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Oscar A Carlson High School

Q: Is Oscar A Carlson High School a good school?

Oscar A Carlson High School ranks 321 st of 800 Michigan high schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

Public Grades 9-12

321^st

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 800 Michigan High Schools

Better than 60% of Michigan high schools

Summary

Oscar A Carlson High School in Rockwood, MI, serves 1,104 students in grades 9-12 and is part of the Gibraltar School District, which holds a 3-star rating.

Carlson High School is a school on the rise, having improved from a 2-star to a 3-star rating in the most recent school year. Its biggest strength is keeping students on track to graduate: the graduation rate is an exceptional 96.4%, far above the state average of 84%, and the dropout rate is just 0.4%. The school also excels in reading and writing, with 56.2% of students proficient on the SAT Evidence-Based Reading and Writing exam, beating both the district and state averages. This literacy strength extends to 9th graders, who outperform the state on PSAT English Language Arts. Notably, Carlson achieves these results while spending less per student ($13,911) than nearby schools like Southgate Anderson High School ($19,592) and Flat Rock Community High School ($16,938).

However, there are areas for growth. Mathematics remains a relative weakness, with SAT Math proficiency (26.5%) barely matching the state average and lagging behind top-performing neighbors like Woodhaven High School (30.8%) and Grosse Ile High School (32.8%). Science proficiency, while improved, also trails the state. Chronic absenteeism affects 24.3% of students, which is higher than the district average, though the school's high graduation rate suggests effective support systems are in place. When compared to Riverview Community High School, just 6.5 miles away, Carlson achieves nearly identical graduation outcomes (96.4% vs. 97.5%) despite Riverview posting higher test scores. For parents, Carlson offers a cost-effective education with a proven track record of getting students to graduation, though those seeking top-tier math and science scores may want to explore other options.

1,104

Students ?

22.9

Student/teacher ratio ?

$13,911

Per pupil spending ?

24.9%

Free/reduced lunch eligible (2024-25) ?

All students in Michigan receive free school meals.

30550 W Jefferson Ave
Rockwood, MI 48173-9780

(734) 379-7100

District: Gibraltar School District

Feeder schools for Oscar A Carlson High School:

Elementary:	Chapman Elementary School
	Frank E Weiss Elementary School
	Hunter Elementary School
	Parsons Elementary School
Middle:	Shumate Middle School

Racial breakdown:

White:

79.6%

African American:

7.8%

Hispanic:

6.5%

See top rated Michigan high schools

Compare Oscar A Carlson High School to nearby high schools!

At a glance

▬ Ranking trend: Holding steady — 62nd percentile in 2016 → 60th in 2026

Strengths

✓96% graduate in 4 years — above the Michigan average (84%)

✓Above the Michigan median (60th percentile)

Worth a look

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

!Large classes — about 23 students per teacher

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school42%

District avg40%

Michigan avg43%

321^st of 800

Michigan public high schools ?

Top 40%▼ down 2 pts since 2016

See the entire ranking list of Michigan High Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

224^th of 625Gibraltar School District 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)

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Michigan percentile	Rating
2026	54.2	321 of 800	59.9%	★★★☆☆
2025	39.7	445 of 739	39.8%	★★☆☆☆
2024	44.3	386 of 743	48.0%	★★☆☆☆
2023	43.0	407 of 735	44.6%	★★☆☆☆
2022	45.9	311 of 531	41.4%	★★☆☆☆
2021	28.8	420 of 561	25.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	40.9	396 of 666	40.5%	★★☆☆☆
2018	66.8	256 of 824	68.9%	★★★☆☆
2017	69.6	205 of 835	75.4%	★★★★☆
2016	60.0	324 of 852	62.0%	★★★☆☆
2015	68.9	259 of 832	68.9%	★★★☆☆
2014	53.5	408 of 799	48.9%	★★☆☆☆
2013	54.2	392 of 805	51.3%	★★★☆☆
2012	54.9	394 of 773	49.0%	★★☆☆☆
2011	62.6	375 of 784	52.2%	★★★☆☆
2010	63.4	365 of 765	52.3%	★★★☆☆
2009	73.8	215 of 754	71.5%	★★★★☆
2008	65.4	323 of 750	56.9%	★★★☆☆
2007	72.8	216 of 767	71.8%	★★★★☆
2006	58.8	347 of 705	50.8%	★★★☆☆

African American

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Michigan percentile	Rating
2026	62.2	70 of 252	72.2%	★★★★☆
2025	47.3	83 of 192	56.8%	★★★☆☆
2024	52.0	74 of 188	60.6%	★★★☆☆
2019	32.1	95 of 147	35.4%	★★☆☆☆
2018	61.2	67 of 254	73.6%	★★★★☆

Asian

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Michigan percentile	Rating
2018	56.8	47 of 87	46.0%	★★☆☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Michigan percentile	Rating
2026	51.5	299 of 686	56.4%	★★★☆☆
2025	33.7	424 of 629	32.6%	★★☆☆☆
2024	37.4	376 of 619	39.3%	★★☆☆☆
2023	36.1	391 of 611	36.0%	★★☆☆☆
2022	39.4	298 of 416	28.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	32.4	327 of 462	29.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	35.7	376 of 554	32.1%	★★☆☆☆
2018	52.3	322 of 710	54.6%	★★★☆☆

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Michigan percentile	Rating
2026	62.8	75 of 259	71.0%	★★★★☆
2025	51.5	93 of 203	54.2%	★★★☆☆
2024	55.8	75 of 195	61.5%	★★★☆☆
2023	71.5	42 of 190	77.9%	★★★★☆
2019	44.2	52 of 97	46.4%	★★☆☆☆
2018	56.9	76 of 201	62.2%	★★★☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Michigan percentile	Rating
2026	53.2	305 of 719	57.6%	★★★☆☆
2025	31.4	442 of 635	30.4%	★★☆☆☆
2024	45.9	316 of 654	51.7%	★★★☆☆
2023	41.6	364 of 614	40.7%	★★☆☆☆
2022	48.2	213 of 369	42.3%	★★☆☆☆
2021	31.0	308 of 417	26.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	36.8	356 of 532	33.1%	★★☆☆☆
2018	76.1	127 of 755	83.2%	★★★★☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Michigan percentile	Rating
2026	48.0	337 of 693	51.4%	★★★☆☆
2025	36.2	404 of 628	35.7%	★★☆☆☆
2024	41.8	359 of 633	43.3%	★★☆☆☆
2023	40.5	367 of 611	39.9%	★★☆☆☆
2022	42.5	274 of 440	37.7%	★★☆☆☆
2021	21.3	392 of 472	16.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	34.1	377 of 543	30.6%	★★☆☆☆
2018	72.5	176 of 707	75.1%	★★★★☆

Multi-racial

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Michigan percentile	Rating
2026	26.6	140 of 179	21.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	19.9	74 of 93	20.4%	★☆☆☆☆

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Michigan percentile	Rating
2026	37.1	128 of 220	41.8%	★★☆☆☆
2025	36.7	78 of 125	37.6%	★★☆☆☆
2018	61.6	72 of 315	77.1%	★★★★☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Michigan percentile	Rating
2026	44.1	351 of 671	47.7%	★★☆☆☆
2025	31.8	442 of 639	30.8%	★★☆☆☆
2024	35.9	407 of 638	36.2%	★★☆☆☆
2023	33.6	427 of 647	34.0%	★★☆☆☆
2022	37.8	324 of 492	34.1%	★★☆☆☆
2021	21.4	436 of 516	15.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	33.5	405 of 582	30.4%	★★☆☆☆
2018	60.0	264 of 708	62.7%	★★★☆☆

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)

African American (2026)72nd percentile+12 vs school

Hispanic (2026)71st percentile+11 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2026)58th percentile~ school

Female (2026)56th percentile-3 vs school

Male (2026)51st percentile-9 vs school

White (2026)48th percentile-12 vs school

Asian (2018)46th percentile-23 vs school

Special Education (2026)42nd percentile-18 vs school

Multi-racial (2026)22nd percentile-38 vs school

By subject vs Michigan (2025-2026) ?

English Language Arts62%+3 vs state

Evidence-Based Reading and Writing56%+4 vs state

Social Studies34%-9 vs state

Mathematics31%~ state avg

Science29%-6 vs state

1.0

1 rating · 1 written review

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What people are saying

by a parent
Wednesday, February 18, 2009

This school is VERY racist.. It has been plenty of times where they have overlooked Caucasian kids violating the dress code, but punishing African American kids for the same exact violation. The vice-principal, Mr.Jacobs, is very disrespectful. He once told my teen to wait outside and it was not his problem if she where to be injured. The weather was dangerous this day. The Caucasian kids use the term "nigger" to address the African American students. The school academically is outstanding but that is pretty much the only thing it excels in.

Signed,
Angry Parent of Carlson Student Close Quote

Schools Near Oscar A Carlson High School

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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)		SAT Evidence-Based Reading and Writing (2026)	SAT Mathematics (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 9th Grade	PSAT English Language Arts 10th Grade	PSAT Mathematics 9th Grade	PSAT Mathematics 10th Grade	SAT Evidence-Based Reading and Writing 11th Grade	SAT Mathematics 11th Grade	M-Step Science 11th Grade	M-Step Social Studies 11th Grade	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
Oscar A Carlson High School	Public	9-12	30550 W Jefferson Ave	Rockwood	48173	Wayne County	Gibraltar School District	No	No	No	No	(734) 379-7100	1,104	48	22.9	24.9%	879 (79.6%)	86 (7.8%)	72 (6.5%)	20 (1.8%)	3 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	44 (4.0%)	54.2	321^st of 800 public high schools	59.9%		39.7	445^th of 739 public high schools	39.8%	124	66.4	57.7	33.9	28.5	56.2	26.5	28.8	34.4	$13,911	$1,553	$12,359
Flat Rock Academic Virtual Academy	Public, Virtual	9-12	25600 Seneca St	Flat Rock	48134	Wayne County	Flat Rock Community Schools	No	No	Yes	No	(734) 535-6600	107	3	31.1	60.7%	87 (81.3%)	4 (3.7%)	10 (9.3%)	2 (1.9%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	4 (3.7%)	20.5	606^th of 800 public high schools	24.3%		34.7	476^th of 739 public high schools	35.6%	130		41.2		367.1	33.3	333.9	16.7	22.2	$14,279	$2,694	$11,586
Flat Rock Community High School	Public	9-12	25600 Seneca St	Flat Rock	48134	Wayne County	Flat Rock Community Schools	No	No	No	No	(734) 535-6600	501	29	17.2	36.3%	421 (84.0%)	32 (6.4%)	33 (6.6%)	4 (0.8%)	2 (0.4%)	0 (0.0%)	9 (1.8%)	59.4	269^th of 800 public high schools	66.4%		66.3	214^th of 739 public high schools	71.0%	55	52.0	61.0	17.9	26.8	62.8	31.9	52.2	53.1	$16,938	$819	$16,119
Huron AI Center FRCS FRHS Program	Public	9-12	25600 Seneca St	Flat Rock	48183	Wayne County	Huron School District	No	No	No	No	(734) 379-6360	0	1	.0	—	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()								(n/a)									$134,782	$599	$134,183
Woodhaven High School	Public	9-12	24787 Van Horn Rd	Flat Rock	48134	Wayne County	Woodhaven-Brownstown School District	No	No	No	No	(734) 783-3333	1,629	95	17.1	36.3%	948 (58.2%)	270 (16.6%)	188 (11.5%)	139 (8.5%)	8 (0.5%)	2 (0.1%)	74 (4.5%)	64.2	228^th of 800 public high schools	71.5%		71	177^th of 739 public high schools	76.0%	51	65.6	60.3	36.6	36.5	57.2	30.8	29.6	55.5	$15,785	$1,343	$14,441
Maple Grove Alternative High School	Public, Virtual	9-12	24787 Van Horn Rd	Brownstown	48134	Wayne County	Woodhaven-Brownstown School District	No	No	Yes	No	(734) 783-3333	76	1	76.0	57.9%	53 (69.7%)	8 (10.5%)	10 (13.2%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	5 (6.6%)								(n/a)					402.5	366.7			$13,816	$815	$13,001
Trenton High School	Public	9-12	2601 Charlton Rd	Trenton	48183	Wayne County	Trenton Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(734) 692-4531	846	65	13.0	24.6%	721 (85.2%)	20 (2.4%)	67 (7.9%)	11 (1.3%)	1 (0.1%)	0 (0.0%)	26 (3.1%)	69.7	185^th of 800 public high schools	76.9%		58.4	290^th of 739 public high schools	60.8%	105	66.2	70.5	41.3	37.3	56.4	27.9	44.2	49.1	$13,690	$225	$13,465
Grosse Ile High School	Public	9-12	7800 Grays Dr	Grosse Ile	48138	Wayne County	Grosse Ile Township Schools	No	No	No	No	(734) 362-2400	510	37	13.6	9.8%	445 (87.3%)	6 (1.2%)	33 (6.5%)	10 (2.0%)	4 (0.8%)	0 (0.0%)	12 (2.4%)	75.8	139^th of 800 public high schools	82.6%		74	162^nd of 739 public high schools	78.1%	23	78.1	80.3	49.2	38.6	73.0	32.8	38.5	41.9	$15,972	$1,053	$14,919
Riverview Community High School	Public	9-12	12431 Longsdorf St	Riverview	48193	Wayne County	Riverview Community School District	No	No	No	No	(734) 285-7361	854	39	22.1	34.0%	671 (78.6%)	55 (6.4%)	91 (10.7%)	16 (1.9%)	3 (0.4%)	2 (0.2%)	16 (1.9%)	67.3	202^nd of 800 public high schools	74.8%		78.1	127^th of 739 public high schools	82.8%	75	73.4	67.1	34.5	29.7	64.4	26.0	39.9	53.6	$12,747	$979	$11,768
Riverview Transition Center	Public	12	13199 Colvin St	Riverview	48193	Wayne County	Riverview Community School District	No	No	No	No	(734) 285-2043	15	1	30.0	46.7%	10 (66.7%)	3 (20.0%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (13.3%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)								(n/a)									$12,228	$418	$11,810

Frequently Asked Questions about Oscar A Carlson High School

Is Oscar A Carlson High School a good school?

Oscar A Carlson High School ranks 321^st of 800 Michigan high schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

How many students attend Oscar A Carlson High School?

In the 2024-25 school year, 1,104 students attended Oscar A Carlson High School.

What district is Oscar A Carlson High School in?

Gibraltar School District

What is the racial makeup of Oscar A Carlson High School?

Students at Oscar A Carlson High School are 80% White, 8% African American, 7% Hispanic, 4% Two or more races, 2% Asian.

What schools feed into Oscar A Carlson High School?

Oscar A Carlson High School is fed by the following schools:

Elementary : Chapman Elementary School
Elementary : Frank E Weiss Elementary School
Elementary : Hunter Elementary School
Elementary : Parsons Elementary School
Middle : Shumate Middle School

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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.