Best Schools in Jackson, Michigan
40 schools · 19 Elementary · 3 Middle · 13 High · 5 Other
Choosing a school in Jackson?
Use this page to compare every school in Jackson by level, neighborhood, and district — and find the right fit, not just the top of the list.
Shortlist starter
Start with these real page-level signals, then use the full table and map below.
Fourth Street Learning Center
Middle · Jackson Public Schools. Ranked from real test data; compare it on the map and table below.
Lyle a Torrant Center
Other · Jackson ISD. Ranked from real test data; compare it on the map and table below.
Jackson ISD Local Based Special Education Programs
Other · Jackson ISD. Ranked from real test data; compare it on the map and table below.
The short answer
The top-rated schools in Jackson for 2026 are Fourth Street Learning Center (8.7/10), Lyle a Torrant Center (8.2/10), and Jackson ISD Local Based Special Education Programs (7.9/10), based on MySchoolScout's analysis of real test data across 27 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.
Schools
40
33 public · 7 private
Avg Score
5.8
out of 10
Median Home
$152,633
home value · ACS
Districts
10
serving the city
Schools
40
33 public · 7 private
Avg Score
5.8
out of 10
Median Home
$152,633
home value · ACS
Districts
10
serving the city
Rates 8.7/10 despite 97% of students being economically disadvantaged. That's about 3.5 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 Jackson schools.
Top-Rated Schools in Jackson
Ranked by MySchoolScout composite using only schools with real test data (Top 10 of 27 rated schools; 40 schools in the directory). "Value" = points above what student poverty predicts. Estimated (proxy) scores are excluded.
| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Fourth Street Learning Center | 8.7 / 10 |
| 2 | Lyle a Torrant Center | 8.2 / 10 |
| 3 | Jackson ISD Local Based Special Education Programs | 7.9 / 10 |
| 4 | Sharp Park Academy | 7.8 / 10 |
| 5 | Jackson Pathways | 7.3 / 10 |
| 6 | Jackson High School | 6.7 / 10 |
| 7 | Paragon Charter Academy | 6.5 / 10 |
| 8 | Northwest High School | 6.2 / 10 |
| 9 | Jackson Preparatory Early College | 6.1 / 10 |
| 10 | Jps Montessori Center | 6.0 / 10 |
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
- 5.8/10
- Median household income
- $56,440
- Median home value
- $152,633
- Bachelor's degree or higher
- 20%
- Avg commute
- 20 min
- Owner-occupied homes
- 65%
26% of schools rated 7+
Census ACS, ZIPs in this city
Owner-occupied units
Adults 25+
Workers age 16+
Of occupied housing units
How Jackson compares
Michigan rank
#256 of 376
cities by avg. school score
Vs. state average
-0.4
below Michigan avg (6.2)
Median household income
$56k
77% of Michigan median
Schools in this city
35
10 districts draw attendance lines through Jackson
Jackson is not one school system. 10 districts cut across the city limits, and the largest still holds only 36% of the public campuses.
Jackson Public Schools is the largest slice at 12 of 33 public schools — not a majority. Choosing a Jackson address is choosing a district first.
Among 27 public schools with real test data, composite scores run from 3.2 to 8.7 — the spread is inside Jackson, not a citywide average.
4 of the 33 public schools are charters (12%), so the district split is not the whole market.
- Jackson Public Schools12 public · 36%
- Northwest Community Schools5 public · 15%
- East Jackson Community Schools3 public · 9%
- Jackson ISD3 public · 9%
- Vandercook Lake Public Schools3 public · 9%
About Schools in Jackson, Michigan
Jackson, Michigan has 29 ranked public schools spanning elementary through specialty programs. The city averages a 6.3 out of 10 across those schools — a middle-of-the-road baseline that tells only part of the story. Eight schools, or 28% of the ranked total, score 7 or higher, meaning parents who research carefully can find genuinely strong options within city limits.
Sharp Park Academy leads the pack with a 9.5 out of 10, making it the top-rated public school in Jackson. It's an elementary-level school, so families with younger children have an elite option to target. Lyle A. Torrant Center follows at 9.0 — a specialty program that rounds out the top two slots. Fourth Street Learning Center earns an 8.7 at the middle school level, a meaningful find since strong middle schools are often scarcer than strong elementaries in mid-size cities. Jackson ISD Local Based Special Education Programs (8.1) and Cascades Elementary School (8.0) round out the top five, giving families with diverse needs solid paths at both the elementary and specialized levels.
The spread between the top and the average is wide. Sharp Park Academy sits 3.2 points above the city mean — that gap signals real variance across Jackson's schools, not a uniformly average district. Parents should treat school selection as high-stakes research rather than assuming neighborhood proximity equals quality.
Practically, Jackson rewards families who look beyond their closest school. The 8 schools scoring 7 or above cover elementary, middle, and specialty program types, so there are options at multiple grade levels. Start with Sharp Park Academy and Fourth Street Learning Center as anchor benchmarks, then cross-reference against your child's grade level and program needs. Because 72% of ranked schools fall below the 7-point threshold, the gap between a default assignment and an active choice can be substantial. Review district boundaries and open enrollment policies to understand what's actually available to your family before committing to a neighborhood.
Elementary Schools
19 schools| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 318 students · Kindergarten–5th | 7.8 |
| 2 | 604 students · Kindergarten–8th | 6.5 |
| 3 | 147 students · Kindergarten–5th | 6.0 |
| 4 | 849 students · Kindergarten–2nd | 5.3 |
| 5 | 358 students · Pre-K–5th | 5.2 |
| 6 | 276 students · Kindergarten–5th | 5.0 |
| 7 | 502 students · Kindergarten–5th | 4.7 |
| 8 | 757 students · 3rd–5th | 4.4 |
| 9 | 360 students · Pre-K–6th | 4.3 |
| 10 | 398 students · Kindergarten–5th | 4.1 |
Show all 19 elementary schools in Jackson
Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models, so scores are not directly comparable across school types.
Middle Schools
3 schools| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 36 students · 6th–8th | 8.7 |
| 2 | 759 students · 6th–8th | 5.1 |
| 3 | 779 students · 6th–8th | 4.3 |
High Schools
13 schools| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 82 students · 9th–12th | 7.3 |
| 2 | 1,027 students · 9th–12th | 6.7 |
| 3 | 954 students · 9th–12th | 6.2 |
| 4 | 277 students · 6th–12th | 6.1 |
| 5 | 373 students · 7th–12th | 5.7 |
| 6 | 124 students · 9th–12th | 5.5 |
| 7 | 355 students · 6th–12th | 5.4 |
| 8 | 128 students · 7th–12th | 5.4 |
| 9 | 294 students · 7th–12th | 4.8 |
| 10 | 6 students · 9th–12th | — |
Show all 13 high schools in Jackson
Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models, so scores are not directly comparable across school types.
Other Schools
5 schools| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 191 students · Pre-K–12th | 8.2 |
| 2 | 264 students · Pre-K–12th | 7.9 |
| 3 | 426 students · Kindergarten–12th | 5.7 |
| 4 | 44 students · 1st–12th | 3.8 |
| 5 | 20 students · 3rd–12th | — |
Schools in Jackson
Jackson, Michigan · 40 schools
Community Demographics
Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates across 3 ZIP codes
Median Income
$56,440
Median Home Value
$152,633
Median Rent
$951/mo
Population
104,397
College Educated
20%
Homeownership
65%
Avg Commute
20 min
Poverty Rate
16.2%
Community Profile
Jackson has a median household income of $56,440. It is a community where 20% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $152,633, with a median rent of $951/month. The area has a poverty rate of 16.2%. The average commute for residents is 20 minutes. Source: U.S. Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates.
Schools by Level
- State
- Michigan
- Elementary
- 19
- Middle
- 3
- High
- 13
- Other
- 5
Resources
School Districts (10)
Da Vinci Schools
2 schools · 468 students
Michigan Department of Corrections
25 schools · 49 students
Paragon Charter Academy
1 school · 604 students
Jackson Preparatory & Early College
1 school · 277 students
East Jackson Community Schools
3 schools · 722 students
Jackson Public Schools
13 schools · 4,465 students
Northwest Community Schools
5 schools · 3,467 students
Vandercook Lake Public Schools
3 schools · 698 students
Western School District
6 schools · 2,687 students
Jackson ISD
5 schools · 1,282 students
Other Major Cities in Michigan
Top metros statewide by school count.
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 rateFrequently Asked Questions
Common questions about schools in Jackson, Michigan
How many schools are in Jackson, Michigan?
Jackson has 40 schools, including 33 public and 7 private schools spanning elementary, middle, and high school levels.
What is the average school rating in Jackson, Michigan?
The average MySchoolScout composite score for schools in Jackson is 5.8 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 Jackson, Michigan?
The top-ranked school in Jackson on MySchoolScout is Fourth Street Learning Center with a composite score of 8.7/10.
What is the best elementary school in Jackson, Michigan?
The top-ranked elementary school in Jackson on MySchoolScout is Sharp Park Academy with a composite score of 7.8/10.
What is the best middle school in Jackson, Michigan?
The top-ranked middle school in Jackson on MySchoolScout is Fourth Street Learning Center with a composite score of 8.7/10.
What is the best high school in Jackson, Michigan?
The top-ranked high school in Jackson on MySchoolScout is Jackson Pathways with a composite score of 7.3/10.
How many school districts serve Jackson, Michigan?
Jackson is served by 10 school districts: Da Vinci Schools, Michigan Department of Corrections, Paragon Charter Academy, Jackson Preparatory & Early College, East Jackson Community Schools, Jackson Public Schools, Northwest Community Schools, Vandercook Lake Public Schools, Western School District, Jackson ISD.
What is the education level in Jackson, Michigan?
According to Census data, 20% of adults in Jackson have earned a bachelor's degree or higher.
What is the median income in Jackson, Michigan?
The median household income in Jackson is approximately $56,440 according to Census ACS 2022 estimates.
Are there private schools in Jackson, Michigan?
Yes, Jackson has 7 private schools alongside 33 public schools. The top-rated private school is St Mary Star of the Sea School with a score of 8.4/10.
What is the student-teacher ratio in Jackson, Michigan?
The average student-teacher ratio across schools in Jackson is 18.4:1. This ratio varies by school, so families should check individual school profiles for specific classroom sizes.
How does MySchoolScout rate schools in Jackson, 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.
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Data from NCES Common Core of Data, Michigan Dept. of Education, and U.S. Census ACS for the 2023–24 school year. Rankings computed by MySchoolScout. See all data sources.