Guest, Sign inJoin

Post to Ishpeming Township

We’ll email a one-tap link to publish your post. No password, and nothing is public until you click it.
Already a member? Sign in
B+

N.I.C.E. Community Schools

Public school districtGrades PK–12Regional · 6 towns

Serves Ishpeming Township, Ely Township, Tilden Township, Humboldt Township, Spurr Township and Champion Township.

Ishpeming Township’s School Grade B+ better than 73% of Michigan school districts

Students
1,104
Schools
2
Spent per student
$15,807
MI $16,528
Students per teacher
14:1
Free or reduced lunch
33%
Debt
$4.8M
fiscal 2024
The gist

What stands out about N.I.C.E. Community Schools

  • Its letter, B+: results better than 73% of Michigan districts
  • Math proficiency 6 pts above the state
  • Graduation rate 5 pts above the state
  • 14 students per teacher
  • Debt of $4.8M, about $4,342 per student
The School Grade

What this district adds to its towns’ grade

B+: better than 73% of the 815 Michigan school districts we grade. Each town’s School Grade weighs its districts by the students they test; spending and class size are shown but don’t count.

Test scoresReading and math well above the state, 2021–22
A−
GraduationFour-year graduation well above the state, class of 2023
B
The towns it serves, and their School Grades
B+Ishpeming Township 3,449B+Ely Township 1,939B+Tilden Township 1,062Humboldt Township 432Spurr Township 271Champion Township 257

How TownRatings grades schools →

Where would my kid go?

The school path for Ishpeming Township. Grade by grade →

PK–8Aspen Ridge Elementary SchoolThis district
9–12Westwood High SchoolThis district

Test scores vs. MI

2021–22 · class of 2023
Math proficiency40%
State average 33.6% · 550 students tested
Reading / language arts49%
State average 45.4% · 549 students tested
Graduation rate (4-year)85–89%
State average 81.8% · 77 in the class

97% of students in the tested grades sat the 2022 tests.

Reported to the U.S. Department of Education (EDFacts via ED Data Express and the Urban Institute); the newest year for each measure.

Where the money goes

fiscal 2024
$15,807 per student · 4% below MI
Spending
Classroom instruction 67%Support & administration 30%Other 3%
Paid for by
Local (mostly property tax) 34%State 61%Federal 5%

Fiscal 2022–24 includes federal pandemic relief (ESSER).

U.S. Census Bureau, Annual Survey of School System Finances.

Enrollment over time
1,090’20
1,124’21
1,138’22
1,140’23
1,104’24

About steady since 2020–21.

Students
White 94%Two or more races 2%American Indian/Alaska Native 1%Hispanic 1%Black <1%Asian <1%Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander <1%

Schools in the district

2 public schools. Each public school’s letter compares its own 2020–21 reading and math results with Michigan’s other public schools.

Aspen Ridge Elementary School
Elementary · Grades PK–8 · Ishpeming
B+
721 students13:1
Westwood High School
High · Grades 8–12 · Ishpeming
B−
383 students17:1

Nearby districts

Compare spending and schools next door.

North Dickinson County SchoolsFelch Township, Sagola Township, West Branch Township
$12,966per student
Republic-Michigamme SchoolsMichigamme Township, Republic Township
$32,675per student
Negaunee Public SchoolsNegaunee, Negaunee Township, Richmond Township
$13,946per student
Ishpeming Public School DistrictIshpeming
$14,713per student

District facts: U.S. Department of Education (NCES school directory 2024–25 and district boundaries) and the U.S. Census Bureau’s school finance survey. Test scores and graduation: state results reported to the U.S. Department of Education (EDFacts via ED Data Express and the Urban Institute). The letters are our own summary, graded within Michigan.