Will Carleton Charter School Academy, Hillsdale MI

Original Research by School Decision on Will Carleton Charter School Academy

Will Carleton Charter School Academy is a kindergarten-through-twelfth-grade public charter school on the western edge of Hillsdale, a small county-seat city in south-central Michigan. It is a single-building school serving a modest enrollment spread across all thirteen grade levels, which gives it the feel of a small community school rather than a large comprehensive campus. The grade sizes are quite even in the elementary and middle grades, with somewhat larger cohorts in early high school. As a charter authorized under its own district, it operates independently of the traditional Hillsdale Community School District that serves the broader city.

The student body is predominantly white, with only small representation from other racial and ethnic groups. A moderate share of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. The school did not report data on special education enrollment or English learner populations, so a parent with questions about those services would need to ask the school directly. No staffing ratios, class-size details, or course-access information were available in the data we reviewed, which leaves a gap in understanding the day-to-day instructional environment.

On state assessments from the most recent year, results are mixed but tilt positive, particularly in English language arts. Third-grade ELA proficiency stands out as a relative strength, and eighth-grade ELA is strikingly high. Middle-grade ELA results are more middling across grades four through seven. Math proficiency hovers in a lower band across most elementary and middle grades, with no grade reaching what would be considered a strong level, though eighth-grade math is the brightest spot in that subject. Eighth-grade science and social studies results are solid, while fifth-grade science and social studies are softer. The tested cohorts are small in every grade, which means a few students moving in or out of proficiency can shift results noticeably from year to year.

Measured against other districts in Hillsdale County, the school's overall proficiency across tested subjects and grades places it in the top quartile. In fact, its proficiency index is the highest reported among the county districts with available data. That is a meaningful signal for a small charter school operating alongside larger traditional districts. A parent looking at raw numbers should keep in mind that small cohorts add volatility, but the relative position is encouraging.

We looked for a graduation rate and could not find one reported for this school. This may reflect the small senior class or how the state reports charter graduation data, but the data does not specify a reason. Chronic absenteeism figures were also not reported. A parent considering this school for a high school pathway should ask the administration directly about graduation outcomes and post-secondary placement, since those data points are absent here.

The surrounding community shapes what this school offers in terms of environment. Hillsdale is a compact city with a historic downtown core along Broad Street, anchored by City Hall and a traditional commercial fabric. Hillsdale College, a private liberal arts institution with a long history in the city, is a major presence and employer. The county government offices and courthouse add civic weight, and a local hospital and the Indiana Northeastern Railroad provide additional employment. Lake Baw Beese and the St. Joseph River give the city a natural recreational anchor. Walkability is concentrated near downtown and the college campus, with residential areas becoming more auto-dependent farther out. The school sits on Hallett Road, west of the city center, so most families would be driving to campus.

Housing in the school's zip code is affordable compared with both state and national benchmarks, with typical home values well below the Michigan median and roughly half the national figure. Home values have been appreciating at a brisk pace recently, suggesting a tightening local market, though rents were not available in the data we reviewed. For a family already in or near Hillsdale, this is a relatively accessible housing market by current standards. For a family considering relocating, the cost of entry is lower than in most of the state, though mortgage rates remain elevated in the current national environment.

We searched for recent district-level changes that would matter to parents and found little of lasting impact in publicly reported sources. No strategic plan priorities, major program shifts, or facility changes surfaced. This leaves the school's current profile as the best available picture. A parent weighing Will Carleton against other local options would want to visit, ask about high school outcomes and course offerings, and get a sense of how the small cohorts affect classroom experience grade by grade. The academic results suggest a school doing respectable work in literacy and holding its own in the county, with room to grow in elementary and middle-grade math.

See more original research from School Decision →

Academic performance

State test results and graduation outcomes.

Graduation rate (ACGR)

Not publicly reportedCohort of 5 students · Class of 2021

The federal source does not publish a graduation rate for cohorts this small. The cohort size is shown for context.

How this school compares to all schools in this state

Each dot is one school’s SY 2020-21 graduation rate, binned by integer rate. Taller columns mean more schools at that rate. This school is highlighted.

1,027 schools plotted. 80 additional schools' rates are federally suppressed and not shown. Data: EDFacts SY 2020-21.

Math

Grade 338%

School 38% · District 38%

▼ 4 pts below state median

Grade 426%

School 26% · District 26%

▼ 12 pts below state median

Grade 526%

School 26% · District 26%

▼ 5 pts below state median

Grade 638%

School 38% · District 38%

▲ 9 pts above state median

Grade 729%

School 29% · District 29%

▲ 1 pts above state median

Grade 839%

School 39% · District 39%

▲ 12 pts above state median

English language arts

Grade 357%

School 57% · District 57%

▲ 19 pts above state median

Grade 439%

School 39% · District 39%

▼ 2 pts below state median

Grade 535%

School 35% · District 35%

▼ 8 pts below state median

Grade 638%

School 38% · District 38%

▲ 4 pts above state median

Grade 738%

School 38% · District 38%

▲ 4 pts above state median

Grade 883%

School 83% · District 83%

▲ 21 pts above state median

Science

Grade 526%

School 26% · District 26%

▼ 14 pts below state median

Grade 867%

School 67% · District 67%

▲ 30 pts above state median

Social studies

Grade 526%

School 26% · District 26%

▼ 2 pts below state median

Grade 850%

School 50% · District 50%

▲ 7 pts above state median

This schoolWill Carleton Charter School Academy, same grade

Graduation rate (ACGR) reflects the federally published Adjusted Cohort Graduation Rate for the most recent year available. We refresh this data annually at the close of each academic year in June. The federal source publishes a banded rate (for example, "90-94%") instead of an exact number for cohorts small enough to risk identifying individual students. The state distribution chart, where shown, plots every school in the state with a published rate or band; schools whose rate is federally suppressed are excluded. Where the federal source publishes a band rather than an exact rate, the school is placed within its band using a stable, ID-derived offset, so its position is consistent across visits.

Proficiency by household income

English language arts

Grade 4Lower-income27%Higher-income50%23 pp gap

Grade 5Lower-income30%Higher-income39%9 pp gap

Grade 7Lower-income40%Higher-income36%4 pp gap

Mathematics

Grade 7Lower-income30%Higher-income29%1 pp gap