The top reported proficiency rate is 72% in Math. The lowest is 39% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on Hornung Elementary School
Hornung Elementary sits on Bauer Road in Brighton, serving kindergarten through fourth grade as one of four elementary schools in the Brighton Area Schools district. It is a regular public school with no charter or magnet designation, and its enrollment is moderate for an elementary building in this area, with fairly even distribution across the five grade levels.
The academic results from the most recent state testing cycle are a clear strength. In both third and fourth grade, Hornung students posted proficiency rates in math and English language arts that sit well above what is typical for Michigan elementary schools. Fourth grade English language arts was the highest mark, and both tested grades showed strong math performance. When measured against other districts in Livingston County, Hornung's overall proficiency places it in the top quartile, meaning it outperforms most of its peers on the combined tested subjects and grades. The school does not have graduation data, chronic absenteeism data, or attendance figures in the provided records, which is expected for an elementary building where those metrics are tracked at the secondary level or are not reported here. IEP and English learner counts were also missing from the data, so those population sizes are not something a reader can assess from what was provided.
One data point that stands apart is a fourth grade science proficiency result, but it comes from an older testing cycle rather than the current one. Because it is dated and science is not part of the current tested grade band for this school in the latest cycle, a parent may want to ask the school how science instruction looks today rather than rely on that older figure.
The student body is predominantly white, with small representations of Hispanic, Asian, and multiracial students. A small share of students qualify for free or reduced price lunch, which is lower than what many public elementary schools see and reflects the economic profile of the surrounding area. The school's setting in Brighton places it in a small city that blends residential neighborhoods with commercial development along the I-96 and US-23 corridors. Brighton's population skews older, and a relatively small portion of households include children under eighteen. The community is overwhelmingly car-dependent, with retail concentrated near highway exits and a downtown that has received streetscape improvements and public art as part of revitalization efforts. The city is growing modestly, with regional projections pointing to continued but gradual population increases.
Housing in the area carries costs above the state benchmark, with typical home values and rents that reflect Brighton's position as a more affluent pocket of Livingston County. The price to income ratio suggests that purchasing a home here demands a stronger financial position than in many parts of the state, though renting remains a somewhat more accessible option. Publicly reported data shows the median household income has been rising nationally, and Brighton's housing market has appreciated at a modest pace. No specific new housing developments were identified in the available research, so families considering a move should verify current inventory and pricing directly.
Brighton Area Schools operates on separated campuses, with two middle schools feeding into a single high school, and the district also shares recreation services with surrounding townships through a regional authority. The district brief did not surface specific bond or facilities information, so families interested in capital improvements or recent strategic initiatives would need to check with the district directly.
For a family weighing Hornung, the picture is one of strong academic outcomes in the tested grades, a relatively homogeneous and economically stable peer group, and a community that is quiet, car-oriented, and growing slowly. The missing data on special populations means parents whose children receive special education or English learner services should ask the school directly about the support available, since the records here do not describe it.
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