Shay Elementary School

Shay Elementary School in Harbor Springs, MI, serves 258 students in Kindergarten through 4th grade and is part of the highly-rated Harbor Springs School District, which holds a 4-star rating statewide.

Shay Elementary stands out for its exceptionally low chronic absenteeism rate of just 10.9%—less than half the state average of 27.9% and significantly better than all nearby schools, including Lincoln School at 13.4%. The school also demonstrates a notable strength in supporting students from low socio-economic backgrounds, ranking in the 72nd percentile statewide for this group. With a student-teacher ratio of 12.2:1 and per-student spending of $25,067—the highest among all comparable schools—Shay invests heavily in its students. The school has shown positive momentum, improving its statewide ranking from 602nd to 510th place over the past year. However, there are areas for growth. While female students perform well above average (71st percentile), male students lag at the 51st percentile, creating a significant 20-point gender gap. Additionally, math proficiency shows a concerning decline from 3rd grade (48.3%) to 4th grade (37.9%), which falls below the state average. Nearby Boyne City Elementary School achieves stronger math results despite spending 38% less per student.

In English Language Arts, Shay performs solidly, with both 3rd and 4th grade proficiency rates exceeding state averages. Yet, Sheridan School in Petoskey achieves significantly higher ELA scores (79.1% in 3rd grade versus Shay's 53.4%). Interestingly, Pellston Elementary School, which serves more than double the percentage of students qualifying for free/reduced lunch, achieves higher overall rankings and dramatically better 4th grade math scores (59.1% versus Shay's 37.9%). This suggests that instructional practices at these schools may offer valuable lessons. Shay's strong attendance, improving trajectory, and success with low-income students provide a solid foundation, but there remains meaningful opportunity for growth in math instruction and support for male learners.