Public schools in Hillsdale, MI
9 open public schools with an address in Hillsdale, operated by 4 education agencies. Compare size, staffing, grade spans, and school type, then confirm assignment with the district.
Public schools
9
NCES preliminary directory 2025–26
Reported students
1,640
9 schools reporting · NCES 2024–25
Median student–teacher ratio
13.2:1
Michigan median 16.3:1
Charter schools
2
0 virtual
An overview of Hillsdale public schools
The federal directory lists 9 public schools in Hillsdale, MI: 3 elementary, 1 middle, 3 high, 2 combined or other. The 9 schools that reported 2024–25 membership enrolled 1,640 students, an average of 182 per school. The largest campus is Gier Elementary School (434 students).
Hillsdale Community Schools operates the most schools here (5), plus 3 charter, service, or other agencies. City names come from school mailing addresses, which often differ from district or municipal boundaries.
Across schools that reported staffing, the median student–teacher ratio is 13.2:1, lower than the statewide school median of 16.3:1. A ratio counts classroom-teacher FTE against total enrollment, so specialized programs and part-time staffing can move it; ask schools for actual class sizes by grade.
School choice options include 2 charter schools. Application windows and lotteries usually open months before the school year.
Among 4 high and combined schools with 2021–22 civil-rights data, 2 reported students enrolled in AP courses and 1 of 4 reported computer-science classes. Confirm current course catalogs directly with each school.
About 54% of students in reporting schools were eligible for free or reduced-price meals in 2024–25. This describes the community served; it is not a quality signal, and community-eligibility schools can report differently.
School districts and agencies serving Hillsdale
Elementary schools in Hillsdale
3| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bailey Early Childhood Center Hillsdale Community Schools | PK–KG | 34 | 4.7:1 | |
| Gier Elementary School Hillsdale Community Schools | KG–04 | 434 | 15.7:1 | |
| Hillsdale Preparatory School Hillsdale Preparatory School · Charter | KG–08 | 60 | 7.1:1 |
Middle schools in Hillsdale
1| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Davis Middle School Hillsdale Community Schools | 05–08 | 366 | 15.9:1 |
High schools in Hillsdale
3| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hillsdale Area Career Center Hillsdale ISD · Career and Technical School | 10–12 | 0 | 0:1 | |
| Hillsdale High School Hillsdale Community Schools | 09–12 | 370 | 17.9:1 | |
| Horizon Alternative School Hillsdale Community Schools · Alternative School | 09–12 | 55 | 55:1 |
Combined, early-childhood, and other schools in Hillsdale
2| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Greenfield School Hillsdale ISD · Special Education School | PK–12 | 45 | 2.6:1 | |
| Will Carleton Charter School Academy Will Carleton Charter School Academy · Charter | KG–12 | 276 | 13.2:1 |
Student demographics
Race and ethnicity share of reported enrollment
- White89.7%
- Hispanic4.8%
- Black0.8%
- Asian0.6%
- American Indian / Alaska Native0%
- Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander0.1%
- Multiracial4%
Enrollment-weighted across 8 Hillsdale schools with NCES CCD 2024–25 race/ethnicity counts (1,640 students). Privacy suppression can leave small gaps.
Questions about public schools in Hillsdale
How many public schools are in Hillsdale, MI?
The current NCES directory lists 9 open public schools with a location address in Hillsdale: 3 elementary, 1 middle, 3 high, 2 combined or other. Together they reported 1,640 students in 2024–25. The count includes charter, alternative, and special-purpose public schools; it excludes private schools.
Which school districts serve Hillsdale?
Schools with an address in Hillsdale belong to 4 education agencies, led by Hillsdale Community Schools (5 schools), Hillsdale ISD (2 schools), Hillsdale Preparatory School (1 school). A mailing city is not an attendance boundary; confirm the district for a specific address.
What is the largest public high school in Hillsdale?
Hillsdale High School reported the largest high-school enrollment in Hillsdale, with 370 students in 2024–25 (grades 09–12). Size is a description of the campus, not a quality measure.
Are there charter schools in Hillsdale?
Yes. 2 of the 9 public schools in Hillsdale are identified as charter schools in the NCES directory, including Hillsdale Preparatory School, Will Carleton Charter School Academy. Charter schools are public and tuition-free, but admission usually uses an application or lottery.
What is the typical student–teacher ratio in Hillsdale schools?
The median reported student–teacher ratio across Hillsdale public schools is 13.2:1, lower than the Michigan school median of 16.3:1. The ratio divides enrollment by classroom-teacher FTE; it is not an average class size.
Does living in Hillsdale guarantee a seat at a specific school?
No. Assignment depends on the district's attendance boundaries, programs, and enrollment rules, which can split a city or cross city lines. Use the district profile and its official boundary or school-locator tool to confirm the assigned school for an exact address.
Nearby Michigan cities
Sources: NCES Common Core of Data 2025–26 preliminary directory (schools, grades, addresses, charter status) and 2024–25 nonfiscal files (enrollment, teachers, race/ethnicity, meal eligibility); Civil Rights Data Collection 2021–22 (AP and computer science). Cities are grouped by school mailing address. Methodology · All Michigan cities