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Timberland Charter Academy

Public, Charter Grades PK, KG-8

1330^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 1,492 Michigan Elementary Schools

Better than 11% of Michigan elementary schools

Summary

Timberland Charter Academy is a public charter school in Muskegon, MI, serving 613 students in Pre-K through 8th grade, where 97% of students qualify for free or reduced lunch—a rate far higher than most nearby schools.

Academically, Timberland is performing in the bottom quartile of schools statewide, with test scores significantly below state averages across all subjects and grade levels. For example, only 5.36% of 5th graders were proficient in math in the 2025-2026 school year, compared to 68% at Shettler School and 45.7% at Beach Elementary School—both part of the Fruitport Community Schools district. The school's chronic absenteeism rate of 49.4% is nearly double the state average of 27.9%, and starkly contrasts with Shettler's 9.6% and Beach's 13.8%. This attendance gap is the most significant factor tied to Timberland's low performance. While the school spends $15,545 per student—more than Oakridge Public Schools at $14,300—its struggles appear linked to a combination of high poverty, frequent absences, and inconsistent instruction rather than a simple lack of funding.

There are some bright spots worth noting. In 8th-grade science during the 2024-2025 school year, Timberland students reached 32.7% proficiency, a dramatic jump from 13.6% the prior year and close to the state average of 41.1%. This suggests that specific teachers or cohorts can make a real difference. Additionally, the school's African American students performed relatively better than the school overall, ranking in the 36th percentile statewide in 2024-2025. However, year-to-year scores are highly volatile—4th-grade ELA proficiency dropped from 27.1% to 12.3% in just two years—pointing to a mobile student population facing significant external challenges. For parents considering Timberland, the clearest takeaway is that attendance and consistent engagement will be critical to any child's success here, and the school's results lag considerably behind the higher-performing Fruitport-area schools just a short drive away.

613

Students ?

14.9

Student/teacher ratio ?

$15,545

Per pupil spending ?

97.1%

Free/reduced lunch eligible (2024-25) ?

All students in Michigan receive free school meals.

2574 McLaughlin Ave
Muskegon, MI 49442-4439

(231) 767-9700

District: Timberland Charter Academy

Racial breakdown:

African American:

60.4%

Hispanic:

14.0%

Two or more races:

13.5%

See top rated Michigan elementary schools

Compare Timberland Charter Academy to nearby elementary schools!

At a glance

▬ Ranking trend: Holding steady — 11th percentile in 2016 → 11th in 2026

Worth a look

!Test scores below the Michigan average (14% vs 40% meeting standards)

!In the lower quartile statewide (11th percentile)

!High chronic absenteeism (49% vs 28% Michigan)

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school14%

District avg14%

Michigan avg40%

Elementary school

1,330^th of 1,492

Michigan public elementary schools ?

Bottom 11%▬ steady since 2016

See the entire ranking list of Michigan Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

Middle school

785^th of 896

Michigan public middle schools ?

Bottom 12%▼ down 6 pts since 2016

From bottom 18% (2016) to bottom 12% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of Michigan Middle Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

576^th of 625Timberland Charter Academy among Michigan districts

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	12.0	1330 of 1492	10.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	15.8	1248 of 1488	16.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	12.8	1291 of 1486	13.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	17.7	1196 of 1470	18.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	10.5	1206 of 1344	10.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	5.4	1127 of 1153	2.3%	☆☆☆☆☆
2019	16.1	1190 of 1408	15.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	10.8	1357 of 1448	6.3%	☆☆☆☆☆
2017	8.7	1346 of 1466	8.2%	☆☆☆☆☆
2016	11.7	1374 of 1548	11.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2015	21.2	1276 of 1580	19.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2014	9.6	1426 of 1533	7.0%	☆☆☆☆☆
2013	12.8	1412 of 1563	9.7%	☆☆☆☆☆
2012	16.1	1405 of 1566	10.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2011	18.8	1395 of 1552	10.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2010	20.9	1393 of 1552	10.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2009	16.7	1441 of 1589	9.3%	☆☆☆☆☆
2008	18.4	1426 of 1577	9.6%	☆☆☆☆☆
2007	20.5	1418 of 1565	9.4%	☆☆☆☆☆
2006	19.7	1398 of 1545	9.5%	☆☆☆☆☆

African American

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Michigan percentile	Rating
2026	22.8	319 of 388	17.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	32.3	237 of 369	35.8%	★★☆☆☆
2024	30.0	241 of 348	30.7%	★★☆☆☆
2023	31.6	207 of 321	35.5%	★★☆☆☆
2022	35.5	97 of 158	38.6%	★★☆☆☆
2021	20.3	47 of 51	7.8%	☆☆☆☆☆
2019	43.7	113 of 212	46.7%	★★☆☆☆
2018	29.3	349 of 475	26.5%	★☆☆☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Michigan percentile	Rating
2026	22.3	1057 of 1343	21.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	9.5	1264 of 1338	5.5%	☆☆☆☆☆
2024	11.8	1215 of 1342	9.5%	☆☆☆☆☆
2023	11.8	1191 of 1321	9.8%	☆☆☆☆☆
2022	9.0	1047 of 1106	5.3%	☆☆☆☆☆
2019	19.9	979 of 1171	16.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	9.7	1340 of 1443	7.1%	☆☆☆☆☆

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Michigan percentile	Rating
2018	26.2	184 of 222	17.1%	★☆☆☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Michigan percentile	Rating
2026	16.3	1195 of 1352	11.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	23.8	1059 of 1346	21.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	17.3	1190 of 1381	13.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	27.2	1010 of 1350	25.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	16.7	961 of 1099	12.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	9.5	728 of 749	2.8%	☆☆☆☆☆
2019	24.4	922 of 1134	18.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	15.7	1250 of 1397	10.5%	★☆☆☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Michigan percentile	Rating
2026	9.9	1279 of 1372	6.8%	☆☆☆☆☆
2025	17.8	1119 of 1366	18.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	10.7	1243 of 1347	7.7%	☆☆☆☆☆
2023	20.3	1060 of 1334	20.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	8.2	1087 of 1139	4.6%	☆☆☆☆☆
2019	14.0	1070 of 1196	10.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	13.0	1278 of 1446	11.6%	★☆☆☆☆

Multi-racial

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Michigan percentile	Rating
2018	18.7	72 of 81	11.1%	★☆☆☆☆

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Michigan percentile	Rating
2018	16.2	392 of 403	2.7%	☆☆☆☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Michigan percentile	Rating
2025	27.2	907 of 1206	24.8%	★☆☆☆☆

Middle school ranking

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Michigan percentile	Rating
2026	12.9	785 of 896	12.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	18.0	717 of 890	19.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	12.9	791 of 897	11.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	20.2	695 of 883	21.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	12.8	690 of 776	11.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	9.6	734 of 792	7.3%	☆☆☆☆☆
2018	16.3	734 of 838	12.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2017	10.6	748 of 821	8.9%	☆☆☆☆☆
2016	18.3	729 of 894	18.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2015	25.9	685 of 919	25.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2014	8.8	856 of 921	7.1%	☆☆☆☆☆
2013	12.5	824 of 919	10.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2012	18.8	775 of 900	13.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2011	6.2	819 of 858	4.5%	☆☆☆☆☆
2010	11.3	792 of 851	6.9%	☆☆☆☆☆
2009	11.8	790 of 847	6.7%	☆☆☆☆☆
2008	27.7	708 of 839	15.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2007	20.6	721 of 823	12.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2006	12.5	742 of 806	7.9%	☆☆☆☆☆

African American

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Michigan percentile	Rating
2026	21.1	293 of 337	13.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	33.6	207 of 338	38.8%	★★☆☆☆
2024	26.4	223 of 300	25.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	39.8	171 of 310	44.8%	★★☆☆☆
2019	24.1	160 of 196	18.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	35.4	225 of 366	38.5%	★★☆☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Michigan percentile	Rating
2026	21.2	631 of 789	20.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	16.4	669 of 789	15.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	14.4	684 of 771	11.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	22.3	608 of 770	21.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	11.6	608 of 657	7.5%	☆☆☆☆☆
2019	13.4	594 of 658	9.7%	☆☆☆☆☆
2018	14.0	684 of 794	13.9%	★☆☆☆☆

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Michigan percentile	Rating
2018	28.5	209 of 266	21.4%	★☆☆☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Michigan percentile	Rating
2026	17.3	719 of 834	13.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	24.3	649 of 832	22.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	17.1	732 of 836	12.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	30.0	591 of 825	28.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	20.0	586 of 691	15.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	13.4	613 of 672	8.8%	☆☆☆☆☆
2018	24.0	647 of 815	20.6%	★☆☆☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Michigan percentile	Rating
2026	10.9	744 of 813	8.5%	☆☆☆☆☆
2025	17.6	663 of 798	16.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	10.9	729 of 786	7.3%	☆☆☆☆☆
2023	18.9	632 of 776	18.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	12.0	601 of 658	8.7%	☆☆☆☆☆
2019	9.4	603 of 639	5.6%	☆☆☆☆☆
2018	18.1	656 of 797	17.7%	★☆☆☆☆

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

White (2025)25th percentile+9 vs school

Female (2026)21st percentile+10 vs school

African American (2026)18th percentile+7 vs school

Hispanic (2018)17th percentile+11 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2026)12th percentile~ school

Multi-racial (2018)11th percentile+5 vs school

Male (2026)7th percentile-4 vs school

Special Education (2018)3rd percentile-4 vs school

Middle school

Hispanic (2018)21st percentile+9 vs school

Female (2026)20th percentile+8 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2026)14th percentile~ school

African American (2026)13th percentile~ school

Male (2026)8th percentile-4 vs school

By subject vs Michigan (2025-2026) ?

English Language Arts17%-23 vs state

Math14%-22 vs state

Science11%-28 vs state

Social Studies10%-28 vs state

Mathematics5%-28 vs state

3.0

2 ratings · 1 written review

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2★0

1★1

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What people are saying

by a parent on FaceBook
Monday, February 22, 2010

I am looking to move into the area and the Heritage Charter schools by me are all ranked 5 stars on schooldigger. I see on here that Timberland is poor @ 1 star, yet the parents have rated it a 5 star!!! Although it states the parents rate it 5 star, no one has left any written reviews. Can anyone help? Thank you!!!! Close Quote

Schools Near Timberland Charter 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 (2026)				Ranking (2025)				PSAT English Language Arts (2026)	PSAT 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/reduced lunch (2024-25)	White	Black	Hispanic	Asian	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Average Standard Score (2026)	Statewide Rank (2026)	State Percentile (2026)	SchoolDigger Rating (2026)	Average Standard Score (2025)	Statewide Rank (2025)	State Percentile (2025)	Rank Change from Previous Year	PSAT English Language Arts 8th Grade	PSAT Mathematics 8th 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 Social Studies 5th Grade	M-Step Social Studies 8th Grade	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
Timberland Charter Academy	Public, Charter	PK, KG-8	2574 McLaughlin Ave	Muskegon	49442	Muskegon County	Timberland Charter Academy	Yes	No	No	Yes	(231) 767-9700	613	41	14.9	97.1%	71 (11.6%)	370 (60.4%)	86 (14.0%)	1 (0.2%)	2 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	83 (13.5%)	12	1330^th of 1492 public elementary schools	10.9%		15.8	1248^th of 1488 public elementary schools	16.1%	82	20.7	5.2	18.3	12.3	14.3	24.1	16.9	22.5	9.0	5.4	14.8	17.2	10.5	12.3	1466.7	10.5	$15,545	$2,292	$13,253
Cardinal Elementary	Public, Magnet	K-5	2310 Marquette Ave	Muskegon	49442	Muskegon County	Orchard View Schools	No	Yes	No	Yes	(231) 760-1700	611	44	13.8	71.2%	327 (53.5%)	167 (27.3%)	55 (9.0%)	3 (0.5%)	9 (1.5%)	0 (0.0%)	50 (8.2%)	18.3	1208^th of 1492 public elementary schools	19.0%		16.6	1230^th of 1488 public elementary schools	17.3%	22			24.3	22.1	26.7			26.6	27.9	12.0			20.7		7.3		$16,208	$1,590	$14,618
Orchard View Early Elementary	Public, Magnet	PK, KG-1	2820 MacArthur Rd	Muskegon	49442	Muskegon County	Orchard View Schools	No	Yes	No	Yes	(231) 760-1850	331	24	13.7	69.5%	181 (54.7%)	76 (23.0%)	38 (11.5%)	1 (0.3%)	2 (0.6%)	1 (0.3%)	32 (9.7%)								(n/a)																	$19,965	$2,871	$17,093
Marquette Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	480 Bennett St	Muskegon	49442	Muskegon County	Muskegon Public Schools of the City of	No	No	No	Yes	(231) 720-2600	367	30	12.1	95.1%	49 (13.4%)	228 (62.1%)	41 (11.2%)	1 (0.3%)	1 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	47 (12.8%)	5.6	1469^th of 1492 public elementary schools	1.5%		5.5	1458^th of 1488 public elementary schools	2.0%	11			11.3	11.1	7.1			13.1	8.3	1457.1			5.5		1463.7		$22,735	$6,475	$16,260
Oakview Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	1420 Madison St	Muskegon	49442	Muskegon County	Muskegon Public Schools of the City of	No	No	No	Yes	(231) 720-2450	438	25	17.6	95.7%	82 (18.7%)	269 (61.4%)	37 (8.4%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	50 (11.4%)	7.7	1416^th of 1492 public elementary schools	5.1%		5.7	1452^nd of 1488 public elementary schools	2.4%	36			17.3	14.5	5.7			14.8	6.6	1453.0			11.5		1462.1		$17,499	$4,207	$13,292
Three Oaks Public School Academy	Public, Magnet, Charter	PK, KG-6	1212 Kingsley St	Muskegon	49442	Muskegon County	Three Oaks Public School Academy	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	(231) 767-3365	363	24	15.2	—	57 (15.7%)	246 (67.8%)	28 (7.7%)	0 (0.0%)	6 (1.7%)	0 (0.0%)	26 (7.2%)	7.2	1433^rd of 1492 public elementary schools	4.0%		15.1	1258^th of 1488 public elementary schools	15.5%	175			5.2	6.8	1467.7	20.8		6.9	6.7	1459.3	16.7		10.4		1464.2		$15,070	$2,525	$12,545
Muskegon Maritime Academy	Public, Charter	PK, KG-5	571 E Apple Ave	Muskegon	49442	Muskegon County	Muskegon Maritime Academy	Yes	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(231) 724-7577	141	8	18.0	86.5%	16 (11.3%)	115 (81.6%)	5 (3.5%)	1 (0.7%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.7%)	3 (2.1%)								(n/a)			1249.2	1361.9	1456.5	1559.9		1240.2	1362.2	1448.5	1547.6		1470.8		23.1		$16,311	$2,358	$13,953
Beach Elementary School	Public	K-5	2741 Heights Ravenna Rd	Muskegon	49444	Muskegon County	Fruitport Community Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(231) 773-8996	295	20	14.6	48.8%	258 (87.5%)	6 (2.0%)	23 (7.8%)	1 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	7 (2.4%)	62.3	524^th of 1492 public elementary schools	64.9%		55.9	632^nd of 1488 public elementary schools	57.5%	108			39.1	41.2	63.0			39.1	35.3	45.7			58.7		34.8		$18,182	$1,495	$16,688
Oakridge Lower Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-4	120 N Park St	Muskegon	49442	Muskegon County	Oakridge Public Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(231) 788-7608	549	37	15.0	72.5%	410 (74.7%)	22 (4.0%)	68 (12.4%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.2%)	1 (0.2%)	47 (8.6%)								(n/a)			31.2					29.6									$14,300	$1,329	$12,971
Shettler School	Public	PK, KG-5	2187 Shettler Rd	Muskegon	49444	Muskegon County	Fruitport Community Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(231) 737-7595	293	19	15.1	50.9%	249 (85.0%)	5 (1.7%)	25 (8.5%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.3%)	13 (4.4%)	80.3	257^th of 1492 public elementary schools	82.8%		75.4	331^st of 1488 public elementary schools	77.8%	74			41.1	52.0	68.0			55.4	56.0	68.0			58.0		50.0		$15,315	$1,492	$13,823

Frequently Asked Questions about Timberland Charter Academy

What district is Timberland Charter Academy in?

Timberland Charter Academy

Is Timberland Charter Academy a good school?

Timberland Charter Academy ranks in the bottom 10.9% of Michigan elementary schools.

What is the racial makeup of Timberland Charter Academy?

Students at Timberland Charter Academy are 60% African American, 14% Hispanic, 14% Two or more races, 12% White.

How many students attend Timberland Charter Academy?

In the 2024-25 school year, 613 students attended Timberland Charter Academy.

Rate Timberland Charter Academy!

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Latest Michigan data All new data »

2025–26 M-Step, PSAT & SAT test scoresSep 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.