James T Jones Elementary School

James T Jones Elementary School in Gladstone, MI, serves 355 students in grades 3 through 5 as part of the Gladstone Area Schools district. The school has maintained a stable, mid-range academic profile over the past decade, consistently ranking in the 45th to 54th percentile statewide, which earns it a 2-star rating. About 31% of students qualify for free or reduced lunch, reflecting a moderate level of economic diversity in this Upper Peninsula community.

The school's standout strength is student attendance. Only 9.2% of students were chronically absent in the 2024-2025 school year—dramatically lower than the state average of 27.9% and even better than the district's 12.6% rate. This represents a remarkable recovery from a 32.2% spike in 2021-2022, suggesting successful efforts to get kids to school consistently. Academically, James T Jones shows particular strength in 5th grade, where students exceeded state averages in science (44% vs. 40.3%) and social studies (30.4% vs. 27.5%). The school also appears relatively effective at supporting its low-income students, who perform better compared to similar subgroups statewide than the school's overall white student population.

When compared to nearby schools, some challenges emerge. Escanaba Upper Elementary, just 7 miles away and serving the same grades, outperforms James T Jones in nearly every subject despite having a much higher percentage of students on free/reduced lunch (58.9% vs. 31%). For example, 5th-grade math proficiency was 45.1% at Escanaba compared to 31% at James T Jones. The school also spends less per student ($13,186 vs. over $14,500 at Escanaba) and has larger class sizes (17.3 student-to-teacher ratio vs. 12.2-16.0 at comparable schools). While Bark River-Harris Elementary, 18 miles away, posts dramatically higher scores across all subjects, James T Jones's strong attendance culture and targeted 5th-grade science success provide a solid foundation for future improvement.