Will Carleton Charter School Academy

Summary:

Will Carleton Charter School Academy is a public charter school in Hillsdale, Michigan that serves 280 students from kindergarten through 12th grade, with a predominantly White student population.

Will Carleton Charter School Academy consistently outperforms the state average on academic assessments, with 62.5% of 3rd graders proficient or better in English Language Arts compared to the state average of 39.6%. The school also has a higher four-year graduation rate of 85.7% and a lower dropout rate than nearby alternative schools like Waldron Learning Center and Pansophia Academy. Additionally, Will Carleton Charter School Academy maintains a relatively low student-teacher ratio, ranging from 12.5 to 14.3 students per teacher.

Compared to the nearby alternative schools, Will Carleton Charter School Academy stands out with its higher academic performance and better graduation and dropout rates. However, the school's student population is less diverse, with 92.14% of students being White, and it has a lower percentage of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch (38.21%) compared to schools like Waldron Learning Center (70.08%) and Pansophia Academy (88.22%), which may indicate a different socioeconomic profile of the student population.


Detail:

Public, Charter, Alternative K-12

 2001 W Hallett Rd
       Hillsdale, MI  49242-1959


(517) 437-2000

District: Will Carleton Charter School Academy

SchoolDigger Rank:
743rd of 1,486 Michigan Alternative Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures:  $9,459 Help


Student/teacher ratio:  13.6 Help
Number of students:  278

Racial breakdown:

White:
93.2%
Hispanic:
2.2%
Two or more races:
1.8%
more

Free/discounted lunch recipients:  39.6% Help


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Performance Trends
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Compare Details Will Carleton Charter School Academy ranks worse than 50% of elementary schools in Michigan. (See more...)
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Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 47.04. (See more...)
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Compare Details Will Carleton Charter School Academy ranks better than 71.6% of middle schools in Michigan. (See more...)
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Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 63.41. (See more...)
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Compare Details Will Carleton Charter School Academy ranks better than 90.2% of high schools in Michigan. (See more...)
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Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 87.61. (See more...)
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The four-year cohort graduation rate measures the percentage of students at Will Carleton Charter School Academy who earn a standard high school diploma within four years of starting ninth grade.
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The high school dropout rate measures the percentage of students who do not complete their high school education.
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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
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Compare Details Racial makeup is: White (93.2%), Hispanic (2.2%), two or more races (1.8%). (See more...)
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Compare Details 39.6% of students are receiving a free or discounted lunch. (See more...)
Teachers
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Compare Details The student/teacher ratio at Will Carleton Charter School Academy is 13.6. (See more...)
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Compare Will Carleton Charter School Academy employs 20.3 full-time teachers.
Finance
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Compare Details The average total spent per student at Will Carleton Charter School Academy is $9,459.
Schooldigger 2024 Rankings:

Will Carleton Charter School Academy:

SchoolDigger ranks Will Carleton Charter School Academy 743rd of 1486 Michigan public elementary schools. (See Will Carleton Charter School Academy in the ranking list.)

Elementary School Test Score Ratings by Student Subgroup:


Low Socio Economic Status students:
Female students:
Male students:
White students:

SchoolDigger ranks Will Carleton Charter School Academy 255th of 897 Michigan public middle schools. (See Will Carleton Charter School Academy in the ranking list.)

Middle School Test Score Ratings by Student Subgroup:


White students:

SchoolDigger ranks Will Carleton Charter School Academy 73rd of 743 Michigan public high schools. (See Will Carleton Charter School Academy in the ranking list.)

High School Test Score Ratings by Student Subgroup:


White students:




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Rank History for Will Carleton Charter School Academy

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Compare

Rank History for all elementary school students at Will Carleton Charter School Academy

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools MI State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2006 48.15 1014th 1545 34.4%
2007 55.71 863rd 1565 44.9%
2008 58.64 805th 1577 49.0%
2009 64.50 674th 1589 57.6%
2010 58.19 901st 1552 41.9%
2011 52.77 946th 1552 39.0%
2012 48.55 870th 1566 44.4%
2013 42.66 981st 1563 37.2%
2014 46.46 892nd 1533 41.8%
2015 64.45 540th 1580 65.8%
2016 65.13 504th 1548 67.4%
2017 54.13 611th 1466 58.3%
2018 67.22 490th 1448 66.2%
2019 52.11 625th 1408 55.6%
2021 48.56 538th 1153 53.3%
2022 42.19 728th 1344 45.8%
2023 41.61 826th 1470 43.8%
2024 47.04 743rd 1486 50.0%
See the entire list of Michigan Alternative School Rankings!

Rank History for elementary school Low Socio Economic Status students at Will Carleton Charter School Academy

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools MI State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2023 71.11 261st 1350 80.7%
2024 69.18 308th 1381 77.7%
See the entire list of Best Michigan Alternative Schools for Low Socio Economic Status Students!

Rank History for elementary school Female students at Will Carleton Charter School Academy

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools MI State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 63.77 514th 1443 64.4%
2021 55.41 353rd 902 60.9%
2024 57.18 512th 1342 61.8%
See the entire list of Best Michigan Alternative Schools for Female Students!

Rank History for elementary school Male students at Will Carleton Charter School Academy

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools MI State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 74.57 338th 1446 76.6%
2023 42.45 743rd 1334 44.3%
2024 43.06 732nd 1347 45.7%
See the entire list of Best Michigan Alternative Schools for Male Students!

Rank History for elementary school White students at Will Carleton Charter School Academy

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools MI State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 55.37 553rd 1253 55.9%
2019 38.44 713th 1128 36.8%
2021 40.58 592nd 1005 41.1%
2022 28.88 805th 1102 27.0%
2023 31.72 841st 1198 29.8%
2024 36.92 772nd 1204 35.9%
See the entire list of Best Michigan Alternative Schools for White Students!

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

Rank History for Will Carleton Charter School Academy

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Rank History for all middle school students at Will Carleton Charter School Academy

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Middle Schools MI State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2006 51.73 501st 806 37.8%
2007 70.40 257th 823 68.8%
2008 60.86 424th 839 49.5%
2009 60.81 429th 847 49.4%
2010 61.75 439th 851 48.4%
2011 67.69 302nd 858 64.8%
2012 38.95 602nd 900 33.1%
2013 54.97 407th 919 55.7%
2014 61.46 341st 921 63.0%
2015 68.15 243rd 919 73.6%
2016 78.67 147th 894 83.6%
2017 46.10 395th 821 51.9%
2018 67.53 262nd 838 68.7%
2019 57.56 294th 792 62.9%
2021 72.08 136th 675 79.9%
2022 69.70 174th 776 77.6%
2023 64.64 248th 883 71.9%
2024 63.41 255th 897 71.6%
See the entire list of Michigan Alternative School Rankings!

Rank History for middle school Female students at Will Carleton Charter School Academy

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Middle Schools MI State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 47.14 430th 794 45.8%
2023 44.66 397th 770 48.4%
See the entire list of Best Michigan Alternative Schools for Female Students!

Rank History for middle school Male students at Will Carleton Charter School Academy

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Middle Schools MI State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 88.28 70th 797 91.2%
2023 73.74 144th 776 81.4%
See the entire list of Best Michigan Alternative Schools for Male Students!

Rank History for middle school White students at Will Carleton Charter School Academy

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Middle Schools MI State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 52.91 295th 678 56.5%
2019 49.27 293rd 624 53.0%
2021 63.74 168th 577 70.9%
2022 59.04 210th 638 67.1%
2023 50.53 295th 688 57.1%
2024 55.88 253rd 701 63.9%
See the entire list of Best Michigan Alternative Schools for White Students!

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

Rank History for Will Carleton Charter School Academy

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Rank History for all high school students at Will Carleton Charter School Academy

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools MI State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2006 77.99 143rd 705 79.7%
2007 63.43 333rd 767 56.6%
2008 48.73 470th 750 37.3%
2011 82.17 105th 784 86.6%
2012 88.40 71st 773 90.8%
2013 48.41 441st 805 45.2%
2014 74.48 165th 799 79.3%
2015 50.87 430th 832 48.3%
2016 33.40 539th 852 36.7%
2017 93.59 36th 835 95.7%
2018 87.39 79th 824 90.4%
2023 89.16 57th 735 92.2%
2024 87.61 73rd 743 90.2%
See the entire list of Michigan Alternative School Rankings!

Rank History for high school White students at Will Carleton Charter School Academy

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools MI State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 81.74 100th 708 85.9%
2023 87.39 62nd 647 90.4%
2024 75.18 117th 638 81.7%
See the entire list of Best Michigan Alternative Schools for White Students!

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

As you review the school rankings data, please be aware that some of the information from certain demographics is missing. The reason for this omission is that the data has been redacted from the source data itself due to low population samples in these specific demographic groups.

Redacting data from low population samples is a necessary step to ensure the reliability and accuracy of the results, as small sample sizes may not be representative of the broader population. Additionally, this measure helps protect the privacy of individuals belonging to these demographic groups.

Will Carleton Charter School Academy Test Scores
Tests: 
  
Grades: 
  
Years: 
  
Group by: 
District Scores:
State Scores:    
  
Subgroup: 









Data source: Michigan Department of Education

Review counts

All ratings (Avg rating: 5)
100%

0%

0%

0%

0%

  

Reviews:
by a parent
Thursday, May 5, 2011

Open Quote I am pleased with the curriculum and instruction. Both of my children are thriving and love the school. They switched from a public school two years ago and after the first week at WCA they were hooked. At any time my children can return to the public school if they wish, but both can't imagine going back. As a parent, I am happy with the academics, structure, and school culture. The boundaries are clear while the joy of learning is encouraged. My kids enjoy learning! They respect their teachers and fellow students and the school reinforces that in a kind and consistent manner. The school is in the process of expanding which brings on new challenges and honestly I am very impressed with how the administration and teachers are handling the changes. They haven't seemed to lose sight of the goal: student learning, personal growth, and achievement. We are very happy at this school. Close Quote



Enrollment information for Will Carleton Charter School Academy

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Year White African American Asian Hispanic American Indian Pacific Islander Two or More Races Not Specified Total
1998 n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 0 0
1999 109 2 1 0 0 n/a n/a 0 112
2000 137 2 5 0 0 n/a n/a 0 144
2001 149 2 6 0 1 n/a n/a 0 158
2002 211 0 0 0 0 n/a n/a 0 211
2003 211 0 0 0 0 n/a n/a 0 211
2004 207 1 1 0 0 n/a n/a 0 209
2005 228 1 4 2 0 n/a n/a 0 235
2006 236 0 4 0 0 n/a n/a 0 240
2007 219 0 8 0 0 n/a n/a 0 227
2008 221 n/a 8 3 n/a n/a n/a 0 232
2009 235 0 1 2 4 n/a n/a 3 245
2010 252 3 2 1 2 n/a n/a 0 260
2011 301 2 0 1 1 0 0 0 305
2012 328 11 1 2 2 0 0 0 344
2013 346 10 3 1 1 0 0 0 361
2014 353 9 0 1 1 0 1 0 365
2015 325 10 0 4 1 0 1 0 341
2016 327 3 0 4 0 0 3 0 337
2017 297 3 0 4 0 0 0 0 304
2018 254 1 0 4 0 0 0 0 259
2019 246 1 1 2 0 0 0 0 250
2020 278 1 1 3 0 0 0 0 283
2021 256 2 3 4 0 0 1 0 266
2022 257 2 4 7 0 0 2 0 272
2023 258 4 6 8 0 0 4 0 280
2024 259 4 4 6 0 0 5 0 278

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 Will Carleton Charter School Academy

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Compare
Year # Students Full-time Teachers Student/Teacher ratio % Free/Discounted Lunch
1998 0 n/a 0.0 n/a
1999 112 7.0 16.0 0
2000 144 8.6 16.7 0
2001 158 12.0 13.2 0
2002 211 n/a n/a n/a
2003 211 n/a n/a n/a
2004 209 13.5 15.5 n/a
2005 235 15.0 15.7 n/a
2006 240 16.8 14.3 0
2007 227 14.8 15.3 0
2008 232 16.3 14.2 5.6
2009 245 16.9 14.5 19.8
2010 260 18.0 14.4 13.5
2011 305 19.0 16.0 14.4
2012 344 19.7 17.4 16.9
2013 361 23.0 15.6 12.7
2014 365 24.5 14.8 17.3
2015 341 26.0 13.1 12.9
2016 337 24.0 14.0 16.6
2017 304 22.1 13.7 11.2
2018 259 18.1 14.2 25.9
2019 250 16.6 15.0 26.8
2020 283 18.6 15.1 42.4
2021 266 18.5 14.3 30.8
2022 272 21.6 12.5 36.4
2023 280 21.0 13.3 38.2
2024 278 20.3 13.6 39.6

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 Will Carleton Charter School Academy

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Compare
Year # Students Full-time Teachers Student/Teacher ratio % Free/Discounted Lunch
1998 0 n/a 0.0 n/a
1999 112 7.0 16.0 0
2000 144 8.6 16.7 0
2001 158 12.0 13.2 0
2002 211 n/a n/a n/a
2003 211 n/a n/a n/a
2004 209 13.5 15.5 n/a
2005 235 15.0 15.7 n/a
2006 240 16.8 14.3 0
2007 227 14.8 15.3 0
2008 232 16.3 14.2 5.6
2009 245 16.9 14.5 19.8
2010 260 18.0 14.4 13.5
2011 305 19.0 16.0 14.4
2012 344 19.7 17.4 16.9
2013 361 23.0 15.6 12.7
2014 365 24.5 14.8 17.3
2015 341 26.0 13.1 12.9
2016 337 24.0 14.0 16.6
2017 304 22.1 13.7 11.2
2018 259 18.1 14.2 25.9
2019 250 16.6 15.0 26.8
2020 283 18.6 15.1 42.4
2021 266 18.5 14.3 30.8
2022 272 21.6 12.5 36.4
2023 280 21.0 13.3 38.2
2024 278 20.3 13.6 39.6

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 Will Carleton Charter School Academy

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YearExpenditures from Federal FundsExpenditures from State and Local FundsTotal Expenditures Per Pupil (All Funds)
2019 $287 (3.7%) $7,489 (96.3%) $7,776
2020 $289 (3.7%) $7,537 (96.3%) $7,826
2021 $613 (7.4%) $7,670 (92.6%) $8,284
2022 $1,215 (12.4%) $8,614 (87.6%) $9,828
2023 $907 (9.6%) $8,552 (90.4%) $9,459

Data source: Michigan Department of Education
Pre and Post Pandemic Data

Impact of COVID-19 on Will Carleton Charter School Academy

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.

Rankings

Rank
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)
Rank
Post pandemic (2022-2023)
Change (%)
Ranks 625th of 1408 Elementary schoolsRanks 826th of 1470 Elementary schools
 11.8%
Ranks 294th of 792 Middle schoolsRanks 248th of 883 Middle schools
 9%

Test Scores

% proficient
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)
% proficient
Post pandemic (2022-2023)
Change (%)
3rd Grade English Language Arts (Will Carleton Charter School Academy)43.528
 15.5%
   3rd Grade English Language Arts (Will Carleton Charter School Academy)43.528
 15.5%
   3rd Grade English Language Arts (Michigan)45.140.9
 4.2%
3rd Grade Math (Will Carleton Charter School Academy)39.112
 27.1%
   3rd Grade Math (Will Carleton Charter School Academy)39.112
 27.1%
   3rd Grade Math (Michigan)46.742.9
 3.8%
4th Grade English Language Arts (Will Carleton Charter School Academy)62.539.1
 23.4%
   4th Grade English Language Arts (Will Carleton Charter School Academy)62.539.1
 23.4%
   4th Grade English Language Arts (Michigan)45.844.3
 1.5%
4th Grade Math (Will Carleton Charter School Academy)41.726.1
 15.6%
   4th Grade Math (Will Carleton Charter School Academy)41.726.1
 15.6%
   4th Grade Math (Michigan)41.838.6
 3.2%
5th Grade English Language Arts (Will Carleton Charter School Academy)66.745.5
 21.2%
   5th Grade English Language Arts (Will Carleton Charter School Academy)66.745.5
 21.2%
   5th Grade English Language Arts (Michigan)46.243.9
 2.3%
5th Grade Math (Will Carleton Charter School Academy)42.918.2
 24.7%
   5th Grade Math (Will Carleton Charter School Academy)42.918.2
 24.7%
   5th Grade Math (Michigan)34.831.5
 3.3%
6th Grade English Language Arts (Will Carleton Charter School Academy)27.358.8
 31.5%
   6th Grade English Language Arts (Will Carleton Charter School Academy)27.358.8
 31.5%
   6th Grade English Language Arts (Michigan)41.737.5
 4.2%
6th Grade Math (Will Carleton Charter School Academy)31.852.9
 21.1%
   6th Grade Math (Will Carleton Charter School Academy)31.852.9
 21.1%
   6th Grade Math (Michigan)35.129.6
 5.5%
7th Grade English Language Arts (Will Carleton Charter School Academy)5038.1
 11.9%
   7th Grade English Language Arts (Will Carleton Charter School Academy)5038.1
 11.9%
   7th Grade English Language Arts (Michigan)42.736.9
 5.8%
7th Grade Math (Will Carleton Charter School Academy)54.228.6
 25.6%
   7th Grade Math (Will Carleton Charter School Academy)54.228.6
 25.6%
   7th Grade Math (Michigan)35.731
 4.7%
8th Grade Social Studies (Will Carleton Charter School Academy)22.228.9
 6.7%
   8th Grade Social Studies (Will Carleton Charter School Academy)22.228.9
 6.7%
   8th Grade Social Studies (Michigan)2826.7
 1.3%
8th Grade English Language Arts (Will Carleton Charter School Academy)77.868.4
 9.4%
   8th Grade English Language Arts (Will Carleton Charter School Academy)77.868.4
 9.4%
   8th Grade English Language Arts (Michigan)61.959.7
 2.2%
8th Grade Mathematics (Will Carleton Charter School Academy)44.436.8
 7.6%
   8th Grade Mathematics (Will Carleton Charter School Academy)44.436.8
 7.6%
   8th Grade Mathematics (Michigan)41.436.3
 5.1%

Student Body

Number of students
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)
Number of students
Post pandemic (2022-2023)
Change (%)
Total Students250280
 12%
African American14
 300%
American Indian00
Asian16
 500%
Hispanic28
 300%
Pacific Islander00
White246258
 4.9%
Two or More Races04
% Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients26.8%38.2%
 11.4%


Schools Near Will Carleton Charter School Academy









Frequently Asked Questions about Will Carleton Charter School Academy

Students at Will Carleton Charter School Academy are 93% White, 2% Hispanic, 2% Two or more races, 1% African American, 1% Asian.

Will Carleton Charter School Academy ranks 743rd of 1486 Michigan alternative schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

In the 2023-24 school year, 278 students attended Will Carleton Charter School Academy.


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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.





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