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Schools in Denton Township · Houghton Lake Community School District

Denton Township’s public schools score below 73% of Michigan districts on tests and graduation

Math proficiency in Denton Township’s districts is 24%, below the Michigan average (34%). The grade covers the public school district serving Denton 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.

#657of 699 Michigan townsK–12Where will my kid go?

From Michigan state tests taken in spring 2022, when 96% 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
35%
▼ 10 pts vs MI 45%
2021–22
Math proficiency
24%
▼ 10 pts vs MI 34%
2021–22
Graduate on time
60–64%
▼ 18–22 pts vs MI 82%
class of 2023
Spent per student
$14.3K
▼ 14% vs MI $16.5K
FY2024
Students per teacher
12.3
MI 16.5 · smaller classes
Schools in town
3
973 students on the public path
In brief

Denton Township’s schools, in brief

Against towns with similar incomes

Among the 491 Michigan towns with household incomes within a quarter of Denton Township’s, its schools beat 13%, lower than their 27% against all the state’s districts. The grade ↓

Results trail the state

In spring 2022, 35% of tested students were proficient in reading and 24% in math, against 45% and 34% statewide; 96% of students in the tested grades sat the tests. The grade ↓

Graduation

60–64% of the class of 2023 graduated in four years, against 82% across Michigan (the state reports Denton Township’s rate as a range). Districts ↓

Spending, and where it came from

The district spent $14,267 per student in FY2024, against $16,528 across Michigan. 26% of its revenue that year was federal (Michigan 9%), in the last year of pandemic relief. Districts ↓

One elementary school, then one middle school

From grade 7 the district’s path is Houghton Lake JrSr High School. Enrollment is down 7% since 2020–21. See the path ↓

Choice beyond the district

Our Lady of the Lake Regional Catholic School (private) is in town. Every school ↓

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 Denton Township’s grade

C+ Test scoresD Graduation

C: better than 27% of Michigan school districts, #657 of 699 Michigan towns. Both inputs trail the Michigan average; test scores are the closer of the two to typical.

Michigan school districts we grade (815)Better than 27%
Lower resultsHigher results
Michigan towns with similar household incomes (491)Better than 13%
Towns in Roscommon County (11)Better than 0%
C−C+A fairly firm grade. Ordinary sampling error in 576 test results and a graduating class of 127 could put Denton Township anywhere from C− to C+. The tests are from spring 2022, when 96% of Denton Township’s students in the tested grades sat them (576 in math, 575 in reading).

How TownRatings grades schools →

Where will my kid go?

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

The path, start to finish
PK–6Collins Elementary SchoolHoughton Lake Community School DistrictC
7–12Houghton Lake JrSr High SchoolHoughton Lake Community School DistrictC

Denton Township’s public schools are run by Houghton Lake Community School District, which also serves Backus, Butterfield, Enterprise and Holland and others. To confirm the school for a specific address, ask the district.

The district

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

Houghton Lake Community School DistrictGrades PK–12 · 3 schools · 1,076 students, down 7% since 2020–21 · 12.3 per teacher (MI 16.5)
$14,267MI $16,528 · FY2024
C
Test scores · 2021–22

Well below the state in reading

Reading35%
State average 45.4% · 575 students tested
Math24%
State average 33.6% · 576 students tested
A note on the data.In FY2024, 26% of the Houghton Lake district’s revenue came from the federal government, against 9% across Michigan, in the last year of federal pandemic relief; spending per student is reported as published.

Denton Township vs. its neighbors

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

Schools next door
TownSchoolsMain districts
Denton TownshipCHoughton Lake
RoscommonCHoughton Lake
Backus—Houghton Lake
MarkeyCHoughton Lake

All 3 neighbors share Houghton Lake with Denton Township, so their letters differ mainly through other districts.

Every school in Denton Township

3 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).

District schools in Denton Townshipby address
Collins Elementary School
Elementary · Grades PK–6 · Houghton Lake
C
489 students15:1Rate it →
Houghton Lake JrSr High School
High · Grades 7–12 · Houghton Lake
C
484 students15:1Rate it →
Private schoolstuition; no state tests, so no grade
Our Lady of the Lake Regional Catholic School
Elementary · Grades PK–8 · Prudenville
Private · Catholic
91 students14:1Rate it →

Questions about Denton Township’s schools

Are Denton Township’s schools good?

On Michigan’s tests they score below most of the state: the public schools Denton Township children attend score below 73% of Michigan’s school districts on tests and graduation, a C Schools grade, #657 of 699 Michigan towns. Among towns with similar incomes they beat 13%. Tests are from 2021–22, graduation from the class of 2023.

What school district is Denton Township in?

Houghton Lake Community School District, which runs grades PK–12 and enrolls 1,076 students in 3 schools (2024–25).

What is Denton Township’s graduation rate?

60–64% of the class of 2023 in Houghton Lake Community School District graduated in four years, against 82% across Michigan.

How much does Denton Township spend per student?

$14,267 in Houghton Lake Community School District (FY2024), against $16,528 across Michigan. Spending doesn’t count toward the grade.

Are there private schools in Denton Township?

Yes: Our Lady of the Lake Regional Catholic School (Catholic, grades PK–8, 91 students).

Parents talk

What Denton Township families are saying about school.

Town Square →
Start the conversation

Looking for colleges? Colleges near Denton 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.