The top reported proficiency rate is 28% in English language arts. The lowest is 6% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on Jw Sexton High School
JW Sexton High School is a regular public school in the Lansing Public School District, serving grades eight through twelve from its location on McPherson Avenue in Lansing. The school sits in Michigan's state capital, a mid-sized city whose economy is anchored by state government, insurance, healthcare, and manufacturing, with Michigan State University just across the city line in East Lansing. The surrounding neighborhood offers some of the most affordable housing in the region. Home values in the school's zip code run well below the state and national benchmarks, and rents are similarly modest, which may appeal to families seeking lower-cost living within an urban setting with access to government, education, and healthcare employment.
The student body at Sexton is mid-sized for a high school, and it reflects the demographics of the surrounding community. A majority of students identify as Black, with white, Hispanic, and multiracial students making up most of the remainder, along with a smaller Asian population. A very substantial share of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, indicating that the school serves an economically disadvantaged population. Data on English learners and students with Individualized Education Programs was not available, so those population sizes cannot be characterized here.
On state assessments, the most recent results come from the grade-eight cohort tested during the most recent school year. ELA proficiency was the relative bright spot, with roughly a quarter of tested eighth graders reaching proficiency. Math and science results were much lower, with only a small fraction of students demonstrating proficiency in each subject. Social studies proficiency fell into the lowest reported range, with no students reaching the proficient threshold. Across tested subjects, Sexton's overall proficiency sits in the bottom quartile relative to districts in Ingham County. These results are a factual indicator of where students currently stand academically, and a parent may want to look into this further with the school, asking what interventions and support structures are in place to move proficiency upward. No multi-year trend data was available, so it is unclear whether these numbers represent a stable pattern or a recent shift.
Several data categories that would help a parent form a fuller picture are missing. No graduation rate was provided for the school, and no information on chronic absenteeism was available. Course access data, staffing details, discipline records, and attendance figures were all absent from the available sources. Program offerings such as AP courses, career and technical education pathways, or dual-enrollment options were not listed, so families would need to contact the school directly to understand what academic and extracurricular pathways are available. Civil-rights data was also not provided.
The broader district context is relevant for families considering Sexton. Lansing Public School District recently passed a bond, publicly reported as funding facility improvements, security upgrades, technology, a new elementary building, an early childhood center, and athletic upgrades, all structured to avoid increasing the current tax rate. At the same time, the district is operating with a budget deficit tied to declining enrollment and the expiration of federal COVID-relief funds, and publicly reported discussions about potential school consolidation have begun, though no specific buildings have been named. These financial pressures could eventually affect programming and school configuration across the district, and Sexton families should stay informed about developments at board meetings.
For a family weighing Sexton, the school offers an urban, economically diverse setting in an affordable capital-city neighborhood with strong nearby civic and educational anchors. The academic data, however, points to real challenges in student proficiency, and the absence of graduation rate, program, and staffing data means a substantial portion of the picture is not yet visible from available sources. A prospective parent would benefit from directly asking the school about its academic improvement plans, available courses and pathways, graduation outcomes, and how the district's fiscal situation may affect the school in coming years.
See more original research from School Decision →