The top reported proficiency rate is 67% in Science. The lowest is 46% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on Stanton Township Public Schools
Stanton Township Public Schools is a single-school K-8 district in Houghton County, Michigan, serving its community through EB Holman Elementary School. The enrollment is small, with roughly two dozen students spread across most grade levels, which means children here grow up in classes where nearly everyone knows everyone. The student body is predominantly white, with a handful of students from other racial backgrounds. The district did not report free-or-reduced-price lunch data, special education counts, or English learner figures, so the economic and special-population picture is incomplete from what is publicly available. A parent wanting that context would need to ask the school directly.
Because the district stops at eighth grade, there is no graduation rate to report. That is expected for a K-8 system, not a gap in performance. Students presumably transition to a neighboring high school or a receiving district for grades nine through twelve, though the data does not specify which one. Families considering Stanton Township should plan for that transition and ask where eighth graders typically go next.
On state assessments, the picture is mixed but has real bright spots. In math, third, fifth, and sixth graders showed proficiency rates at or above the halfway mark, and eighth graders performed similarly on the PSAT-based measure. Fourth grade math was a clear soft spot, with only a small fraction of tested students reaching proficiency. ELA followed a similar pattern: fifth graders posted the district's strongest reading result, eighth graders were solid, and sixth grade reading was the weakest reported grade. Science was a particular concern at eighth grade, where no tested students reached proficiency, though fifth grade science was among the district's better results. Social studies results fell in the middle range for both tested grades. Seventh grade results were suppressed, likely because no students were tested in that grade, which can reflect the small cohort size or how the district grouped students.
Compared with Houghton County's districts, Stanton Township's overall proficiency sits above the midpoint, meaning students here on average outperform the typical county district on state tests. Chronic absenteeism is in the top quartile among county districts, and since lower is better on that measure, this is a genuine strength. Students are showing up to school. Per-pupil spending sits in the lower range among county districts, which may reflect the efficiencies of a very small operation or may mean tighter resources for programming and staffing. A parent might want to understand how that spending level translates into classroom resources.
The district brief turned up little in the way of recent referendums, curriculum overhauls, or other parent-relevant changes. The search found only basic directory and demographic information. This suggests a stable, quiet operation without major disruptions or initiatives in recent memory, which some families will find reassuring and others may want to probe for signs of forward momentum.
Housing in the area is modestly priced relative to both Michigan and national benchmarks. The district-weighted home value sits below the state figure and well below the national one, with a price-to-income ratio that looks affordable compared with many parts of the country. Home values have been rising, with the Houghton-area contributor showing particularly strong recent appreciation. No rental data was available for the district, so the rental picture is incomplete. The unemployment rate in the broader economy has held steady in a moderate range, and median household income has been gradually increasing at the national level, though local income data was not provided.
What this district offers is a small, stable, rural K-8 setting where attendance is strong and several grades perform well on state tests, but where year-to-year results swing widely because each cohort is so small. One or two students moving in or out of proficiency can shift a grade's results dramatically. The eighth grade science result is worth asking about, as is the fourth grade math dip. The absence of program data means parents will not find evidence here of AP courses, career pathways, or specialized offerings, which is typical for a district of this size and grade range. Families who want a close-knit environment where their child will not get lost in the crowd may find this a good fit. Those seeking broad program choices or a larger peer group will likely look elsewhere or plan to supplement.
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