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Garfield Township HallPhoto: Phoenix-Five · CC BY-SA 4.0
A−
Schools in Garfield Township · Traverse City Area Public Schools

Garfield Township’s public schools outscore 80% of Michigan districts

Math proficiency in Garfield Township’s districts is 45%, above the Michigan average (34%). The grade covers the public school district serving Garfield 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.

#187of 699 Michigan townsK–12Where will my kid go?

From Michigan state tests taken in spring 2022, when 97% 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
58%
▲ 13 pts vs MI 45%
2021–22
Math proficiency
45%
▲ 11 pts vs MI 34%
2021–22
Graduate on time
84%
▲ 2 pts vs MI 82%
class of 2023
Spent per student
$15.4K
▼ 7% vs MI $16.5K
FY2024
Students per teacher
19.0
MI 16.5 · larger classes
Schools in town
9
3,082 students on the public path
In brief

Garfield Township’s schools, in brief

Better than its incomes would predict

Among the 1222 Michigan towns with household incomes within a quarter of Garfield Township’s, its schools beat 89%, higher than their 80% against all the state’s districts. The grade ↓

Above the state on both counts

Reading proficiency is 58% and math 45% in spring 2022, against 45% and 34% statewide; 84% of the class of 2023 graduated in four years, against 82%. Test scores ↓

Spending and class size

The district spends $15,423 per student, against $16,528 across Michigan (FY2024). Spending doesn’t count toward the grade. Districts ↓

Two elementary schools, then one high school

Which elementary school depends on the address; from grade 9 the district’s path is West Senior High. See the path ↓

Choice beyond the district

The Greenspire School, The Greenspire High School, Traverse City Christian School (private), The Children's House (private) and Children House (private) are 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 Garfield Township’s grade

A Test scoresB− Graduation

A−: better than 80% of Michigan school districts, #187 of 699 Michigan towns. 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 80%
Lower resultsHigher results
Michigan towns with similar household incomes (1222)Better than 89%
Towns in Grand Traverse County (13)Better than 23%
A firm grade. Ordinary sampling error in 4,379 test results and a graduating class of 752 wouldn’t change the letter. The tests are from spring 2022, when 97% of Garfield Township’s students in the tested grades sat them (4,380 in math, 4,378 in reading).

How TownRatings grades schools →

Where will my kid go?

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

The path, start to finish
PK–82 schoolsDepends on your addressC+ to A−
9–12West Senior HighTraverse City Area Public SchoolsA

Garfield Township’s public schools are run by Traverse City Area Public Schools, which also serves Acme, Blair, East Bay and Elmwood 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.

Traverse City Area Public SchoolsGrades PK–12 · 16 schools · 8,546 students, down 5% since 2020–21 · 19.0 per teacher (MI 16.5)
$15,423MI $16,528 · FY2024
A−
Test scores · 2021–22

Well above the state in reading

Reading58%
State average 45.4% · 4378 students tested
Math45%
State average 33.6% · 4380 students tested

Garfield Township vs. its neighbors

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

Schools next door
TownSchoolsMain districts
Garfield TownshipA−Traverse City Area
Traverse CityA−Traverse City Area
BlairA−Traverse City Area PK–12 · Kingsley Area Schools PK–12
Long LakeA−Traverse City Area
East BayA−Traverse City Area

All 4 neighbors share Traverse City Area with Garfield Township, so their letters differ mainly through other districts.

Every school in Garfield 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).

District schools in Garfield Townshipby address
TCAPS Montessori School
Elementary · Grades PK–8 · Traverse City
A−
331 students16:1Rate it →
Silver Lake Elementary School
Elementary · Grades PK–5 · Traverse City
C+
286 students16:1Rate it →
West Middle School
Middle · Grades 6–8 · Traverse City
B+
1,081 students21:1Rate it →
West Senior High
High · Grades 9–12 · Traverse City
A
1,384 students25:1Rate it →
Charter schoolsfree, open by application
The Greenspire High School
High · Grades 9–12 · Traverse City
Charter
176 students18:1Rate it →
The Greenspire School
High · Grades 6–12 · Traverse City
B
Charter
93 students10:1Rate it →
Private schoolstuition; no state tests, so no grade
Traverse City Christian School
Grades PK–12 · Traverse City
Private · Religious
271 students14:1Rate it →
The Children's House
Elementary · Grades PK–8 · Traverse City
Private · Nonsectarian
246 students18:1Rate it →
Children House
Elementary · Grades PK–8 · Traverse City
Private · Nonsectarian
246 students18:1Rate it →

Questions about Garfield Township’s schools

Are Garfield Township’s schools good?

By Michigan’s own tests, yes: the public schools Garfield Township children attend outscore 80% of Michigan’s school districts on tests and graduation, an A− Schools grade, #187 of 699 Michigan towns. Among towns with similar incomes they beat 89%. Tests are from 2021–22, graduation from the class of 2023.

What school district is Garfield Township in?

Traverse City Area Public Schools, which runs grades PK–12 and enrolls 8,546 students in 16 schools (2024–25).

Where do Garfield Township kids go to high school?

West Senior High in Traverse City, with 1,384 students; its own test results earn an A.

What is Garfield Township’s graduation rate?

84% of the class of 2023 in Traverse City Area Public Schools graduated in four years, against 82% across Michigan.

How much does Garfield Township spend per student?

$15,423 in Traverse City Area Public Schools (FY2024), against $16,528 across Michigan. Spending doesn’t count toward the grade.

Are there private schools in Garfield Township?

Yes: Traverse City Christian School (religious, grades PK–12, 271 students), The Children's House (nonsectarian, grades PK–8, 246 students) and Children House (nonsectarian, grades PK–8, 246 students). Garfield Township also has 2 charter schools, free and open by application.

Parents talk

What Garfield Township families are saying about school.

Town Square →
Start the conversation

Looking for colleges? Colleges near Garfield 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.