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B+
Schools in Carlton Township · Lakewood Public Schools, Hastings Area School District

Carlton Township’s public schools outscore 74% of Michigan districts

The grade covers the two public school districts serving Carlton Township, from kindergarten through graduation, on state tests and graduation. Each state writes its own tests, so this is the one TownRatings grade compared within Michigan, not nationally.

K–12Where will my kid go?

From Michigan state tests taken in spring 2022, when 98% of students in the tested grades sat them, and the class of 2023’s four-year graduation rate, as reported to the U.S. Department of Education.

Reading proficiency
50%
▲ 5 pts vs MI 45%
2021–22
Math proficiency
35%
▲ 1 pts vs MI 34%
2021–22
Graduate on time
85–89%
▲ 3–7 pts vs MI 82%
class of 2023
Spent per student
$14.4K
▼ 13% vs MI $16.5K
FY2024 · Hastings Area
Students per teacher
17.6
MI 16.5 · larger classes
Schools in town
0
3,602 students on the public path
In brief

Carlton Township’s schools, in brief

Above the state on both counts

Reading proficiency is 50% and math 35% across both districts in spring 2022, against 45% and 34% statewide; 85–89% of the class of 2023 graduated in four years, against 82%. Test scores ↓

Spending and class size

Lakewood spends $13,306 per student and Hastings Area $14,357, against $16,528 across Michigan (FY2024). Neither counts toward the grade. Districts ↓

Written from the figures on this page. Tests are from 2021–22, graduation from the class of 2023; each school’s own letter uses 2020–21 results.

The School Grade

What’s behind Carlton Township’s grade

B+ Test scoresB Graduation

B+: better than 74% of Michigan school districts. Test scores and graduation are both above the Michigan average; test scores are the stronger of the two.

Michigan school districts we grade (815)Better than 74%
Lower resultsHigher results
Michigan towns with similar household incomes (1037)Better than 70%
Towns in Barry County (16)Better than 56%
B+A−A fairly firm grade. Ordinary sampling error in 2,106 test results and a graduating class of 200 could put Carlton Township anywhere from B+ to A−. The tests are from spring 2022, when 98% of Carlton Township’s students in the tested grades sat them (2,105 in math, 2,108 in reading).

How TownRatings grades schools →

Where will my kid go?

Pick a grade. These are the public schools that serve Carlton Township, with each school’s own grade.

The path, start to finish
K–55 elementary schoolsDepends on your addressB− to B
6–82 middle schoolsDepends on your addressB
9–122 high schoolsDepends on your addressB− to B

Carlton Township runs its own schools through grade 12 (Lakewood Public Schools). From grade PK, students attend the Hastings Area School District, shared with Baltimore, Hastings, Hastings, Hope, Johnstown and Rutland. Its elementary school is in Hastings. Parts of Carlton Township (2% of its land) are served by Thornapple Kellogg instead. To confirm the school for a specific address, ask the district.

Two districts serve Carlton Township

Spending and class size are shown but don’t count toward the grade. Each district’s own page has every school.

Lakewood Public SchoolsGrades PK–12 · 4 schools · 1,582 students, down 3% since 2020–21 · 19.7 per teacher (MI 16.5)
$13,306MI $16,528 · FY2024
A−
Hastings Area School DistrictGrades PK–12 · 6 schools · 2,481 students, down 2% since 2020–21 · 16.5 per teacher (MI 16.5)
$14,357MI $16,528 · FY2024
B+
Test scores · 2021–22

Above the state in reading

Reading · PK–12, Lakewood Public Schools50%
State average 45.4% · 828 students tested
Math · PK–12, Lakewood Public Schools35%
State average 33.6% · 824 students tested
Reading · PK–12, Hastings Area School District50%
State average 45.4% · 1280 students tested
Math · PK–12, Hastings Area School District35%
State average 33.6% · 1281 students tested

Carlton Township vs. its neighbors

Schools grades for the Michigan towns that share Carlton Township’s borders.

Schools next door
TownSchoolsMain districts
Carlton TownshipB+Lakewood PK–12 · Hastings Area PK–12
IrvingA−Thornapple Kellogg
WoodlandA−Lakewood
HastingsB+Hastings Area
CampbellA−Lakewood

2 of the 4 neighbors share Lakewood with Carlton Township for grades PK–12, so their letters differ mainly through the lower grades.

Every school in Carlton Township

9 schools. Each public school’s letter compares its own 2020–21 reading and math results with Michigan’s other public schools (the newest school-level results we have).

Also serving Carlton Townshipin other towns
Star Elementary School
Elementary · Grades PK–5 · Hastings
B
287 students17:1Rate it →
Lakewood Early Childhood Center
Elementary · Grades PK–K · Woodland
134 students14:1Rate it →
Northeastern Elementary School
Elementary · Grades K–5 · Hastings
B
306 students16:1Rate it →
Southeastern Elementary School
Elementary · Grades K–5 · Hastings
B−
261 students14:1Rate it →
Central Elementary School
Elementary · Grades K–5 · Hastings
B
239 students12:1Rate it →
Lakewood Middle School
Middle · Grades 5–8 · Woodland
B
514 students21:1Rate it →
Hastings Middle School
Middle · Grades 6–8 · Hastings
B
584 students18:1Rate it →
Lakewood High School
High · Grades 8–12 · Lake Odessa
B
473 students22:1Rate it →
Hastings High School
High · Grades 9–12 · Hastings
B−
804 students18:1Rate it →

Questions about Carlton Township’s schools

Are Carlton Township’s schools good?

By Michigan’s own tests, yes: the public schools Carlton Township children attend outscore 74% of Michigan’s school districts on tests and graduation, a B+ Schools grade. Among towns with similar incomes they beat 70%. Tests are from 2021–22, graduation from the class of 2023.

What school district is Carlton Township in?

Two districts: Lakewood Public Schools runs grades PK–12, and Hastings Area School District runs grades PK–12, shared with Baltimore, Hastings, Hastings, Hope, Johnstown and Rutland.

Where do Carlton Township kids go to high school?

One of 2 high schools, depending on your address: Hastings High School and Lakewood High School.

What is Carlton Township’s graduation rate?

85–89% of the class of 2023 in Hastings Area School District graduated in four years, against 82% across Michigan.

How much does Carlton Township spend per student?

$13,306 in Lakewood Public Schools and $14,357 in Hastings Area School District (FY2024), against $16,528 across Michigan. Spending doesn’t count toward the grade.

Parents talk

What Carlton Township families are saying about school.

Town Square →
Start the conversation

Looking for colleges? Colleges near Carlton Township → They have their own page.

School data: state test results (2021–22, with participation) and four-year graduation rates (class of 2023) reported to the U.S. Department of Education (EDFacts via ED Data Express); each school’s own letter uses its 2020–21 results (EDFacts via the Urban Institute); schools and enrollment from NCES (2024–25; private schools 2023–24); spending from the Census Bureau’s school finance survey (FY2024). The School Grade is our own summary, graded within Michigan. Stars are from neighbors.