5.9 avg / 10

Best Schools in Hillsdale, Michigan

8 schools · 3 Elementary · 1 Middle · 2 High · 2 Other

Last updated: July 2026

Public: 8

Districts: 4

Avg Rating: 5.9/10

Move-ready shortlistcity map + schools

Choosing a school in Hillsdale?

Use this page to compare every school in Hillsdale by level, neighborhood, and district — and find the right fit, not just the top of the list.

Explore the map How we rate schools

Shortlist starter

Start with these real page-level signals, then use the full table and map below.

High · Hillsdale Community Schools. Ranked from real test data; use the map and table below to check address fit.

Elementary · Hillsdale Community Schools. Ranked from real test data; use the map and table below to check address fit.

The short answer

The top-rated schools in Hillsdale for 2026 are Hillsdale High School (7.0/10), Horizon Alternative School (6.9/10), and Gier Elementary School (6.8/10), based on MySchoolScout's analysis of real test data across 8 rated schools. Ratings blend student growth, poverty-adjusted academic achievement, and school environment (plus college readiness for high schools), with equity shown as context, not scored; schools with estimated (proxy) scores are excluded from this ranking.

Best value · beats the odds

Hillsdale High School

Rates 7.0/10 despite 46% of students being economically disadvantaged. That's about 1.6 points higher than its student-poverty level predicts. Roughly as clean a case of strong results without an affluent-ZIP price tag as you'll find among Hillsdale schools.

Top-Rated Schools in Hillsdale

Ranked by MySchoolScout composite using only schools with real test data (8 of 8). "Value" = points above what student poverty predicts. Estimated (proxy) scores are excluded.

#	School	Rating	Level	Value	State %ile
1	Hillsdale High School	7.0 / 10	High	+1.6	68th
2	Horizon Alternative School	6.9 / 10	High	+0.6	65th
3	Gier Elementary School	6.8 / 10	Elementary	+0.7	63th
4	Bailey Early Childhood Center	6.3 / 10	Elementary	+0.0	50th
5	Davis Middle School	6.2 / 10	Middle	+0.4	47th
6	Greenfield School	5.9 / 10	Other	-0.3	39th
7	Will Carleton Charter School Academy	4.7 / 10	Other	-0.5	18th
8	Hillsdale Preparatory School	3.3 / 10	Elementary	-2.5	4th

See every school — including those with estimated data — in the full directory below. How we rate schools.

Family Snapshot

At a glance

Avg school rating: 5.9/10
Median household income: $57,813
Median home value: $182,900
Bachelor's degree or higher: 25%
Avg commute: 18 min
Owner-occupied homes: 72%

How Hillsdale compares

Michigan rank

#244 of 372

cities by avg. school score

Vs. state average

-0.3

below Michigan avg (6.2)

Median household income

$58k

79% of Michigan median

Schools in this city

8

About Schools in Hillsdale, Michigan

Hillsdale, Michigan is home to 8 schools, including 8 public schools. The city's schools span 3 elementary schools, 1 middle school, and 2 high schools.

With an average rating of 5.9 out of 10, schools in Hillsdale show moderate performance on the MySchoolScout composite scale, which blends student growth, poverty-adjusted academic achievement, and school environment — plus college readiness for high schools.

The highest-performing school in Hillsdale is Hillsdale High School with a composite score of 7.0/10, demonstrating strong academic outcomes and school quality metrics.

Hillsdale is served by 4 school districts. These districts collectively serve 1,957 students.

Hillsdale's community shows 25% bachelor's degree attainment with a median household income of $57,813. The poverty rate in the area is 13.5%.

Browse the schools below to compare ratings, test scores, enrollment, and other key metrics. Use the filters to focus on specific school levels or types that match your family's needs.

Filter by Level: All Levels (8) Elementary (3) Middle (1) High (2)

Filter by Type: All Types (8) Public (8)

Filter by Rating: All Ratings (8) Academics (8) Growth (8) Diversity (8) Resources (8)

Filter by ZIP: 49242 (8)

Elementary Schools

3 schools

#	School	Enrollment	Grades	Rating
1	Gier Elementary School 436 students · Kindergarten–4th	436	Kindergarten–4th	6.8
2	Bailey Early Childhood Center 30 students · Pre-K–Kindergarten	30	Pre-K–Kindergarten	6.3
3	Hillsdale Preparatory School 54 students · Kindergarten–8th	54	Kindergarten–8th	3.3

Middle Schools

1 school

#	School	Enrollment	Grades	Rating
1	Davis Middle School 368 students · 5th–8th	368	5th–8th	6.2

High Schools

2 schools

#	School	Enrollment	Grades	Rating
1	Hillsdale High School 385 students · 9th–12th	385	9th–12th	7.0
2	Horizon Alternative School 36 students · 9th–12th	36	9th–12th	6.9

Other Schools

2 schools

#	School	Enrollment	Grades	Rating
1	Greenfield School 44 students · Pre-K–12th	44	Pre-K–12th	5.9
2	Will Carleton Charter School Academy 278 students · Kindergarten–12th	278	Kindergarten–12th	4.7

Schools in Hillsdale

Hillsdale, Michigan · 8 schools

Community Demographics

Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates across 1 ZIP code

Median Income

$57,813

Median Home Value

$182,900

Median Rent

$770/mo

Population

14,768

College Educated

25%

Homeownership

72%

Avg Commute

18 min

Poverty Rate

13.5%

Community Profile

Hillsdale has a median household income of $57,813. It is an area where 25% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $182,900, with a median rent of $770/month. The area has a poverty rate of 13.5%. Residents enjoy a short average commute of 18 minutes. Source: U.S. Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates.

Schools by Level

State: Michigan
Elementary: 3
Middle: 1
High: 2
Other: 2

Resources

🔍 Google "Hillsdale schools" 🏫 GreatSchools Hillsdale 📊 Niche Hillsdale Rankings 📍 Google Maps: Schools

School Districts (4)

Hillsdale Preparatory School

1 school · 54 students

Will Carleton Charter School Academy

1 school · 278 students

Hillsdale Community Schools

5 schools · 1,262 students

Hillsdale ISD

2 schools · 363 students

Nearby Cities

Jonesville (4 schools)

4 mi

North Adams (2 schools)

7 mi

Reading (2 schools)

8 mi

Litchfield (2 schools)

10 mi

Camden (2 schools)

11 mi

Pittsford (3 schools)

Spring Arbor (2 schools)

20 mi

Addison (3 schools)

16 mi

Other Major Cities in Michigan

Top metros statewide by school count.

Detroit 195 schools Grand Rapids 161 schools Ann Arbor 65 schools Saginaw 62 schools Kalamazoo 59 schools

How we rate schools

A clear 1–10 score built from public data — growth, academics, and learning environment. No hidden criteria, no pay-to-play.

See how we rate

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about schools in Hillsdale, Michigan

How many schools are in Hillsdale, Michigan?

Hillsdale has 8 schools, including 8 public and 0 private schools spanning elementary, middle, and high school levels.

What is the average school rating in Hillsdale, Michigan?

The average MySchoolScout composite score for schools in Hillsdale is 5.9 out of 10, built from student growth, poverty-adjusted academic achievement, and school environment — plus college readiness for high schools.

What is the top-ranked school in Hillsdale, Michigan?

The top-ranked school in Hillsdale on MySchoolScout is Hillsdale High School with a composite score of 7.0/10.

What is the best elementary school in Hillsdale, Michigan?

The top-ranked elementary school in Hillsdale on MySchoolScout is Gier Elementary School with a composite score of 6.8/10.

What is the best middle school in Hillsdale, Michigan?

The top-ranked middle school in Hillsdale on MySchoolScout is Davis Middle School with a composite score of 6.2/10.

What is the best high school in Hillsdale, Michigan?

The top-ranked high school in Hillsdale on MySchoolScout is Hillsdale High School with a composite score of 7.0/10.

How many school districts serve Hillsdale, Michigan?

Hillsdale is served by 4 school districts: Hillsdale Preparatory School, Will Carleton Charter School Academy, Hillsdale Community Schools, Hillsdale ISD.

What is the education level in Hillsdale, Michigan?

According to Census data, 25% of adults in Hillsdale have earned a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the median income in Hillsdale, Michigan?

The median household income in Hillsdale is approximately $57,813 according to Census ACS 2022 estimates.

What is the student-teacher ratio in Hillsdale, Michigan?

The average student-teacher ratio across schools in Hillsdale is 12.0:1. This ratio varies by school, so families should check individual school profiles for specific classroom sizes.

How does MySchoolScout rate schools in Hillsdale, Michigan?

MySchoolScout rates schools using publicly available data from the NCES Common Core of Data and state education departments. Each school receives a 1-10 composite score built from Student Growth, Poverty-Adjusted Academic Achievement, and School Environment — plus College Readiness for high schools. Weights vary by school level, and equity data is shown for context but not scored.