Gier Elementary School

Q: Is Gier Elementary School a good school?

Gier Elementary School ranks 916 th of 1486 Michigan elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

Summary:

Gier Elementary School is a public elementary school located in Hillsdale, Michigan, serving 454 students in grades K-4. The school is part of the Hillsdale Community Schools district, which is ranked 370 out of 610 districts in the state and has a 2-star rating from SchoolDigger.

Gier Elementary stands out in several key areas. The school has a significantly higher percentage of white students (94.49%) compared to the state average and nearby schools like Hanover-Horton Elementary. Additionally, Gier Elementary has experienced a concerning increase in chronic absenteeism, rising from 9.0% in 2018-2019 to 35.5% in 2020-2021, which is significantly higher than the state average and most nearby schools. Academically, Gier Elementary's performance, as measured by M-Step proficiency rates, is consistently below the state average and lags behind many of the surrounding schools, with only 26.6% of 3rd graders proficient in English Language Arts in 2023-2024, compared to the state average of 39.6%. The school also has a high percentage of students from low socioeconomic backgrounds, with 59.69% qualifying for free or reduced-price lunch in 2022-2023, significantly higher than the state average and many of the surrounding schools.

Gier Elementary's statewide ranking has steadily declined over the past several years, from 715 out of 1,408 Michigan elementary schools in 2018-2019 to 916 out of 1,486 in 2023-2024. When compared to nearby schools, such as Hanover-Horton Elementary, Gier Elementary stands out as an outlier, consistently underperforming on academic measures and having a higher chronic absenteeism rate. These challenges, combined with the school's high percentage of students from low-income families, suggest the need for targeted interventions and support to address the unique needs of the Gier Elementary community.

Detail:

Public K-4

175 Spring St
Hillsdale, MI 49242

(517) 437-7347

District: Hillsdale Community Schools

SchoolDigger Rank:
916^th of 1,486 Michigan Elementary Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures: $13,167

Students who attend Gier Elementary School usually attend:

Middle:	Davis Middle School
High:	Hillsdale High School

Student/teacher ratio: 16.2

Number of students: 436

Racial breakdown:

White:

92.0%

Two or more races:

4.6%

Hispanic:

3.0%

Free/discounted lunch recipients: 64.7%

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Performance Trends

Compare Details Gier Elementary School ranks worse than 61.6% of elementary schools in Michigan. (See more...)

Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 36.34. (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 (92%), two or more races (4.6%), Hispanic (3%). (See more...)

Compare Details 64.7% of students are receiving a free or discounted lunch. (See more...)

Teachers

Compare Details The student/teacher ratio at Gier Elementary School is 16.2. (See more...)

Compare Gier Elementary School employs 26.8 full-time teachers.

Finance

Compare Details The average total spent per student at Gier Elementary School is $13,167.

Schooldigger 2024 Rankings:

Gier Elementary School:

SchoolDigger ranks Gier Elementary School 916^th of 1486 Michigan public elementary schools. (See Gier Elementary School in the ranking list.)

Elementary School Test Score Ratings by Student Subgroup:

Low Socio Economic Status students:

Female students:

Male students:

White students:

Hillsdale Community Schools:

SchoolDigger ranks Hillsdale Community Schools 370^th of 610 Michigan school districts. (See district ranking list.)

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Rank History for Gier Elementary School

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Rank History for all students at Gier Elementary School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Elementary Schools	MI State Percentile
2016	45.46	862^nd	1548	44.3%
2017	31.36	1001^st	1466	31.7%
2018	33.57	1030^th	1448	28.9%
2019	47.56	715^th	1408	49.2%
2021	16.48	997^th	1153	13.5%
2022	24.20	1013^th	1344	24.6%
2023	24.00	1089^th	1470	25.9%
2024	36.34	916^th	1486	38.4%

See the entire list of Michigan Elementary School Rankings!

Rank History for Low Socio Economic Status students at Gier Elementary School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Elementary Schools	MI State Percentile
2018	38.33	920^th	1397	34.1%
2019	60.43	377^th	1134	66.8%
2021	16.38	686^th	749	8.4%
2022	29.03	810^th	1099	26.3%
2023	27.32	1009^th	1350	25.3%
2024	29.19	1015^th	1381	26.5%

See the entire list of Best Michigan Elementary Schools for Low Socio Economic Status Students!

Rank History for Female students at Gier Elementary School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Elementary Schools	MI State Percentile
2018	35.39	965^th	1443	33.1%
2019	33.27	806^th	1171	31.2%
2021	7.83	876^th	902	2.9%
2022	14.69	992^nd	1106	10.3%
2023	13.61	1172^nd	1321	11.3%
2024	33.33	881^st	1342	34.4%

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

Rank History for Male students at Gier Elementary School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Elementary Schools	MI State Percentile
2018	31.04	1032^nd	1446	28.6%
2019	52.22	549^th	1196	54.1%
2021	15.08	823^rd	915	10.1%
2022	21.61	903^rd	1139	20.7%
2023	29.46	932^nd	1334	30.1%
2024	30.75	923^rd	1347	31.5%

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

Rank History for White students at Gier Elementary School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Elementary Schools	MI State Percentile
2018	22.43	1042^nd	1253	16.8%
2019	31.64	802^nd	1128	28.9%
2021	11.80	950^th	1005	5.5%
2022	14.10	1005^th	1102	8.8%
2023	10.82	1121^st	1198	6.4%
2024	20.87	1002^nd	1204	16.8%

See the entire list of Best Michigan Elementary 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.

Data source: Michigan Department of Education

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Enrollment information for Gier Elementary School

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Year	White	African American	Asian	Hispanic	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Total
2012	312	4	4	11	2	0	2	335
2013	289	2	1	9	0	0	11	312
2014	248	3	1	12	0	0	15	279
2015	322	2	3	16	0	0	16	359
2016	385	3	4	20	0	0	17	429
2017	404	9	4	16	0	0	15	448
2018	413	1	3	21	1	1	14	454
2019	438	0	2	20	1	0	13	474
2020	437	0	3	23	0	0	17	480
2021	406	1	3	23	0	0	15	448
2022	412	3	3	17	0	0	19	454
2023	429	0	2	10	0	0	13	454
2024	401	0	2	13	0	0	20	436

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 Gier Elementary School

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Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
2012	335	22.3	15.0	71.6
2013	312	23.2	13.4	72.1
2014	279	21.7	12.8	71.7
2015	359	22.0	16.3	70.2
2016	429	24.0	17.8	64.6
2017	448	25.5	17.5	68.5
2018	454	24.5	18.4	70.5
2019	474	26.9	17.5	66
2020	480	27.4	17.5	64.2
2021	448	27.8	16.0	62.5
2022	454	30.5	14.8	65.6
2023	454	27.8	16.3	59.7
2024	436	26.8	16.2	64.7

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 Gier Elementary School

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Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
2012	335	22.3	15.0	71.6
2013	312	23.2	13.4	72.1
2014	279	21.7	12.8	71.7
2015	359	22.0	16.3	70.2
2016	429	24.0	17.8	64.6
2017	448	25.5	17.5	68.5
2018	454	24.5	18.4	70.5
2019	474	26.9	17.5	66
2020	480	27.4	17.5	64.2
2021	448	27.8	16.0	62.5
2022	454	30.5	14.8	65.6
2023	454	27.8	16.3	59.7
2024	436	26.8	16.2	64.7

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 Gier Elementary School

Year	Expenditures from Federal Funds	Expenditures from State and Local Funds	Total Expenditures Per Pupil (All Funds)
2019	$1,552 (15.8%)	$8,244 (84.2%)	$9,796
2020	$1,579 (15.7%)	$8,497 (84.3%)	$10,076
2021	$2,695 (24.0%)	$8,537 (76.0%)	$11,232
2022	$2,831 (23.0%)	$9,503 (77.0%)	$12,334
2023	$2,642 (20.1%)	$10,525 (79.9%)	$13,167

Data source: Michigan Department of Education

Pre and Post Pandemic Data

Impact of COVID-19 on Gier Elementary 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.

Rankings

Rank Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	Rank Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
Ranks 715^th of 1408 Elementary schools	Ranks 1089^th of 1470 Elementary schools	23.3%

Test Scores

	% proficient Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	% proficient Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
3rd Grade English Language Arts (Gier Elementary School)	45.5	22.2	23.3%
3rd Grade English Language Arts (Hillsdale Community Schools)	45.5	22.2	23.3%
3rd Grade English Language Arts (Michigan)	45.1	40.9	4.2%
3rd Grade Math (Gier Elementary School)	55.7	33.3	22.4%
3rd Grade Math (Hillsdale Community Schools)	55.7	33.3	22.4%
3rd Grade Math (Michigan)	46.7	42.9	3.8%
4th Grade English Language Arts (Gier Elementary School)	44.9	27.2	17.7%
4th Grade English Language Arts (Hillsdale Community Schools)	44.9	27.2	17.7%
4th Grade English Language Arts (Michigan)	45.8	44.3	1.5%
4th Grade Math (Gier Elementary School)	30.8	28.3	2.5%
4th Grade Math (Hillsdale Community Schools)	30.8	28.3	2.5%
4th Grade Math (Michigan)	41.8	38.6	3.2%

Student Body

	Number of students Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	Number of students Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
Total Students	474	454	4.2%
African American	0	0
American Indian	1	0	100%
Asian	2	2
Hispanic	20	10	50%
Pacific Islander	0	0
White	438	429	2.1%
Two or More Races	13	13
% Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	66%	59.7%	6.3%

Schools Near Gier Elementary 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
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
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
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
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
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
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 Gier Elementary School

What district is Gier Elementary School in?

Hillsdale Community Schools

What schools do graduates of Gier Elementary School attend?

Students who attend Gier Elementary School usually go on to attend:

Middle : Davis Middle School
High : Hillsdale High School

How many students attend Gier Elementary School?

In the 2023-24 school year, 436 students attended Gier Elementary School.

What is the racial makeup of Gier Elementary School?

Students at Gier Elementary School are 92% White, 5% Two or more races, 3% Hispanic.

Is Gier Elementary School a good school?

Gier Elementary School ranks 916^th of 1486 Michigan elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

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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.