Schools in Zip Code 49242

Zip code 49242 in Hillsdale, Michigan, is served by 8 schools—including elementary, middle, high, and alternative programs—that collectively educate roughly 1,640 students across a mix of traditional public, charter, and specialized institutions.

For parents, the standout choice in this area is Will Carleton Charter School Academy, which consistently outperforms its peers despite spending less per student. It boasts a 100% graduation rate, the lowest chronic absenteeism (11.2%), and exceptional test scores—most notably 70.8% proficiency in 11th-grade science, more than double the state average and nearly 2.5 times that of Hillsdale High School. Meanwhile, Hillsdale High School has shown dramatic improvement, jumping from the 20th to 55th percentile in one year, with a 92.7% graduation rate and strong SAT reading scores, though its math scores remain below state averages. The traditional public schools under Hillsdale Community Schools, including Gier Elementary School and Davis Middle School, generally perform near or below state averages, with Gier Elementary showing particular challenges in early literacy and math.

At the other end of the spectrum, Greenfield School serves just 45 students with intensive support (2.6:1 student-teacher ratio and nearly $100,000 per-student spending) but faces extreme challenges, including a 100% dropout rate and 58.7% chronic absenteeism. Horizon Alternative School and Hillsdale Preparatory School also struggle with high poverty rates and absenteeism above 37%. A clear pattern emerges: schools with chronic absenteeism below 20%—like Will Carleton and Davis Middle—tend to perform near or above state averages, while those above 35% face significant academic hurdles. For parents, Will Carleton Charter School Academy offers the strongest outcomes, though families should weigh the trade-offs of the district's improving but inconsistent performance at Hillsdale High School.