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Schools in Sands Township · Gwinn Area Community Schools

Sands Township’s public schools score below 71% of Michigan districts on tests and graduation

On the state math tests, 18% of Sands Township’s students scored proficient, below the Michigan average (34%). The grade covers the public school district serving Sands 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 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
29%
▼ 16 pts vs MI 45%
2021–22
Math proficiency
18%
▼ 16 pts vs MI 34%
2021–22
Graduate on time
70–79%
▼ 3–12 pts vs MI 82%
class of 2023
Spent per student
$15.9K
▼ 4% vs MI $16.5K
FY2024
Students per teacher
13.7
MI 16.5 · smaller classes
Schools in town
1
684 students on the public path
In brief

Sands Township’s schools, in brief

Against towns with similar incomes

Among the 941 Michigan towns with household incomes within a quarter of Sands Township’s, its schools beat 5%, lower than their 29% against all the state’s districts. The grade ↓

Results trail the state

In spring 2022, 29% of tested students were proficient in reading and 18% in math, against 45% and 34% statewide; 97% of students in the tested grades sat the tests. The grade ↓

Graduation

70–79% of the class of 2023 graduated in four years, against 82% across Michigan (the state reports Sands Township’s rate as a range). Districts ↓

Spending, and where it came from

The district spent $15,918 per student in FY2024, against $16,528 across Michigan. 21% of its revenue that year was federal (Michigan 9%), in the last year of pandemic relief. Districts ↓

One elementary school, then one middle school

From grade 6 the district’s path is Gwinn MiddleHigh School. Enrollment is down 10% since 2020–21. See the path ↓

Choice beyond the district

Discovery Central (private) is 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 Sands Township’s grade

C Test scoresC− Graduation

C: better than 29% 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 29%
Lower resultsHigher results
Michigan towns with similar household incomes (941)Better than 5%
Towns in Marquette County (17)Better than 24%
C−C+A fairly firm grade. Ordinary sampling error in 530 test results and a graduating class of 51 could put Sands Township anywhere from C− to C+. The tests are from spring 2022, when 97% of Sands Township’s students in the tested grades sat them (528 in math, 531 in reading).

How TownRatings grades schools →

Where will my kid go?

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

The path, start to finish
PK–4KI Sawyer Elementary Schoolin GwinnD
6–12Gwinn MiddleHigh Schoolin GwinnC

Sands Township’s public schools are run by Gwinn Area Community Schools, which also serves Forsyth, Skandia and West Branch. Parts of Sands Township (4% of its land) are served by Marquette Area instead. 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.

Gwinn Area Community SchoolsGrades PK–12 · 3 schools · 892 students, down 10% since 2020–21 · 13.7 per teacher (MI 16.5)
$15,918MI $16,528 · FY2024
C
Test scores · 2021–22

Well below the state in reading

Reading29%
State average 45.4% · 531 students tested
Math18%
State average 33.6% · 528 students tested
A note on the data.In FY2024, 21% of the Gwinn Area district’s revenue came from the federal government, against 9% across Michigan, in the last year of federal pandemic relief; spending per student is reported as published.

Sands Township vs. its neighbors

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

Schools next door
TownSchoolsMain districts
Sands TownshipCGwinn Area
ForsythCGwinn Area
Richmond—Negaunee
MarquetteA−Marquette Area
ChocolayA−Marquette Area
NegauneeANegaunee

Every school in Sands 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).

Also serving Sands Townshipin other towns
KI Sawyer Elementary School
Elementary · Grades PK–4 · Gwinn
D
207 students12:1Rate it →
Gwinn MiddleHigh School
High · Grades 6–12 · Gwinn
C
477 students15:1Rate it →
Private schoolstuition; no state tests, so no grade
Discovery Central
Elementary · Grades PK–K · Marquette
Private · Nonsectarian
47 students31:1Rate it →

Questions about Sands Township’s schools

Are Sands Township’s schools good?

On Michigan’s tests they score below most of the state: the public schools Sands Township children attend score below 71% of Michigan’s school districts on tests and graduation, a C Schools grade. Among towns with similar incomes they beat 5%. Tests are from 2021–22, graduation from the class of 2023.

What school district is Sands Township in?

Gwinn Area Community Schools, which runs grades PK–12 and enrolls 892 students in 3 schools (2024–25). Small parts of Sands Township are served by Marquette Area.

What is Sands Township’s graduation rate?

70–79% of the class of 2023 in Gwinn Area Community Schools graduated in four years, against 82% across Michigan.

How much does Sands Township spend per student?

$15,918 in Gwinn Area Community Schools (FY2024), against $16,528 across Michigan. Spending doesn’t count toward the grade.

Are there private schools in Sands Township?

Yes: Discovery Central (nonsectarian, grades PK–K, 47 students).

Parents talk

What Sands Township families are saying about school.

Town Square →
Start the conversation

Looking for colleges? Colleges near Sands 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.