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A−

Harbor Springs School District

Public school districtGrades K–12Regional · 7 towns

Serves Little Traverse Township, West Traverse Township, Harbor Springs, Friendship Township, Pleasantview Township, Readmond Township and Cross Village Township.

Little Traverse Township’s School Grade A− better than 84% of Michigan school districts

Students
751
Schools
3
Spent per student
$23,035
MI $16,528
Students per teacher
13:1
Free or reduced lunch
19%
Debt
$42.8M
fiscal 2024
The gist

What stands out about Harbor Springs School District

  • Its letter, A−: results better than 84% of Michigan districts
  • Math proficiency 10 pts above the state
  • Reading proficiency 19 pts above the state
  • Graduation rate 5 pts above the state
  • Spends 39% more per student than the MI average
  • 13 students per teacher
  • Enrollment up 27.3% since 2020–21
  • Debt of $42.8M, about $56,997 per student
The School Grade

What this district adds to its towns’ grade

A−: better than 84% 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
A−Little Traverse Township 2,622A−West Traverse Township 1,740A−Harbor Springs 1,255Friendship Township 943Pleasantview Township 909Readmond Township 555Cross Village Township 237

How TownRatings grades schools →

Where would my kid go?

The school path for Little Traverse Township. Grade by grade →

K–4Shay Elementary SchoolThis district
5–8Harbor Springs Middle SchoolThis district
9–12Harbor Springs High SchoolThis district

Test scores vs. MI

2021–22 · class of 2023
Math proficiency44%
State average 33.6% · 402 students tested
Reading / language arts64%
State average 45.4% · 402 students tested
Graduation rate (4-year)85–89%
State average 81.8% · 75 in the class

100% 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
$23,035 per student · 39% above MI
Spending
Classroom instruction 60%Support & administration 37%Other 3%
Paid for by
Local (mostly property tax) 85%State 12%Federal 3%

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

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

Enrollment over time
590’20
582’21
736’22
706’23
751’24

Up 27.3% since 2020–21.

Students
White 88%Two or more races 6%Hispanic 2%American Indian/Alaska Native 2%Black <1%Asian <1%

Schools in the district

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

Shay Elementary School
Elementary · Grades K–4 · Harbor Spgs
258 students12:1
Harbor Springs Middle School
Middle · Grades 5–8 · Harbor Springs
A−
233 students13:1
Harbor Springs High School
High · Grades 9–12 · Harbor Spgs
A−
260 students14:1

Nearby districts

Compare spending and schools next door.

Pellston Public SchoolsBliss Township, Center Township, Maple River Township
$18,775per student
Alanson Public SchoolsLittlefield Township, Maple River Township
$15,598per student
Public Schools of PetoskeyBear Creek Township
$17,179per 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.