Guest, Sign inJoin

Post to James 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
A
Schools in James Township · Swan Valley School District

James Township’s public schools outscore 87% of Michigan districts

48% of students in James Township’s public schools are proficient in math, above the Michigan average (34%). The grade covers the public school district serving James 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 100% 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
59%
▲ 14 pts vs MI 45%
2021–22
Math proficiency
48%
▲ 14 pts vs MI 34%
2021–22
Graduate on time
90–94%
▲ 8–12 pts vs MI 82%
class of 2023
Spent per student
$12.6K
▼ 24% vs MI $16.5K
FY2024
Students per teacher
18.3
MI 16.5 · larger classes
Schools in town
1
1,359 students on the public path
In brief

James Township’s schools, in brief

Better than its incomes would predict

Among the 1263 Michigan towns with household incomes within a quarter of James Township’s, its schools beat 95%, higher than their 87% against all the state’s districts. The grade ↓

Above the state on both counts

Reading proficiency is 59% and math 48% in spring 2022, against 45% and 34% statewide; 90–94% of the class of 2023 graduated in four years, against 82%. Test scores ↓

Spending and class size

The district spends $12,551 per student, against $16,528 across Michigan (FY2024). Spending doesn’t count toward the grade. Districts ↓

One elementary school, then one middle and one high school

From grade 6 the district’s path is Swan Valley Middle School, then Swan Valley High School. See the path ↓

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 James Township’s grade

A Test scoresB+ Graduation

A: better than 87% 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 87%
Lower resultsHigher results
Michigan towns with similar household incomes (1263)Better than 95%
Towns in Saginaw County (27)Better than 89%
A−AA fairly firm grade. Ordinary sampling error in 904 test results and a graduating class of 151 could put James Township anywhere from A− to A. The tests are from spring 2022, when 100% of James Township’s students in the tested grades sat them (905 in math, 904 in reading).

How TownRatings grades schools →

Where will my kid go?

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

The path, start to finish
PK–5Shields Elementary SchoolSwan Valley School DistrictNo scores
6–8Swan Valley Middle Schoolin SaginawB
9–12Swan Valley High Schoolin SaginawB

James Township’s public schools are run by Swan Valley School District, which also serves Swan Creek and Thomas. 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.

Swan Valley School DistrictGrades PK–12 · 5 schools · 1,778 students, down 2% since 2020–21 · 18.3 per teacher (MI 16.5)
$12,551MI $16,528 · FY2024
A
Test scores · 2021–22

Well above the state in reading

Reading59%
State average 45.4% · 904 students tested
Math48%
State average 33.6% · 905 students tested

James Township vs. its neighbors

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

Schools next door
TownSchoolsMain districts
James TownshipASwan Valley
SpauldingC−Bridgeport-Spaulding
SaginawCSaginaw City
Saginaw Township—Saginaw Township
ThomasA−Hemlock Public PK–12 · Swan Valley PK–12
Swan CreekA−St. Charles PK–12 · Swan Valley PK–12

2 of the 5 neighbors share Swan Valley with James Township, so their letters differ mainly through other districts.

Every school in James 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 James Townshipby address
Shields Elementary School
Elementary · Grades PK–5 · Saginaw
447 students19:1Rate it →
Also serving James Townshipin other towns
Swan Valley Middle School
Middle · Grades 6–8 · Saginaw
B
408 students18:1Rate it →
Swan Valley High School
High · Grades 9–12 · Saginaw
B
504 students18:1Rate it →

Questions about James Township’s schools

Are James Township’s schools good?

By Michigan’s own tests, yes: the public schools James Township children attend outscore 87% of Michigan’s school districts on tests and graduation, an A Schools grade. Among towns with similar incomes they beat 95%. Tests are from 2021–22, graduation from the class of 2023.

What school district is James Township in?

Swan Valley School District, which runs grades PK–12 and enrolls 1,778 students in 5 schools (2024–25).

Where do James Township kids go to high school?

Swan Valley High School in Saginaw, with 504 students; its own test results earn a B.

What is James Township’s graduation rate?

90–94% of the class of 2023 in Swan Valley School District graduated in four years, against 82% across Michigan.

How much does James Township spend per student?

$12,551 in Swan Valley School District (FY2024), against $16,528 across Michigan. Spending doesn’t count toward the grade.

Parents talk

What James Township families are saying about school.

Town Square →
Start the conversation

Looking for colleges? Colleges near James 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.