Harrington Elementary School

Harrington Elementary School in Albion, MI, serves 236 students in Pre-K through 5th grade and is part of the Marshall Public Schools district.

Harrington faces significant academic challenges, consistently ranking in the bottom 5-8% of Michigan elementary schools over the past four years. This places it far behind other schools in its own district. For example, while Hughes Elementary School ranks in the 81st percentile statewide and Gordon Elementary School ranks in the 72nd, Harrington sits at just the 5th percentile. Test scores tell a similar story: in 4th grade math, only about 9% of Harrington students were proficient, compared to roughly 69% at Gordon and 58% at Hughes. English language arts proficiency in grades 3-5 ranged from 11% to 21% at Harrington, while Hughes saw rates between 49% and 87%. There is one small bright spot: 4th grade ELA proficiency improved from about 6% to nearly 21% in the most recent year, suggesting some early interventions may be taking hold.

Perhaps the most pressing issue is attendance. Over 53% of Harrington students were chronically absent in the 2024-2025 school year—more than double the rate at Gordon and Hughes (both around 21%). With more than half of students missing substantial school time, it is extremely difficult for any curriculum to be effective. The school also serves a high-needs population, with nearly 82% of students qualifying for free or reduced lunch, compared to roughly 40-46% at its district peers. Interestingly, Harrington spends significantly more per student ($23,817) than Gordon or Hughes (about $14,600 each), yet outcomes remain low. This suggests the challenge is not a lack of funding but rather how resources are being used to overcome the combined barriers of poverty and absenteeism. For parents considering this school, understanding these challenges—especially the attendance crisis—is essential to making an informed decision.