Garfield Elementary School

Garfield Elementary School in Port Huron, MI, is a mid-sized elementary school serving 377 students from Pre-K through 5th grade as part of the Port Huron Area School District. The school has faced significant challenges tied to student poverty, with 68.2% of students qualifying for free or reduced-price lunch, and chronic absenteeism at 28.7%—a rate that remains higher than the state average. However, there are encouraging signs: Garfield's state ranking has climbed from the 15th percentile in 2023-2024 to the 27th percentile in 2025-2026, showing upward momentum that stands in contrast to nearby schools like Woodrow Wilson Elementary and Roosevelt Elementary, which have seen their rankings drop to the 4th percentile over the same period.

One of Garfield's standout strengths is its 5th-grade Social Studies performance, where 25.5% of students achieved proficiency in 2025-2026—nearly matching the state average of 27.5% and far exceeding the district average of 16.3%. The school also shows promising gains for its most at-risk students: the ranking for low socio-economic status students improved dramatically from the 14th percentile to the 28th percentile, and female students saw a similar jump from the 17th to the 28th percentile. With a favorable 11:1 student-to-teacher ratio and a per-pupil spending of $18,987—higher than the higher-performing Edison Elementary School ($14,371)—Garfield is investing heavily in its students, though the high spending alongside low overall proficiency rates raises questions about how resources are being allocated, likely toward addressing non-academic needs common in high-poverty communities.

Compared to its closest neighbor, H D Crull Elementary School (0.83 miles away), which serves a similar demographic profile, Garfield holds a better overall state ranking (27th vs. 22nd percentile) and outperforms in 5th-grade Math (13.5% vs. 9.5% proficiency). While Garfield's academic results remain below state averages, the school appears to be making more progress than several demographically similar schools in the area, suggesting that recent targeted efforts may be starting to yield results. For parents, this is a school that faces real obstacles but is showing signs of improvement, particularly for its economically disadvantaged students, even as there is still considerable work ahead.