C−
Houghton Lake Community School District
Public school districtGrades PK–12Regional · 11 towns
Serves Denton Township, Roscommon Township, Richfield Township, Markey Township, Lake Township, Backus Township, West Branch Township, Butterfield Township, Enterprise Township, Holland Township and Nester Township, and parts of Aetna Township.
Students
1,076
Schools
3
Spent per student
$14,267
MI $16,528
Students per teacher
12:1
Free or reduced lunch
81%
Debt
$1.6M
fiscal 2024
What stands out about Houghton Lake Community School District
- School Grade C−: better than 24% of Michigan districts
- Math proficiency 17 pts below the state
- Reading / language arts 12 pts below the state
- Graduation rate (4-year) 21 pts below the state
- Spends 14% less per student than the MI average
- 12 students per teacher
- Enrollment down 6.8% since 2020
- Debt of $1.6M, about $1,443 per student
Where would my kid go?
The school path for Shields.
PK–52 elementary schoolsSwan Valley School District
6–8Swan Valley Middle SchoolSwan Valley School District
9–12Swan Valley High SchoolSwan Valley School District
Test scores vs. MI
2020–21Math proficiency18%
State average 34.6%
Reading / language arts36%
State average 47.9%
Graduation rate (4-year)62%
State average 82.9%
Where the money goes
fiscal 2024$14,267 per student · 14% below MI
Spending
Classroom instruction 51%Support & administration 42%Other 7%
Paid for by
Local (mostly property tax) 51%State 24%Federal 26%
U.S. Census Bureau, Annual Survey of School System Finances.
Enrollment over time
1,155’20
1,191’21
1,161’22
1,163’23
1,076’24
Down 6.8% since 2020.
Students
White 91%Hispanic 4%Two or more races 4%Black <1%Asian <1%American Indian/Alaska Native <1%
Schools in the district
3 public schools.
Towns served
Nearby districts
Compare spending and schools next door.
Roscommon Area Public SchoolsAu Sable Township, Gerrish Township, Higgins Township
$17,778per student
Harrison Community SchoolsFranklin Township, Frost Township, Sherman Township
$15,544per student
Lake City Area School DistrictForest Township, Norwich Township, Reeder Township
$14,224per student
McBain Rural Agricultural SchoolsClam Union Township, Reeder Township
$14,602per student
District facts: U.S. Department of Education (NCES directory and district boundaries) and the U.S. Census Bureau school finance survey. Test scores and graduation: EDFacts via the Urban Institute Education Data Portal. Neighbor ratings are opinions.