Houghton Elementary leads U.P. in U.S. News rankings

Houghton Elementary School ranked No. 92 among 1,499 Michigan public elementary schools in the 2027 U.S. News & World Report Best Elementary Schools rankings.

The kindergarten-through-fifth-grade school at 203 W. Jacker Ave. earned a score of 93.93 out of 100, according to its U.S. News profile.

In the 2023-24 assessment data used for the rankings, 69% of Houghton students tested at or above proficient in math and 66% in reading. The statewide comparison rates were 38% and 42%, respectively.

U.S. News rated Houghton “well above expectations” in both math and reading performance, measures that compare results with expectations based on students’ backgrounds.

The profile lists 618 students, 37 full-time-equivalent teachers and a 17-to-1 student-teacher ratio. It reports that all full-time teachers were certified and 28% of students were economically disadvantaged. These figures come from the profile’s underlying government data, rather than a current-year enrollment and staffing count.

In a general district welcome message, Houghton-Portage Township Schools Superintendent Anders Hill emphasizes education and family involvement. “Our staff of teachers, paraprofessionals, administrators and support staff are outstanding,” he writes.

Other Upper Peninsula schools

Marquette’s Sandy Knoll School ranked No. 129 statewide, with a score of 91.46.

Its profile lists 322 students and reports that 66% of tested students scored at or above proficient in math and 64% in reading. Those rates exceeded the Marquette Area Public Schools elementary-school averages of 50% and 55%, respectively.

North Elementary School in Iron Mountain ranked No. 155, with a score of 89.72. Its profile reports that 63% of students were economically disadvantaged.

North’s proficiency rates were 61% in math and 53% in reading, both above the statewide comparison figures.

How the rankings work

U.S. News ranked 46,713 elementary schools for the 2027 edition. Schools receive state and district rankings, rather than a national placement, according to the publisher’s explanation.

Four factors receive equal weight: math proficiency, reading proficiency, math performance and reading performance.

Half the formula uses subject performance indexes that account for results across proficiency levels. The other half compares those results with expectations based on students’ socioeconomic backgrounds, according to the methodology.

The Michigan rankings use 2023-24 state assessment results collected by RTI International.

Houghton’s No. 92 placement puts it among the top 7% of ranked Michigan elementary schools.