Jackson Public Schools, MI

Original Research by School Decision on Jackson Public Schools

Jackson Public Schools is a mid-sized district in Jackson County, Michigan, serving students from pre-kindergarten through twelfth grade across more than a dozen schools. The enrollment is diverse, with white students forming the largest single group and Black students the second largest, followed by Hispanic students and a sizable multiracial population. The district operates a broad mix of buildings: several elementary schools, Middle School at Parkside, Jackson High School, a Montessori center, a virtual school, an alternative pathway program, a learning center, and a program based at the Jackson County Jail. This range of settings tells you the district is serving both mainstream and specialized populations under one roof.

On state assessments for the most recent school year, the academic picture is mixed and uneven across grade bands. In English language arts, elementary proficiency holds relatively steady from third through fifth grade, dips in sixth, and then rises sharply on the eighth-grade PSAT. That eighth-grade ELA result stands out as the district's strongest single performance marker. Math tells a different story. Proficiency starts at a moderate level in third grade but declines steadily through the middle grades, reaching very low levels by sixth and eighth grade. Science and social studies proficiency rates are also low across the tested grades. Compared with other districts in Jackson County, the district's overall proficiency sits in the bottom quartile. A parent weighing this district may want to ask school leaders what targeted math support and secondary interventions are in place, especially in the transition years between elementary and middle school.

Chronic absenteeism is a concern the data makes plain. The district's rate places it in the bottom quartile among Jackson County districts, meaning a substantial share of students are missing a meaningful amount of school. High absenteeism compounds the academic challenges visible in the test results, and families considering the district should understand how the school handles attendance interventions.

At the same time, the district invests at a level above most of its peers. Per-pupil current spending sits in the upper range among Jackson County districts, suggesting resources are being directed into the system even as outcome metrics lag.

The housing market around Jackson Public Schools is relatively affordable. Home values across the district's zip codes are well below both state and national benchmarks, with a modest year-over-year appreciation. Rents are also moderate, and the rent-to-income ratio sits at a level most working families can manage. The price-to-income ratio is below the national figure, meaning ownership is comparatively within reach for households with stable income. That affordability comes with trade-offs in the tax base, which is relevant context for the district's financial decisions.

The district has a bond proposal on the 2025 ballot that would affect property taxes and fund school facility investments. The district has published an FAQ document explaining the bond to residents, so voters and parents can review the details directly. This follows a period of facility change: two elementary schools opened in fall 2021. Cascades Elementary was a new building, and John R. Lewis Elementary was a renovation and reopening of the formerly closed Lincoln Elementary, renamed to honor the late Congressman John Lewis.

Free and reduced-price lunch data was not available, nor were individualized education program or English learner rates, so the economic and special-population picture is incomplete from what was provided. No graduation rate was available in the comparison data set. No locale brief was provided for the surrounding community, and no civil-rights or course-access data was included, so those dimensions are left unnamed rather than guessed at. Program offerings beyond the school list were also absent from the data.

What the evidence supports is a district with broad institutional reach, real resource commitment, affordable housing, and active facility investment, set against academic results that currently sit below county medians and an absenteeism rate that is high. For a family already rooted in Jackson, the district offers multiple pathways and settings within one system. For a family choosing where to enroll, the academic and attendance figures are worth a direct conversation with school leadership before deciding.

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District Context

Officially reported figures, 2024-25.

Enrollment

4,465

Grades

PK–12

Schools

Student body

Hispanic 8%

Black 32%

White 42%

Asian 1%

Two+ 17%

Am. Indian / AK Native 0%

Hawaiian / Pac. Isl. 0%

By economic status

Percent proficient by grade, as reported

Economically disadvantaged

Not disadvantaged

ELA

Gr 3

23%

55%

Gr 4

21%

65%

Gr 5

18%

76%

Gr 6

14%

50%

Gr 7

19%

46%

Gr 8

43%

69%

Math

Gr 3

24%

50%

Gr 4

14%

60%

Gr 5

43%

Gr 6

28%

Gr 7

33%

Gr 8

Science

Gr 5

16%

53%

Gr 8

21%

32%

Social studies

Gr 5

43%

Gr 8

24%

42%

Schools in this District

13 schools are officially reported under this district.

Cascades Elementary School

Hunt Elementary School

Jackson High School

Middle School at Parkside

Sharp Park Academy

Northeast Elementary School

Dibble Elementary School

Jackson County Jail

Fourth Street Learning Center

JPS Montessori Center

South Central Michigan Virtual

Jackson Pathways

John R Lewis Elementary

Academic Performance

Percent of students meeting or exceeding state standards, by grade.

Mathematics

6 grades reported

27%

Grade 3

22%

Grade 4

13%

Grade 5

Grade 6

14%

Grade 7

Grade 8

English Language Arts

6 grades reported

27%

Grade 3

28%

Grade 4

27%

Grade 5

20%

Grade 6

25%

Grade 7

47%

Grade 8

Science

2 grades reported

22%

Grade 5

22%

Grade 8

Social Studies

2 grades reported

14%

Grade 5

27%

Grade 8

Housing & Real Estate

Data as of April 2026 | District-weighted from constituent ZIP codes

Home Values

Typical home value$199,525

Year-over-year change+2.7%

Range across 5 ZIP codes$139K to $321K

vs. state typical0.76x

vs. national typical0.54x

Home value trend (12 months)

ZIP code home values (5 ZIP codes)

ZIP	City	Value	YoY	Weight
49203	Jackson	$169K	+2.6%	44.6%
49201	Jackson	$249K	+2.8%	39.1%
49202	Jackson	$139K	+2.6%	13.9%
49246	Horton	$297K	+3.7%	1.3%
49234	Clarklake	$321K	+3.6%	1.1%

Rental Market

Typical monthly rent$1,171/mo

Year-over-year change+7.0%

Range across 3 ZIP codes$1,052 to $1,266/mo

Rent trend (12 months)

ZIP code rents (3 ZIP codes)

ZIP	City	Rent/mo	YoY	Weight
49203	Jackson	$1,266	+5.3%	44.6%
49201	Jackson	$1,052	+8.9%	39.1%
49202	Jackson	$1,196	—	13.9%

Affordability

Est. monthly mortgage (20% down at 6.48%)$1,007/mo

Home price / national median income2.4x

Annual rent / national median income16.8%

Rent exceeds est. mortgage by$164/mo

Comparison

State typical home value$263,590 (+4.2% YoY)

National typical home value$368,198 (+0.6% YoY)

State ZHVI trend (12 months)

National ZHVI trend (12 months)

Economic Context

30-year fixed mortgage rate6.48%

National unemployment rate4.3%

National median household income$83,730

CPI: Rent of shelter (index)447.05

30-year fixed mortgage rate (12 months)

National unemployment rate (12 months)

National median household income (12 months)

CPI: Rent of shelter (index) (12 months)

Sources: Zillow Home Value Index and Zillow Observed Rent Index (Zillow Group), Realtor.com via Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis (FRED)

Data Currently Unavailable

Civil Rights Data (CRDC)

This profile is derived exclusively from publicly available federal and state datasets. It may not reflect the most current information available. We encourage parents and families to supplement this data with information published directly on the school’s website, which may include more recent figures, additional programs, or updated enrollment data.