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St. John the Baptist Catholic Church ComplexSt. John the Baptist Catholic Church Complex · Photo: kennethaw88 · CC BY 4.0
B−
Schools in North Plains Township · Carson City-Crystal Area School District, Ionia Public Schools

North Plains Township’s public schools score below 54% of Michigan districts on tests and graduation

On the state math tests, 27% of North Plains Township’s students scored proficient, below the Michigan average (34%). The grade covers the two public school districts serving North Plains 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 95% 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
40%
▼ 5 pts vs MI 45%
2021–22
Math proficiency
27%
▼ 6 pts vs MI 34%
2021–22
Graduate on time
78%
▼ 4 pts vs MI 82%
class of 2023
Spent per student
$12.7K
▼ 23% vs MI $16.5K
FY2024 · Ionia
Students per teacher
18.0
MI 16.5 · larger classes
Schools in town
0
3,251 students on the public path
In brief

North Plains Township’s schools, in brief

Against towns with similar incomes

Among the 1118 Michigan towns with household incomes within a quarter of North Plains Township’s, its schools beat 36%, lower than their 46% against all the state’s districts. The grade ↓

Results trail the state

In spring 2022, 40% of tested students were proficient in reading and 27% in math, against 45% and 34% statewide; 95% of students in the tested grades sat the tests. The grade ↓

Graduation

78% of the class of 2023 graduated in four years, against 82% across Michigan. Districts ↓

Spending and class size

Carson City-Crystal Area spends $13,951 per student and Ionia $12,742, against $16,528 across Michigan (FY2024). Neither counts toward the grade. Districts ↓

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 North Plains Township’s grade

B− Test scoresC Graduation

B−: better than 46% of Michigan school districts. Both inputs trail the Michigan average; test scores are the closer of the two to typical.

Michigan school districts we grade (815)Better than 46%
Lower resultsHigher results
Michigan towns with similar household incomes (1118)Better than 36%
Towns in Ionia County (16)Better than 6%
C+BA fairly firm grade. Ordinary sampling error in 1,816 test results and a graduating class of 221 could put North Plains Township anywhere from C+ to B. The tests are from spring 2022, when 95% of North Plains Township’s students in the tested grades sat them (1,817 in math, 1,814 in reading).

How TownRatings grades schools →

Where will my kid go?

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

The path, start to finish
PK–56 elementary schoolsDepends on your addressC− to C+
6–82 middle schoolsDepends on your addressC− to C+
9–122 high schoolsDepends on your addressC to B

North Plains Township runs its own schools through grade 12 (Carson City-Crystal Area School District). From grade PK, students attend the Ionia Public Schools, shared with Easton, Ionia, Ionia, Lyons, Lyons, Muir, Orange, Orleans and Ronald. Its elementary school is in Ionia. Parts of North Plains Township (10% of its land) are served by Pewamo-Westphalia instead. To confirm the school for a specific address, ask the district.

Two districts serve North Plains Township

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

Carson City-Crystal Area School DistrictGrades PK–12 · 3 schools · 665 students, down 17% since 2020–21 · 16.0 per teacher (MI 16.5)
$13,951MI $16,528 · FY2024
C+
Ionia Public SchoolsGrades PK–12 · 8 schools · 2,659 students, down 7% since 2020–21 · 18.6 per teacher (MI 16.5)
$12,742MI $16,528 · FY2024
B−
Test scores · 2021–22

Well below the state in reading

Reading · PK–12, Carson City-Crystal Area School District36%
State average 45.4% · 371 students tested
Math · PK–12, Carson City-Crystal Area School District25%
State average 33.6% · 373 students tested
Reading · PK–12, Ionia Public Schools41%
State average 45.4% · 1443 students tested
Math · PK–12, Ionia Public Schools28%
State average 33.6% · 1444 students tested

North Plains Township vs. its neighbors

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

Schools next door
TownSchoolsMain districts
North Plains TownshipB−Carson City-Crystal Area PK–12 · Ionia PK–12
Lebanon—Fowler PK–12 · Carson City-Crystal Area PK–12
RonaldB−Ionia PK–12 · Carson City-Crystal Area PK–12
LyonsBIonia PK–12 · Pewamo-Westphalia PK–12
BloomerC+Carson City-Crystal Area

3 of the 4 neighbors share Carson City-Crystal Area with North Plains Township for grades PK–12, so their letters differ mainly through the lower grades.

Every school in North Plains Township

10 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).

Also serving North Plains Townshipin other towns
AA Rather School
Elementary · Grades PK–5 · Ionia
C+
308 students20:1Rate it →
Jefferson School
Elementary · Grades PK–5 · Ionia
C−
272 students18:1Rate it →
RB Boyce Elementary School
Elementary · Grades PK–5 · Ionia
C−
254 students20:1Rate it →
Carson City Elementary School
Elementary · Grades PK–3 · Carson City
C+
216 students12:1Rate it →
Twin Rivers Elementary School
Elementary · Grades PK–5 · Muir
C−
183 students19:1Rate it →
Emerson School
Elementary · Grades PK–5 · Ionia
C−
166 students14:1Rate it →
Carson CityCrystal Upper ElementaryMiddle School
Middle · Grades 4–8 · Carson City
C−
262 students18:1Rate it →
Ionia Middle School
Middle · Grades 6–8 · Ionia
C+
629 students18:1Rate it →
Ionia High School
High · Grades 9–12 · Ionia
B
774 students19:1Rate it →
Carson CityCrystal High School
High · Grades 9–12 · Carson City
C
187 students20:1Rate it →

Questions about North Plains Township’s schools

Are North Plains Township’s schools good?

On Michigan’s tests they score below most of the state: the public schools North Plains Township children attend score below 54% of Michigan’s school districts on tests and graduation, a B− Schools grade. Among towns with similar incomes they beat 36%. Tests are from 2021–22, graduation from the class of 2023.

What school district is North Plains Township in?

Two districts: Carson City-Crystal Area School District runs grades PK–12, and Ionia Public Schools runs grades PK–12, shared with Easton, Ionia, Ionia, Lyons, Lyons, Muir, Orange, Orleans and Ronald.

Where do North Plains Township kids go to high school?

One of 2 high schools, depending on your address: Ionia High School and Carson CityCrystal High School.

What is North Plains Township’s graduation rate?

78% of the class of 2023 in Ionia Public Schools graduated in four years, against 82% across Michigan.

How much does North Plains Township spend per student?

$13,951 in Carson City-Crystal Area School District and $12,742 in Ionia Public Schools (FY2024), against $16,528 across Michigan. Spending doesn’t count toward the grade.

Parents talk

What North Plains Township families are saying about school.

Town Square →
Start the conversation

Looking for colleges? Colleges near North Plains 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.