Summary:
Zip code 49746 is home to a single elementary school, Hillman Elementary School, which serves 203 students in grades PK-5 as part of the Hillman Community Schools district in a rural Michigan setting.
For parents exploring this area, Hillman Elementary School is the only educational option for elementary grades, making it the focal point of any school decision. The school has shown a positive overall trajectory, with its state ranking improving from the 24th percentile (1 star) in 2023-2024 to the 33rd percentile (2 stars) in 2025-2026. Chronic absenteeism is a relative strength at 22.9%, which is better than both the district (27.3%) and state (27.9%) averages. However, academic performance is mixed and volatile. In the most recent school year, 5th graders nearly matched state averages in English Language Arts (42.1% vs. 43.8%) and Science (39.5% vs. 40%), while 4th graders struggled significantly, with only 16.2% proficient in ELA and 10.8% in Math compared to state averages of 41.3% and 39.4%, respectively. Mathematics appears to be a consistent weakness across all grade levels, with proficiency rates lagging behind ELA.
The school’s small size creates dramatic year-over-year swings—for example, 4th-grade Math proficiency dropped from 38.9% to 10.8% between school years—meaning a handful of students can heavily influence percentages, so parents should interpret single-year scores cautiously. Nearly half of students (49.26%) qualify for free or reduced lunch, indicating a significant economically disadvantaged population. On the resource side, the school spends a substantial $16,812 per student and maintains a favorable student-teacher ratio of 14.2, allowing for more individualized attention. Despite this financial investment, test scores remain below state averages, suggesting that while the school is well-funded and improving in overall ranking, targeted support in mathematics and lower elementary grades may be needed to boost academic outcomes across the board.
Thank you for your feedback!