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Excellent

#340 of 3,190 schools in MI

Top 11% in state

Hale Area School

School · Hale Area Schools

311 N WASHINGTON ST, Hale, MI 48739

Enrollment

359

Student-Teacher

14.4:1

Score

8.1

Grades

Kindergarten – 12th

Updated 2022-23

How this school compares

Michigan schools

#47 of 279

Academic growth

8.7 / 10

Exceptional

About Hale Area School

Hale Area School serves 359 students from kindergarten through 12th grade in the small community of Hale, Michigan. This regular public school maintains a favorable student-teacher ratio of 14.4:1 with 25 full-time equivalent teachers, allowing for more personalized attention in the classroom. The school demonstrates solid academic performance, earning a 7.0 out of 10 MySchoolScout rating and ranking in the 78th percentile statewide at #718 out of 3,204 Michigan schools.

Students show steady progress in core subjects, with 46% achieving proficiency or above in English Language Arts and reading, while mathematics presents opportunities for continued growth with 37% reaching proficiency standards. Hale Area School operates within a tight-knit rural community where families have a median household income of $43,774 and median home values of $155,800. The surrounding ZIP code area has a population of 3,592 residents, with 17% holding bachelor's degrees or higher and a poverty rate of 12.5%.

Located on North Washington Street, the school serves as an educational anchor in this remote rural setting of Iosco County, where students benefit from small-town values and close community connections that characterize northern Michigan's forested landscape.

What Parents Should Know

Located in a rural area, Hale Area School may involve longer commutes for some families. Rural schools often serve as community anchors and may have smaller class sizes, but parents should consider transportation logistics, after-school program availability, and access to specialized services.

Score Breakdown

Full Profile · 4/4 metrics
Student Progress8.7Excellent25%
Year-over-year improvement in student test scores.
View breakdown
Years of Data3
Annual Change+0.69 pts/yr
Data Period2019–2022
TrendStable
Academics8.3Excellent25%
Student proficiency on state tests, adjusted for community poverty levels.
View breakdown
Math Proficiency40.6%
Reading/ELA Proficiency45.8%
Math vs. State Avg-1.3 pts
Reading vs. State Avg+3.9 pts
Overall Proficiency43%
Expected (poverty-adj.)28%
vs. Expected+15.6 pts
Adjusted Percentile74th
College Readiness7.1Very Good30%
Graduation rates, AP course participation, and IB availability.
View breakdown
IB ProgramNo
Resources & Environment8.4Excellent20%
Student-teacher ratio, per-pupil spending, and attendance.
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio14.4:1
Per-Pupil Spending$14,108

Hale Area School — Students at Hale Area School score 43% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 28%).

How we calculate scores →

Equity & Diversity

Shown separately, not included in overall score

Free/Reduced Lunch

74.9%

Students qualifying for federal meal assistance

Test Scores MI EDFACTS (2021-22)

Math Proficiency 37.4%
School
State
34.4%
ELA Proficiency 45.6%
School
State
44.3%

Based on 18 test records from MI state assessments. About our data

Proficiency Trend

↑ Improving

Average proficiency (% at or above grade level) across Math & ELA over time.

2019
Math
30%
ELA
49.5%
2021*
Math
27%
ELA
37%
2022
Math
39.9%
ELA
46.3%

* COVID-affected year — test participation was uneven nationwide. This data is weighted at 50% in the Growth score calculation.

Source: EdFacts (NCES) and state assessment data. Growth score: 8.7/10.

How Hale Area School Compares

See how Hale Area School performs across key quality dimensions compared to state benchmarks.

Overall Score
8.1/10
89th percentile in MI
Academic
8.3/10
8.3/10
Growth
8.7/10
Above average
Environment
8.4/10
Above average

Funding & Resources

Free/Reduced Lunch
Students eligible for subsidized meals
75%
Teaching Staff
14:1 student-teacher ratio
25 teachers

Location

311 N WASHINGTON ST, Hale, MI 48739

Nearby Alternatives

Families considering Hale Area School may also want to explore other schools in the area. Iosco RESA Special Education (rated 8.0/10, 13.0 miles away, in nearby Tawas City), with a very similar rating. Additionally, Fairview School (rated 6.5/10, 26.8 miles away, in nearby Fairview), a more accessible option. For more schools in Hale, see our Hale schools guide .

Nearby Schools

20 within 21.2 mi
School Distance Rating
PINECREST SCHOOL Hale 2.0 mi
WhittemorePrescott Area Elementary Whittemore 11.2 mi 4.4
WhittemorePrescott JrSr High School Whittemore 11.2 mi 5.6
Iosco RESA Special Education Tawas City 13.0 mi 8.0
Tawas Area High School Tawas City 15.2 mi 4.5
Tawas Area Middle School Tawas City 15.2 mi 4.3
Clara B Bolen Elementary School Tawas City 15.3 mi 4.8
Alternative Educational Academy of Iosco County Tawas City 15.9 mi 6.2
Rose City School West Branch 15.8 mi 9.2
HOLY FAMILY SCHOOL East Tawas 16.8 mi 5.8
Ogemaw Heights High School West Branch 16.6 mi 6.4
Alternative Educational Academy of Ogemaw County West Branch 17.7 mi 6.2
Au GresSims Elementary School Au Gres 23.7 mi 9.1
Au GresSims High School Au Gres 23.7 mi 7.4
Au GresSims Middle School Au Gres 23.7 mi 5.8
StandishSterling Central JrSr High School Standish 26.4 mi 5.7
StandishSterling Central Elementary School Standish 26.7 mi 7.1
Sterling Elementary School Sterling 26.3 mi 6.7
Fairview School Fairview 26.8 mi 6.5
Richardson Elementary School Oscoda 21.2 mi 6.6

Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)

Census data for ZIP 48739 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources

Median Income

$47,768

Median Home Value

$170,600

Median Rent

$798/mo

Population

3,511

College Educated

19%

Homeownership

90.5%

Avg Commute

32 min

Poverty Rate

17.6%

Median Age

60.6

Community Profile

The community surrounding Hale Area School has a median household income of $47,768. It is a community where 19% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $170,600, with a median rent of $798/month. The area has a poverty rate of 17.6%. The average commute for residents is 32 minutes. Source: U.S. Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates.

Similar Schools

Schools in the same state with comparable level, size, and ratings

School Rating
CALHOUN CHRISTIAN SCHOOL Battle Creek, MI 8.1
Jackson ISD Local Based Special Education Programs Jackson, MI 8.1
TRI-UNITY CHRISTIAN SCHOOL Wyoming, MI 8.1
Ellsworth Community School Ellsworth, MI 8.2
Alanson Public School Alanson, MI 7.9
GENESEE ACADEMY Swartz Creek, MI 7.9

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about Hale Area School

What grades does Hale Area School serve?

Hale Area School serves students in grades Kindergarten through 12th.

How many students attend Hale Area School?

Hale Area School has an enrollment of approximately 359 students.

What is the student-teacher ratio at Hale Area School?

The student-teacher ratio at Hale Area School is 14.4:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.

How does Hale Area School rank in MI?

Hale Area School is ranked #340 out of 3,190 schools in MI.

What is Hale Area School's MySchoolScout rating?

Hale Area School has a composite rating of 8.1 out of 10 on MySchoolScout. This score combines academic performance, student growth, and school environment into a single score. Equity data is shown separately for context.

What are the test scores at Hale Area School?

Based on the most recent state assessment data, Hale Area School has 37.4% math proficiency and 45.6% reading/ELA proficiency.

Is Hale Area School a charter school?

No, Hale Area School is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.

Is Hale Area School a Title I school?

No, Hale Area School is not currently a Title I school.

What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Hale Area School?

74.9% of students at Hale Area School qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. This is a commonly used indicator of economic need and provides important context when interpreting test scores.

11 schools nearby View map →

Neighborhood Context

Walk Score
38 Car-Dependent
Bike Score
41 Somewhat Bikeable
County Safety
Low (20/100K)

Powered by Walk Score

FBI UCR 2024. County-level only. Data >1 year old.

Quick Facts NCES CCD (SY 2022-23)

Grades
Kindergarten – 12th
Enrollment
359
Student-Teacher Ratio
14.4:1
Teachers (FTE)
25
Free/Reduced Lunch
74.9%
Type
regular
Setting
Remote Rural
County
Iosco County
Data Year
2023–2024

District

Hale Area Schools
District Enrollment
359
Schools in District
1
Per-Pupil Spending
$15,895
District Rank
#1 of 1

How We Rate Schools

Every school receives a composite score from 1 to 10 based on four pillars: Academic Performance (50%), Student Growth (20%), Equity (15%), and Learning Environment (15%). Scores are built from publicly available data including standardized test results, enrollment figures, and school climate indicators.

Read our full methodology

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