs school

White (2026)42nd percentile-18 vs school

High school

Male (2026)87th percentile~ school

White (2026)81st percentile-4 vs school

Female (2025)59th percentile-10 vs school

By subject vs Michigan (2025-2026) ?

Evidence-Based Reading and Writing71%+19 vs state

Science56%+17 vs state

Social Studies48%+7 vs state

English Language Arts45%+6 vs state

Mathematics45%+12 vs state

Math32%-4 vs state

5.0

1 rating · 1 written review

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What people are saying

by a parent
Thursday, May 5, 2011

I am pleased with the curriculum and instruction. Both of my children are thriving and love the school. They switched from a public school two years ago and after the first week at WCA they were hooked. At any time my children can return to the public school if they wish, but both can't imagine going back. As a parent, I am happy with the academics, structure, and school culture. The boundaries are clear while the joy of learning is encouraged. My kids enjoy learning! They respect their teachers and fellow students and the school reinforces that in a kind and consistent manner. The school is in the process of expanding which brings on new challenges and honestly I am very impressed with how the administration and teachers are handling the changes. They haven't seemed to lose sight of the goal: student learning, personal growth, and achievement. We are very happy at this school. Close Quote

Schools Near Will Carleton Charter School Academy

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Ranking:

E Elementary M Middle H High A Alternative P Private

Choose columns to see: Summary School Students/Teachers Ranking Test Scores Finance All

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking ()				Ranking ()				PSAT English Language Arts (2026)			PSAT Mathematics (2026)			SAT Evidence-Based Reading and Writing (2026)	SAT Mathematics (2026)	M-Step English Language Arts (2026)					M-Step Math (2026)					M-Step Science (2026)			M-Step Social Studies (2026)			Per Pupil Expenditures (2025)
Name	Type	Grades	Address	City	Zip	County	District	Is Charter	Is Magnet	Is Virtual	Is Title I	Phone	Enrollment	Full-time Teachers	Student/ Teacher Ratio	Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients (2025)	White	Black	Hispanic	Asian	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Average Standard Score ()	Statewide Rank ()	State Percentile ()	SchoolDigger Rating ()	Average Standard Score ()	Statewide Rank ()	State Percentile ()	Rank Change from Previous Year	PSAT English Language Arts 8th Grade	PSAT English Language Arts 9th Grade	PSAT English Language Arts 10th Grade	PSAT Mathematics 8th Grade	PSAT Mathematics 9th Grade	PSAT Mathematics 10th Grade	SAT Evidence-Based Reading and Writing 11th Grade	SAT Mathematics 11th Grade	M-Step English Language Arts 3rd Grade	M-Step English Language Arts 4th Grade	M-Step English Language Arts 5th Grade	M-Step English Language Arts 6th Grade	M-Step English Language Arts 7th Grade	M-Step Math 3rd Grade	M-Step Math 4th Grade	M-Step Math 5th Grade	M-Step Math 6th Grade	M-Step Math 7th Grade	M-Step Science 5th Grade	M-Step Science 8th Grade	M-Step Science 11th Grade	M-Step Social Studies 5th Grade	M-Step Social Studies 8th Grade	M-Step Social Studies 11th Grade	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
Will Carleton Charter School Academy	Public, Charter, Alternative	K-12	2001 W Hallett Rd	Hillsdale	49242	Hillsdale County	Will Carleton Charter School Academy	Yes	No	No	Yes	(517) 437-2000	276	21	13.2	30.1%	251 (90.9%)	4 (1.4%)	10 (3.6%)	2 (0.7%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	9 (3.3%)								(n/a)	66.7	75.0	66.7	27.8	65.0	38.9	70.8	29.2	47.1	57.9	52.4	31.6	39.1	29.4	31.6	28.6	36.8	34.8	57.1	33.3	70.8	47.6	50.0	45.8	$10,360	$500	$9,861
Greenfield School	Public, Alternative	PK, KG-12	3471 Beck Rd	Hillsdale	49242	Hillsdale County	Hillsdale Independent School District (Isd)	No	No	No	No	(517) 689-1818	45	17	2.6	68.9%	38 (84.4%)	3 (6.7%)	3 (6.7%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (2.2%)								(n/a)
CamdenFrontier K12 School	Public, Alternative	K-12	4971 W Montgomery Rd	Camden	49232	Hillsdale County	Camden-Frontier School	No	No	No	Yes	(517) 368-5255	432	35	12.4	57.6%	412 (95.4%)	1 (0.2%)	14 (3.2%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	4 (0.9%)								(n/a)	65.2	51.7	54.5	17.4	24.1	18.2	39.4		14.3	23.8	22.2	22.6	25.8	28.6	21.4		16.1	29.0	16.7	19.2	39.4	13.9	15.4	48.5	$16,477	$2,218	$14,259
Waldron Area Schools	Public, Alternative	K-12	13380 Waldron Rd	Waldron	49288	Hillsdale County	Waldron Area Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(517) 286-6251	205	16	12.9	76.6%	200 (97.6%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (1.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	3 (1.5%)								(n/a)	44.4	35.0	40.0									18.8		23.1											$16,809	$1,630	$15,180
Pansophia Academy	Public, Charter, Alternative	K-12	52 Abbott Ave	Coldwater	49036	Branch County	Pansophia Academy	Yes	No	No	Yes	(517) 279-4686	514	27	19.3	87.5%	377 (73.3%)	5 (1.0%)	111 (21.6%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	21 (4.1%)								(n/a)	47.8	53.8	28.6		11.1		15.4			25.6	20.5	9.5	13.2	14.3	22.7	18.6		10.3	25.0		11.1	15.9	28.0	10.8	$11,869	$1,429	$10,440
Waldron Learning Center	Public, Alternative	PK, KG-12	214 Bishop Ave	Coldwater	49036	Branch County	Branch Independent School District (Isd)	No	No	No	No	(517) 279-5821	248	12	20.6	69.8%	214 (86.3%)	1 (0.4%)	24 (9.7%)	1 (0.4%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.4%)	7 (2.8%)								(n/a)

Frequently Asked Questions about Will Carleton Charter School Academy

How many students attend Will Carleton Charter School Academy?

In the 2024-25 school year, 276 students attended Will Carleton Charter School Academy.

What is the racial makeup of Will Carleton Charter School Academy?

Students at Will Carleton Charter School Academy are 91% White, 4% Hispanic, 3% Two or more races, 1% African American.

Is Will Carleton Charter School Academy a good school?

Will Carleton Charter School Academy ranks 546^th of 1492 Michigan alternative schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

What district is Will Carleton Charter School Academy in?

Will Carleton Charter School Academy

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Latest Michigan data All new data »

2025–26 M-Step, PSAT & SAT test scoresNewSep 4, 2026

2024–25 school spending dataJun 13, 2026

2024–25 dropout rates & graduation ratesJun 13, 2026

2024–25 attendance dataJan 6, 2026

SchoolDigger data sources: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education, the U.S. Census Bureau and the Michigan Department of Education.

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMERS: Not all boundaries are included. We make every effort to ensure that boundaries are up-to-date. But it's important to note that these are approximations and are for general informational purposes only. To verify legal descriptions of boundaries or school locations, contact your local tax assessor's office and/or school district.