Hillsdale Preparatory School

Summary:

Hillsdale Preparatory School is a public charter elementary school serving grades K-8 in Hillsdale, Michigan, with a student population of 88. While the school has a predominantly white student population, it faces several challenges, including declining academic performance, high chronic absenteeism, and lower funding compared to nearby public schools.

Hillsdale Preparatory School's academic performance, as measured by M-Step test scores, is generally lower than the state averages and the nearby public schools. For example, in 2022-2023, only 30% of 3rd graders were proficient in English Language Arts, compared to the state average of 40.9%. The school's performance in math and science is also below state and local averages. Additionally, Hillsdale Preparatory School has experienced a significant increase in chronic absenteeism, rising from 8.7% in 2017-2018 to 27.9% in 2022-2023, which is notably higher than the 15-23% range of the nearby Hillsdale Community Schools.

Compared to the nearby public schools, such as Lincoln Elementary School, HanoverHorton Elementary School, and Jennings Elementary School, Hillsdale Preparatory School's spending per student has decreased over the years, from $11,304 in 2020-2021 to $9,796 in 2022-2023, which is lower than the $12,054 to $17,959 range of the nearby public schools. This lower funding may be a contributing factor to the school's academic struggles.

Detail:

Public, Charter K-8

160 Mechanic Rd
Hillsdale, MI 49242-1053

(517) 437-4625

District: Hillsdale Preparatory School

Per Pupil Expenditures: $9,796

Student/teacher ratio: 9.3

Number of students: 54

Racial breakdown:

White:

90.7%

Two or more races:

5.6%

Hispanic:

3.7%

Free/discounted lunch recipients: 57.4%

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Performance Trends

Compare Details Hillsdale Preparatory School is not ranked due for the most recent year due to insufficient test score data. (See more...)

Compare Details In 2023 the calculated Average Standard Score was 26.92. (See more...)

Compare Details Hillsdale Preparatory School is not ranked due for the most recent year due to insufficient test score data. (See more...)

Compare Details In 2016 the calculated Average Standard Score was 89.06. (See more...)

Chronic absenteeism in a school refers to a situation where students repeatedly miss school, with the threshold often defined as missing 10% or more of school days for any reason, excused or unexcused.

Student Body

Compare Details Racial makeup is: White (90.7%), two or more races (5.6%), Hispanic (3.7%). (See more...)

Compare Details 57.4% of students are receiving a free or discounted lunch. (See more...)

Teachers

Compare Details The student/teacher ratio at Hillsdale Preparatory School is 9.3. (See more...)

Compare Hillsdale Preparatory School employs 5.7 full-time teachers.

Finance

Compare Details The average total spent per student at Hillsdale Preparatory School is $9,796.

Schooldigger Rankings:

Hillsdale Preparatory School was not ranked this year due to insufficient test score data.

Average Parent Rating:

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Rank History for Hillsdale Preparatory School

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Rank History for all elementary school students at Hillsdale Preparatory School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Elementary Schools	MI State Percentile
2009	88.51	17^th	1589	98.9%
2011	69.82	482^nd	1552	68.9%
2012	54.93	729^th	1566	53.4%
2013	47.50	893^rd	1563	42.9%
2014	46.60	890^th	1533	41.9%
2015	80.50	257^th	1580	83.7%
2016	75.64	317^th	1548	79.5%
2017	53.70	620^th	1466	57.7%
2018	53.05	740^th	1448	48.9%
2023	26.92	1042^nd	1470	29.1%

See the entire list of Michigan Elementary School Rankings!

Rank History for elementary school White students at Hillsdale Preparatory School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Elementary Schools	MI State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2018	40.59	774^th	1253	38.2%

See the entire list of Best Michigan Elementary Schools for White Students!

Data source: test scores: Michigan Department of Education, rankings: SchoolDigger.com

Rank History for Hillsdale Preparatory School

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Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Middle Schools	MI State Percentile
2013	42.58	563^rd	919	38.7%
2014	35.30	641^st	921	30.4%
2015	52.70	423^rd	919	54.0%
2016	89.06	71^st	894	92.1%

See the entire list of Michigan Elementary School Rankings!

Data source: test scores: Michigan Department of Education, rankings: SchoolDigger.com

Data source: Michigan Department of Education

Review counts

All ratings (Avg rating: 3)

50%

Reviews:

by a parent
Saturday, April 20, 2019

Very horrible, especially for special needs. Worn down school, no curriculum. Cant keep teachers or students! Dont recommend Close Quote

by a parent on FaceBook
Tuesday, June 2, 2009

We have in 2008/2009 69 families at our school this year.
We are growing and learning more and more about education while here, we have three children in this school. We are one of the very few families with this amount of children here at one time. The curriculum is why we chose this school and the teachers! They do not get paid enough for all the time and rewards they give our children (with minimum to almost no insurance for them). They are here to teach. Close Quote

Enrollment information for Hillsdale Preparatory School

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Year	White	African American	Asian	Hispanic	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Not Specified	Total
1998	106	1	0	0	0	n/a	n/a	-1	106
1999	120	1	0	7	0	n/a	n/a	0	128
2000	113	0	0	6	0	n/a	n/a	2	121
2001	130	0	0	0	0	n/a	n/a	0	130
2002	101	1	0	2	0	n/a	n/a	0	104
2003	101	1	0	2	0	n/a	n/a	0	104
2004	91	2	0	3	0	n/a	n/a	2	98
2005	99	4	1	0	0	n/a	n/a	1	105
2006	33	5	1	0	0	n/a	n/a	0	39
2007	37	1	0	2	0	n/a	n/a	3	43
2008	54	7	n/a	2	n/a	n/a	n/a	0	63
2009	64	4	2	3	0	n/a	n/a	0	73
2010	66	3	0	2	0	n/a	n/a	0	71
2011	85	4	1	2	0	0	8	0	100
2012	87	0	2	3	0	0	6	0	98
2013	100	0	2	3	0	0	4	0	109
2014	111	3	3	6	0	0	4	0	127
2015	129	0	3	7	0	0	2	0	141
2016	120	1	3	4	0	0	2	0	130
2017	163	0	4	7	0	0	3	0	177
2018	123	0	3	2	0	0	1	0	129
2019	128	0	2	2	0	0	0	0	132
2020	92	0	1	2	0	0	0	0	95
2021	62	0	0	2	0	0	0	0	64
2022	68	0	0	3	0	0	1	0	72
2023	82	0	0	2	0	0	4	0	88
2024	49	0	0	2	0	0	3	0	54

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Enrollment/Ethnicity

For more information about how the Department of Education defines ethnicity, see Defining Race and Ethnicity Data, National Center for Education Statistics

Students eligible for free or discounted lunch at Hillsdale Preparatory School

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Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
1998	106	12.0	8.8	0
1999	128	13.0	9.8	0
2000	121	11.8	10.1	0
2001	130	12.0	10.8	0
2002	104	n/a	n/a	n/a
2003	104	n/a	n/a	n/a
2004	98	6.0	16.3	n/a
2005	105	6.3	16.7	n/a
2006	39	4.6	8.5	0
2007	43	4.6	9.3	25
2008	63	5.0	12.6	27
2009	73	5.0	14.6	31.5
2010	71	5.0	14.2	94.4
2011	100	7.0	14.2	40
2012	98	7.0	14.0	42.9
2013	109	8.0	13.6	51.4
2014	127	9.5	13.3	48.8
2015	141	12.0	11.7	45.4
2016	130	12.0	10.8	42.3
2017	177	13.0	13.6	42.9
2018	129	10.0	12.9	54.3
2019	132	8.0	16.5	50
2020	95	8.0	11.8	54.7
2021	64	5.2	12.1	53.1
2022	72	5.0	14.4	58.3
2023	88	6.0	14.6	54.5
2024	54	5.7	9.3	57.4

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Students eligible for discounted/free lunch:

The National School Lunch Program (NSLP) provides low-cost or free meals to students in U.S. public and nonprofit private schools based on household income. Those with incomes below 130% of the poverty line receive free lunch, while those between 130% and 185% qualify for reduced-price lunch. The percentage of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch serves as a marker for poverty, as it reflects the socioeconomic status of families in a given school or district. A higher FRPL rate typically indicates a higher concentration of low-income families, suggesting that the school or district may face additional challenges in providing adequate resources and support for student success.

Student/Teacher Ratio Hillsdale Preparatory School

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Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
1998	106	12.0	8.8	0
1999	128	13.0	9.8	0
2000	121	11.8	10.1	0
2001	130	12.0	10.8	0
2002	104	n/a	n/a	n/a
2003	104	n/a	n/a	n/a
2004	98	6.0	16.3	n/a
2005	105	6.3	16.7	n/a
2006	39	4.6	8.5	0
2007	43	4.6	9.3	25
2008	63	5.0	12.6	27
2009	73	5.0	14.6	31.5
2010	71	5.0	14.2	94.4
2011	100	7.0	14.2	40
2012	98	7.0	14.0	42.9
2013	109	8.0	13.6	51.4
2014	127	9.5	13.3	48.8
2015	141	12.0	11.7	45.4
2016	130	12.0	10.8	42.3
2017	177	13.0	13.6	42.9
2018	129	10.0	12.9	54.3
2019	132	8.0	16.5	50
2020	95	8.0	11.8	54.7
2021	64	5.2	12.1	53.1
2022	72	5.0	14.4	58.3
2023	88	6.0	14.6	54.5
2024	54	5.7	9.3	57.4

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Student-Teacher Ratio

Student/teacher ratio is calculated by dividing the total number of students by the total number of full-time equivalent teachers. Please note that a smaller student/teacher ratio does not necessarily translate to smaller class size. In some instances, schools hire teachers part time, and some teachers are hired for specialized instruction with very small class sizes. These and other factors contribute to the student/teacher ratio. Note: For private schools, Student/teacher ratio may not include Pre-Kindergarten.

Finances

Per Pupil Expenditures for Hillsdale Preparatory School

Year	Expenditures from Federal Funds	Expenditures from State and Local Funds	Total Expenditures Per Pupil (All Funds)
2019	$00 (0.0%)	$8,112 (100.0%)	$8,112
2020	$00 (0.0%)	$8,857 (100.0%)	$8,857
2021	$00 (0.0%)	$11,304 (100.0%)	$11,304
2022	$00 (0.0%)	$10,627 (100.0%)	$10,627
2023	$1,402 (14.3%)	$8,394 (85.7%)	$9,796

Data source: Michigan Department of Education

Pre and Post Pandemic Data

Impact of COVID-19 on Hillsdale Preparatory School

The coronavirus has had a profound impact on education in America. Learning shifted online overnight, attendance numbers dwindled, and enrollment decreased. SchoolDigger.com is making it easier for you to better assess how COVID-19 has impacted your school. Through the collection of pre-pandemic (2019) and current data, SchoolDigger.com is sharing test scores, enrollment numbers and school demographics from schools across the country – and we make it easy to see how impacted schools compare locally and statewide.

Test Scores

	% proficient Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	% proficient Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
3rd Grade English Language Arts (Hillsdale Preparatory School)	34.8	30	4.8%
3rd Grade English Language Arts (Hillsdale Preparatory School)	34.8	30	4.8%
3rd Grade English Language Arts (Michigan)	45.1	40.9	4.2%

Student Body

	Number of students Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	Number of students Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
Total Students	132	88	33.3%
African American	0	0
American Indian	0	0
Asian	2	0	100%
Hispanic	2	2
Pacific Islander	0	0
White	128	82	35.9%
Two or More Races	0	4
% Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	50%	54.5%	4.5%

Schools Near Hillsdale Preparatory School

Choose columns to see: Summary School Students/Teachers Ranking Test Scores Finance All

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2024)				Ranking (2023)				M-Step English Language Arts (2024)				M-Step Math (2024)				M-Step Science (2024)	M-Step Social Studies (2024)	Per Pupil Expenditures (2023)
Name	Type	Grades	Address	City	Zip	County	District	Is Charter	Is Magnet	Is Virtual	Is Title I	Phone	Enrollment	Full-time Teachers	Student/ Teacher Ratio	Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	White	Black	Hispanic	Asian	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Average Standard Score (2024)	Statewide Rank (2024)	State Percentile (2024)	SchoolDigger Rating (2024)	Average Standard Score (2023)	Statewide Rank (2023)	State Percentile (2023)	Rank Change from Previous Year	M-Step English Language Arts 3rd Grade	M-Step English Language Arts 4th Grade	M-Step English Language Arts 5th Grade	M-Step English Language Arts 6th Grade	M-Step Math 3rd Grade	M-Step Math 4th Grade	M-Step Math 5th Grade	M-Step Math 6th Grade	M-Step Science 5th Grade	M-Step Social Studies 5th Grade	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
Hillsdale Preparatory School	Public, Charter	K-8	160 Mechanic Rd	Hillsdale	49242	Hillsdale County	Hillsdale Preparatory School	Yes	No	No	Yes	(517) 437-4625	54	6	9.3	57.4%	49 (90.7%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (3.7%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	3 (5.6%)								(n/a)											$9,796	$1,402	$8,394
Gier Elementary School	Public	K-4	175 Spring St	Hillsdale	49242	Hillsdale County	Hillsdale Community Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(517) 437-7347	436	27	16.2	64.7%	401 (92.0%)	0 (0.0%)	13 (3.0%)	2 (0.5%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	20 (4.6%)	36.3	916^th of 1486 public elementary schools	38.4%		24	1089^th of 1470 public elementary schools	25.9%	173	26.6	34.1			36.7	40.0					$13,167	$2,642	$10,525
Bailey Early Childhood Center	Public	PK-K	59 S Manning St	Hillsdale	49242	Hillsdale County	Hillsdale Community Schools	No	No	No	No	(517) 437-4401	30	7	4.2	70.0%	25 (83.3%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (6.7%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	3 (10.0%)								(n/a)											$26,216	$7,367	$18,849
Williams Elementary School	Public	K-5	440 Adrian Rd	Jonesville	49250	Hillsdale County	Jonesville Community Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(517) 849-9175	557	35	16.0	63.7%	511 (91.7%)	5 (0.9%)	26 (4.7%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	15 (2.7%)	56.8	599^th of 1486 public elementary schools	59.7%		56.6	596^th of 1470 public elementary schools	59.5%	3	43.5	30.9	47.5		46.7	45.7	36.4		55.6	22.2	$13,311	$1,449	$11,862
North AdamsJerome Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	4555 12 Knowles Rd	North Adams	49262	Hillsdale County	North Adams-Jerome Public Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(517) 689-1701	167	11	15.3	72.5%	160 (95.8%)	2 (1.2%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	5 (3.0%)	12.5	1296^th of 1486 public elementary schools	12.8%		21.9	1117^th of 1470 public elementary schools	24.0%	179	9.7	16.7	29.4		19.4				23.5		$15,029	$1,511	$13,518
Reynolds Elementary School	Public, Magnet	K-6	221 Strong St	Reading	49274	Hillsdale County	Reading Community Schools	No	Yes	No	Yes	(517) 283-2188	398	23	17.3	65.6%	381 (95.7%)	0 (0.0%)	4 (1.0%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	12 (3.0%)	39.6	855^th of 1486 public elementary schools	42.5%		27.3	1035^th of 1470 public elementary schools	29.6%	180	27.7	29.1	32.6	42.2	38.3	32.7	30.2	26.7	48.8	14.0	$12,931	$2,142	$10,788
Litchfield Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	210 Williams St	Litchfield	49252	Hillsdale County	Litchfield Community Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(517) 542-2386	105	7	15.0	70.5%	97 (92.4%)	0 (0.0%)	4 (3.8%)	1 (1.0%)	1 (1.0%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (1.9%)	26.1	1080^th of 1486 public elementary schools	27.3%		9.2	1338^th of 1470 public elementary schools	9.0%	258		26.3	28.6				21.4		32.1		$17,959	$7,414	$10,545
Pittsford Area Elementary School	Public	K-5	9304 Hamilton Rd	Pittsford	49271	Hillsdale County	Pittsford Area Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(517) 523-3481	161	8	20.5	75.2%	152 (94.4%)	1 (0.6%)	1 (0.6%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.6%)	0 (0.0%)	6 (3.7%)	10.6	1331^st of 1486 public elementary schools	10.4%		19.5	1161^st of 1470 public elementary schools	21.0%	170		10.3	20.8						20.8		$13,776	$1,883	$11,894
Jennings Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	44 E Liberty St	Quincy	49082	Branch County	Quincy Community Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(517) 639-9885	427	26	16.1	50.4%	386 (90.4%)	1 (0.2%)	18 (4.2%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	22 (5.2%)	44.2	777^th of 1486 public elementary schools	47.7%		44.3	774^th of 1470 public elementary schools	47.3%	3	39.8	34.4			47.0	33.3					$13,367	$2,309	$11,058
HanoverHorton Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	131 Fairview St	Hanover	49241	Jackson County	Hanover-Horton School District	No	No	No	Yes	(517) 563-0103	471	25	18.6	39.7%	438 (93.0%)	0 (0.0%)	18 (3.8%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	14 (3.0%)	56.7	603^rd of 1486 public elementary schools	59.4%		48.4	717^th of 1470 public elementary schools	51.2%	114	57.1	47.0	42.9		74.0	47.0	23.8		33.3	20.2	$12,054	$1,169	$10,885

Frequently Asked Questions about Hillsdale Preparatory School

What is the racial makeup of Hillsdale Preparatory School?

Students at Hillsdale Preparatory School are 91% White, 6% Two or more races, 4% Hispanic.

How many students attend Hillsdale Preparatory School?

In the 2023-24 school year, 54 students attended Hillsdale Preparatory School.

What district is Hillsdale Preparatory School in?

Hillsdale Preparatory School

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SchoolDigger data sources: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education, the U.S. Census Bureau and the Michigan Department of Education.

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMERS: Not all boundaries are included. We make every effort to ensure that boundaries are up-to-date. But it's important to note that these are approximations and are for general informational purposes only. To verify legal descriptions of boundaries or school locations, contact your local tax assessor's office and/or school district.