Excellent
#268 of 3,192 schools in MI
Top 8% in state
Houghton Central High School
High School · Houghton-portage Township School District · Houghton, MI
A Houghton-portage Township School District high school where students score 19 points above what's typical for similar communities.
1603 GUNDLACH RD, Houghton, MI 49931
- Math 67% proficient (2021)
- Reading 82% proficient (2021)
- 87.0% 4-year graduation
Academics
Full Profile · 4/4 metricsView breakdown
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Students at Houghton Central High School score 74% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 56%).
2021 EdFacts proficiency
Most recent published year. School vs. MI average.
Trend
↑ RecoveringProficiency declined earlier in the 13-year record (2009–2021), then recovered 5 points since 2018, reaching 75% in 2021.
Show all 13 years
Multi-year averages used by the rating model: math 61% (multi-year average, 2009-2021) · reading/ELA 71% (multi-year average, 2009-2021)
* COVID-affected year — test participation was uneven nationwide. This data is weighted at 50% in the Growth score calculation.
Based on 26 test records from MI state assessments and EdFacts (NCES).
Equity & diversity
Shown separately, not included in the overall scoreFree/reduced lunch
29.3%
Students qualifying for federal meal assistance
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 rateThe neighborhood
Where Houghton Central High School sits, and what the surrounding area looks like.
Nearby same-level schools are colored by their score. Pins are locations, not attendance boundaries.
Getting around & local context
- Walk 19Car-Dependent
- Bike 48Somewhat Bikeable
- City Safety: Elevated794/100K
Powered by
FBI Uniform Crime Reporting · 2024 · city context (Houghton), not school-level safety or attendance eligibility. Source details
Source period: 2024. Freshness not available.
Area profileU.S. Census ACS 5-year estimates (ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates)
Median income
$47,279
Median home value
$221,200
Median rent
$853/mo
College educated
60.3%
Homeownership
44.6%
Poverty rate
28.1%
ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates for the ZCTA associated with school ZIP 49931; this is area context, not an attendance boundary.
Programs & students
Programs & Offerings
Compare nearby
Nearby same-level schools
4 from a 5-mile search
| School | Score | Grades | Distance | Enrollment | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hancock Middlehigh SchoolEnrollment path unverified | 7.7 | 6–12 | 2.5 mi | 322 | Compare → |
| Copper Country Learning CenterEnrollment path unverified | 7.2 | PK–12 | 2.6 mi | 80 | Compare → |
| Copper Country Christian SchoolPrivate · tuition | 3.0private | PK–10 | 2.8 mi | 31 | Compare → |
| Dollar Baytamarack City Area K12 SchoolEnrollment path unverified | 7.8 | PK–12 | 2.8 mi | 314 | Compare → |
Distance is proximity only; it is not attendance eligibility.
Enrollment path unverified: Potential public school; its attendance or application path has not been classified.
Private · tuition: Potential private option; tuition and admission requirements have not been verified.
Public and private scores come from different models and are shown side by side, not blended into one ranking.
Houghton-portage Township School District
- Schools in district
- 3
- Rank in district
- #2 of 3
- District spending per student
- $12,288NCES F-33 · FY 2023 · This annual source is three years behind the current year.
- District child poverty rate
- 10.7%Census SAIPE · 2024
Houghton Central High School is listed in Houghton-Portage Township School District; a district label does not verify attendance for an address.
About Houghton Central High School
Houghton Central High School is a public high school in Houghton, MI, part of Houghton-portage Township School District, serving approximately 478 students in grades 9th-12th with a 15.4:1 student-teacher ratio. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 8.2 out of 10 and ranks #268 of 3,192 schools in MI. State assessment records show 61% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2021) and 71% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2021).
What's said publicly about Houghton Central High School
Synthesized from public, attributable sources. Updated May 2026.
Sources (1)
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about Houghton Central High School
What grades does Houghton Central High School serve?
Houghton Central High School serves students in grades 9th through 12th.
How many students attend Houghton Central High School?
Houghton Central High School has an enrollment of approximately 478 students.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Houghton Central High School?
The student-teacher ratio at Houghton Central High School is 15.4:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.
How does Houghton Central High School rank in MI?
Houghton Central High School ranks #268 of 3,192 schools in MI.
What is Houghton Central High School's MySchoolScout rating?
Houghton Central High School has a current MySchoolScout rating of 8.2 out of 10. This score combines the level-appropriate components shown in the rating breakdown; equity data is shown separately for context.
What are the test scores at Houghton Central High School?
Based on loaded state assessment records, Houghton Central High School has 61% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2021) and 71% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2021).
Is Houghton Central High School a charter school?
No, Houghton Central High School is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.
Is Houghton Central High School a Title I school?
No, Houghton Central High School is not currently a Title I school.
What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Houghton Central High School?
29.3% of students at Houghton Central High 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.
School factsNCES Common Core of Data (CCD) (SY 2023–24)
- Grades
- 9th – 12th
- Enrollment
- 478
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 15.4:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 31
- Type
- regular
- Setting
- Remote Town
- County
- Houghton County
- Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
- 19.2%
- Phone
- (906) 482-0450
- 4-Year Graduation
- 87.0%
- Area population (ZIP 49931)
- 10,229
- Area average commute
- 12.2 min
- Area median age
- 22.3
Official sources & links
About this school's data
Every number on this page comes from a published source with a stated period. Where a source is partial, aging, or describes a surrounding area rather than the school, that limitation is named below.
- School directory (enrollment, grades, staff, contact)
- NCES Common Core of Data (CCD) · SY 2023–24 · Medium confidence
- Source period: SY 2023–24. A newer release may be available.
- MySchoolScout rating and rank
- MySchoolScout ranking model · Low confidence
- Vintage not available. Do not use this measure alone.
- Derived as a weighted blend of the component scores shown in Academics from state assessment, EdFacts growth, and NCES resource records.
- Math proficiency
- State department of education · 2021 EdFacts · Low confidence
- Older source: 2021 EdFacts. Use as historical context.
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Derived from source records rather than read directly from one field.
- Reading/ELA proficiency
- State department of education · 2021 EdFacts · Low confidence
- Older source: 2021 EdFacts. Use as historical context.
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Derived from source records rather than read directly from one field.
- Student progress (growth)
- NCES EdFacts · Mixed source periods · Low confidence
- Vintage not available. Do not use this measure alone.
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Derived as the fitted year-over-year slope of proficiency from multi-year assessment records.
- Neighborhood (income, housing, education)
- U.S. Census ACS 5-year estimates · ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates · Low confidence
- Older source: ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates. Use as historical context.
- Reported for the ZCTA for ZIP 49931; this does not measure the attendance area.
- Programs (AP/IB, athletics, gifted)
- CRDC via Urban Institute · SY 2021–22 · Medium confidence
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Source period: SY 2021–22. A newer release may be available.
Evidence periods: Rating mixed/unknown input periods; assessments multi-year average, 2009-2021; directory SY 2023–24
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