Guest, Sign inJoin

Post to Sandstone 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
Schools in Sandstone Township · Western School District, Northwest School District

Sandstone Township’s public schools outscore 58% of Michigan districts

The grade covers the two public school districts serving Sandstone Township, from kindergarten through graduation, on state tests and graduation. Math proficiency in Sandstone Township’s districts is 28%, below the Michigan average (34%). Each state writes its own tests, so this is the one TownRatings grade compared within Michigan, not nationally.

#428of 699 Michigan townsK–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
46%
▲ 1 pts vs MI 45%
2021–22
Math proficiency
28%
▼ 6 pts vs MI 34%
2021–22
Graduate on time
80%
▼ 2 pts vs MI 82%
class of 2023
Spent per student
$13.4K
▼ 19% vs MI $16.5K
FY2024 · Northwest
Students per teacher
18.0
MI 16.5 · larger classes
Schools in town
1
3,555 students on the public path
In brief

Sandstone Township’s schools, in brief

Against towns with similar incomes

Among the 711 Michigan towns with household incomes within a quarter of Sandstone Township’s, its schools beat 30%, lower than their 58% against all the state’s districts. The grade ↓

Above the state in reading, below in math

Reading proficiency is 46% and math 28% across both districts in spring 2022, against 45% and 34% statewide; 80% of the class of 2023 graduated in four years, against 82%. Test scores ↓

Spending and class size

Western spends $13,852 per student and Northwest $13,419, 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 Sandstone Township’s grade

B Test scoresC Graduation

B: better than 58% of Michigan school districts, #428 of 699 Michigan towns. Both inputs trail the Michigan average; test scores are the closer of the two to typical.

Michigan school districts we grade (815)Better than 58%
Lower resultsHigher results
Michigan towns with similar household incomes (711)Better than 30%
Towns in Jackson County (19)Better than 47%
B−B+A fairly firm grade. Ordinary sampling error in 3,180 test results and a graduating class of 281 could put Sandstone Township anywhere from B− to B+. The tests are from spring 2022, when 97% of Sandstone Township’s students in the tested grades sat them (3,179 in math, 3,181 in reading).

How TownRatings grades schools →

Where will my kid go?

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

The path, start to finish
PK–5Parma Elementary SchoolWestern School DistrictB−
6–82 middle schoolsDepends on your addressC to B−
9–122 high schoolsDepends on your addressB to A−

Sandstone Township runs its own schools through grade 12 (Western School District). From grade K, students attend the Northwest School District, shared with Blackman, Henrietta, Rives and Tompkins. Its middle school is in Jackson. To confirm the school for a specific address, ask the district.

Two districts serve Sandstone Township

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

Western School DistrictGrades PK–12 · 6 schools · 2,688 students, down 5% since 2020–21 · 18.4 per teacher (MI 16.5)
$13,852MI $16,528 · FY2024
A−
Northwest School DistrictGrades K–12 · 5 schools · 3,507 students, down 3% since 2020–21 · 17.8 per teacher (MI 16.5)
$13,419MI $16,528 · FY2024
C+
Test scores · 2021–22

Close to the state in reading

Reading · PK–12, Western School District55%
State average 45.4% · 1366 students tested
Math · PK–12, Western School District39%
State average 33.6% · 1366 students tested
Reading · K–12, Northwest School District40%
State average 45.4% · 1815 students tested
Math · K–12, Northwest School District19%
State average 33.6% · 1813 students tested

Sandstone Township vs. its neighbors

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

Schools next door
TownSchoolsMain districts
Sandstone TownshipBWestern PK–12 · Northwest K–12
TompkinsC+Northwest K–12 · Springport K–12
ParmaB+Western PK–12 · Springport K–12
Spring ArborA−Western PK–12 · Concord K–12
BlackmanC+Northwest

2 of the 4 neighbors share Northwest with Sandstone Township for grades K–12, so their letters differ mainly through the lower grades.

Every school in Sandstone Township

5 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 Sandstone Townshipby address
Parma Elementary School
Elementary · Grades PK–5 · Parma
B−
408 students17:1Rate it →
Also serving Sandstone Townshipin other towns
Northwest Kidder Middle School
Middle · Grades 6–8 · Jackson
C
786 students15:1Rate it →
Western Middle School
Middle · Grades 6–8 · Parma
B−
594 students16:1Rate it →
Northwest High School
High · Grades 9–12 · Jackson
B
958 students20:1Rate it →
Western High School
High · Grades 9–12 · Parma
A−
809 students20:1Rate it →

Questions about Sandstone Township’s schools

Are Sandstone Township’s schools good?

They sit near the middle of Michigan: the public schools Sandstone Township children attend outscore 58% of Michigan’s school districts on tests and graduation, a B Schools grade, #428 of 699 Michigan towns. Among towns with similar incomes they beat 30%. Tests are from 2021–22, graduation from the class of 2023.

What school district is Sandstone Township in?

Two districts: Western School District runs grades PK–12, and Northwest School District runs grades K–12, shared with Blackman, Henrietta, Rives and Tompkins.

Where do Sandstone Township kids go to high school?

One of 2 high schools, depending on your address: Northwest High School and Western High School.

What is Sandstone Township’s graduation rate?

80% of the class of 2023 in Northwest School District graduated in four years, against 82% across Michigan.

How much does Sandstone Township spend per student?

$13,852 in Western School District and $13,419 in Northwest School District (FY2024), against $16,528 across Michigan. Spending doesn’t count toward the grade.

Parents talk

What Sandstone Township families are saying about school.

Town Square →
Start the conversation

Looking for colleges? Colleges near Sandstone 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.