Skip to main content

Average

#1696 of 3,192 schools in MI

Northwest High School

High School · Northwest Community Schools · Jackson, MI

A Northwest Community Schools high school where students score 5 points below what's typical for similar communities.

4200 VAN HORN RD, Jackson, MI 49201

  • Math 27% proficient (2021)
  • Reading 57% proficient (2021)
  • 92.0% 4-year graduation

Academics

Full Profile · 4/4 metrics
Student Progress7.0Very Good25%
Year-over-year improvement in student test scores.
View breakdown
Years of Data13
Annual Change-2.23 pts/yr
Data Period2009–2021
TrendDeclining
Academics6.5Average25%
Student proficiency on state tests, adjusted for community poverty levels.
View breakdown
Math Proficiency27% (2021 EdFacts)
Reading/ELA Proficiency57% (2021 EdFacts)
Overall Proficiency42% (2021 EdFacts, Math+ELA)
Expected (poverty-adj.)47% (model expectation from 2021 EdFacts)
vs. Expected-4.8 pts
Adjusted Percentile50th
College Readiness6.8Average30%
Graduation rates, AP course participation, and IB availability.
View breakdown
4-Year Graduation Rate92%
AP Participation10.5%
IB ProgramNo
Resources & Environment3.9Needs Improvement20%
Student-teacher ratio, district spending per student, and attendance.
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio19.9:1
District spending per student$12,624
Chronic Absenteeism29.6%

Students at Northwest High School score 42% proficient, which is below what's typical for similar communities (expected: 47%).

How we calculate scores →

2021 EdFacts proficiency

Most recent published year. School vs. MI average.

Math Proficiency27%(2021 EdFacts)
School
State
Not reported(2021 EdFacts)
ELA Proficiency57%(2021 EdFacts)
School
State
Not reported(2021 EdFacts)

Trend

↑ Recovering

Proficiency declined earlier in the 13-year record (2009–2021), then recovered 5 points since 2018, reaching 42% in 2021.

Show all 13 years
2009
Math
52%
ELA
72%
2010
Math
47%
ELA
72%
2011
Math
28%
ELA
66%
2012
Math
22%
ELA
57%
2013
Math
21%
ELA
57%
2014
Math
22%
ELA
57%
2015
Math
30%
ELA
59%
2016
Math
26%
ELA
54%
2017
Math
3%
ELA
4%
2018
Math
27%
ELA
47%
2019
Math
27%
ELA
47%
2020*
Math
27%
ELA
57%
2021*
Math
27%
ELA
57%

Multi-year averages used by the rating model: math 28% (multi-year average, 2009-2021) · reading/ELA 54% (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 score

Free/reduced lunch

44.1%

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 rate

The neighborhood

Where Northwest 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 9Car-Dependent
  • Bike 27Somewhat Bikeable
  • City Safety: High4,833/100K

Powered byWalk Score

FBI Uniform Crime Reporting · 2024 · city context (Jackson), 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

$71,714

Median home value

$202,900

Median rent

$945/mo

College educated

23.3%

Homeownership

73.9%

Poverty rate

11.5%

ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates for the ZCTA associated with school ZIP 49201; this is area context, not an attendance boundary.

Programs & students

Programs & Offerings

AP/IB Programs3AP courses offered
10.5% participation·State avg: 2.5 AP courses·CRDC via Urban Institute · SY 2021–22
Athletics8sports offered
4 boys'·4 girls'·34 teams (incl. JV)·CRDC via Urban Institute · SY 2021–22
Advanced STEM Courses5of 5 advanced subjects offered
Algebra II, Advanced Math, Calculus, Chemistry, Physics·CRDC via Urban Institute · SY 2021–22

Compare nearby

Nearby same-level schools

4 from a 5-mile search; district fallback available

SchoolScoreGradesDistanceEnrollmentCompare
Northwest ConnectEnrollment path unverified5.57–120.3 mi128Compare →
Da Vinci Schools 612Charter · enrollment unverified5.66–123.7 mi355Compare →
Lyle a Torrant CenterEnrollment path unverified7.6PK–124.1 mi191Compare →
South Central Michigan VirtualEnrollment path unverified5.6K–124.7 mi426Compare →

Distance is proximity only; it is not attendance eligibility.

Enrollment path unverified: Potential public school; its attendance or application path has not been classified.

Charter · enrollment unverified: Potential charter option; enrollment requirements have not been verified.

Northwest Community Schools

Schools in district
5
Rank in district
#1 of 5
District spending per student
$12,624NCES F-33 · FY 2023 · This annual source is three years behind the current year.
District child poverty rate
11.2%Census SAIPE · 2024

Northwest High School is listed in Northwest Community Schools; a district label does not verify attendance for an address.

About Northwest High School

Northwest High School is a public high school in Jackson, MI, part of Northwest Community Schools, serving approximately 954 students in grades 9th-12th with a 19.9:1 student-teacher ratio. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 6.2 out of 10 and ranks #1,696 of 3,192 schools in MI. State assessment records show 28% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2021) and 54% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2021).

Frequently asked questions

Common questions about Northwest High School

What grades does Northwest High School serve?

Northwest High School serves students in grades 9th through 12th.

How many students attend Northwest High School?

Northwest High School has an enrollment of approximately 954 students.

What is the student-teacher ratio at Northwest High School?

The student-teacher ratio at Northwest High School is 19.9:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.

How does Northwest High School rank in MI?

Northwest High School ranks #1,696 of 3,192 schools in MI.

What is Northwest High School's MySchoolScout rating?

Northwest High School has a current MySchoolScout rating of 6.2 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 Northwest High School?

Based on loaded state assessment records, Northwest High School has 28% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2021) and 54% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2021).

Is Northwest High School a charter school?

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

Is Northwest High School a Title I school?

No, Northwest High School is not currently a Title I school.

What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Northwest High School?

44.1% of students at Northwest 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
954
Student-Teacher Ratio
19.9:1
Teachers (FTE)
48
Type
regular
Setting
Fringe Rural
County
Jackson County
Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
29.6%
4-Year Graduation
92.0%
Area population (ZIP 49201)
49,114
Area average commute
22.7 min
Area median age
42.1
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 49201; 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

About our data · How we calculate scores

Related reading

Get school insights in your inbox

New rankings, best-schools lists, and parent guides — delivered free. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.

We respect your privacy. Unsubscribe at any time.