Holland High School

Holland High School is a large public high school in Holland, MI, serving 967 students in grades 9-12 as part of the Holland City School District.

For parents, the most striking thing about Holland High is its level of investment versus its results. The school spends about $24,886 per student—more than $10,000 more per student than nearby Hamilton High School and roughly $8,000 more than the Zeeland Public Schools high schools. Yet, its academic performance sits in the mid-tier statewide (around the 48th percentile), well below those same neighbors. For example, only 43.6% of 11th graders were proficient in reading on the SAT, compared to 66.9% at Hamilton and 56.7% at Zeeland West High School. Math proficiency is a particular concern, with just 17.4% of 11th graders meeting the bar. The school also struggles with chronic absenteeism—33.5% of students miss significant school time, far above the state average of 27.9% and dramatically higher than the 7.6% rate at Zeeland West.

There are also notable bright spots and areas for targeted growth. Holland High earns strong ratings for its White and African American students, with the latter performing in the 69th percentile statewide—a genuine strength that shows the school can be effective. However, Hispanic and Multi-racial students receive much lower ratings (15th and 24th percentiles, respectively), pointing to a clear need for additional support for those groups. On a positive note, the graduation rate has improved to 83.4%, close to the state average, though the dropout rate of 7.9% remains higher than at neighboring schools. For parents, this is a school with significant resources and some proven successes, but one where you'll want to ask about how your child's specific needs—especially in math and attendance support—will be met.