Is Northwest High School a good school?

Northwest High School ranks 393 rd of 743 Michigan high schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

How many students attend Northwest High School?

In the 2023-24 school year, 954 students attended Northwest High School.

What is the racial makeup of Northwest High School?

Students at Northwest High School are 81% White, 8% Two or more races, 7% Hispanic, 3% African American.

What schools feed into Northwest High School?

Northwest High School is fed by the following schools: Elementary : Northwest Early Elementary School Elementary : Northwest Elementary School Middle : Northwest Kidder Middle School

Northwest High School

Summary:

Northwest High School is a public high school located in Jackson, Michigan, serving grades 9-12 with a total enrollment of 972 students. The school is part of the Northwest Community Schools district, which is ranked 466 out of 610 districts in Michigan and has a 1-star rating from SchoolDigger.

Northwest High School has a predominantly white student population, with 81.07% of students identifying as white, which is significantly higher than the racial diversity seen in nearby schools like Jackson High School (42.14% white) and Jackson Pathways (33.64% white). Academically, the school's performance, as measured by standardized test scores, is generally below the state and district averages, with only 16.2% of 11th-grade students proficient or better in SAT Mathematics, compared to the state average of 26.3%. Additionally, Northwest High School has experienced a significant increase in chronic absenteeism, rising from 22.5% in the 2017-2018 school year to 46.0% in the 2021-2022 school year.

When compared to nearby schools, Northwest High School generally performs worse academically, with lower test scores and graduation rates. For example, Jackson High School, which is part of a different district, outperforms Northwest High School in several key metrics, including SAT/Evidence-Based Reading and Writing and SAT/Mathematics. The school's performance also varies significantly among different student subgroups, with African American and Hispanic students performing significantly worse than their white counterparts on standardized tests, highlighting the need for targeted interventions and support.

Detail:

Public 9-12

4200 Van Horn Rd
Jackson, MI 49201-7450

(517) 817-4702

District: Northwest Community Schools

SchoolDigger Rank:
393^rd of 743 Michigan High Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures: $12,688

Feeder schools for Northwest High School:

Elementary:	Northwest Early Elementary School
	Northwest Elementary School
Middle:	Northwest Kidder Middle School

Student/teacher ratio: 19.6

Number of students: 954

Racial breakdown:

White:

80.6%

Two or more races:

8.5%

Hispanic:

6.9%

Free/discounted lunch recipients: 44.1%

See top rated Michigan high schools

Compare Northwest High School to nearby high schools!

Performance Trends

Compare Details Northwest High School ranks worse than 52.9% of high schools in Michigan. (See more...)

Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 43.81. (See more...)

The four-year cohort graduation rate measures the percentage of students at Northwest High School who earn a standard high school diploma within four years of starting ninth grade.

The high school dropout rate measures the percentage of students who do not complete their high school education.

Chronic absenteeism in a school refers to a situation where students repeatedly miss school, with the threshold often defined as missing 10% or more of school days for any reason, excused or unexcused.

Student Body

Compare Details Racial makeup is: White (80.6%), two or more races (8.5%), Hispanic (6.9%). (See more...)

Compare Details 44.1% of students are receiving a free or discounted lunch. (See more...)

Teachers

Compare Details The student/teacher ratio at Northwest High School is 19.6. (See more...)

Compare Northwest High School employs 48.6 full-time teachers.

Finance

Compare Details The average total spent per student at Northwest High School is $12,688.

Schooldigger 2024 Rankings:

Northwest High School:

SchoolDigger ranks Northwest High School 393^rd of 743 Michigan public high schools. (See Northwest High School in the ranking list.)

High School Test Score Ratings by Student Subgroup:

Multi-racial students:

Low Socio Economic Status students:

Female students:

Male students:

Hispanic students:

White students:

Northwest Community Schools:

SchoolDigger ranks Northwest Community Schools 466^th of 610 Michigan school districts. (See district ranking list.)

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Your rating for Northwest High School?

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Rank History for Northwest High School

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Rank History for all students at Northwest High School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	MI State Percentile
2006	57.13	369^th	705	47.7%
2007	61.57	352^nd	767	54.1%
2008	57.63	403^rd	750	46.3%
2009	57.82	407^th	754	46.0%
2010	67.72	318^th	765	58.4%
2011	63.22	370^th	784	52.8%
2012	64.08	284^th	773	63.3%
2013	57.85	349^th	805	56.6%
2014	49.72	440^th	799	44.9%
2015	54.01	398^th	832	52.2%
2016	45.03	450^th	852	47.2%
2017	35.90	489^th	835	41.4%
2018	48.86	420^th	824	49.0%
2019	31.34	465^th	666	30.2%
2021	40.91	328^th	561	41.5%
2022	27.20	446^th	531	16.0%
2023	42.66	410^th	735	44.2%
2024	43.81	393^rd	743	47.1%

See the entire list of Michigan High School Rankings!

Rank History for Multi-racial students at Northwest High School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	MI State Percentile
2018	14.87	82^nd	93	11.8%
2023	5.29	108^th	110	1.8%
2024	17.17	95^th	105	9.5%

See the entire list of Best Michigan High Schools for Multi-racial Students!

Rank History for Low Socio Economic Status students at Northwest High School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	MI State Percentile
2018	35.65	479^th	755	36.6%
2019	29.80	406^th	532	23.7%
2021	39.31	269^th	417	35.5%
2022	31.87	293^rd	369	20.6%
2023	32.33	434^th	614	29.3%
2024	21.01	534^th	654	18.3%

See the entire list of Best Michigan High Schools for Low Socio Economic Status Students!

Rank History for Female students at Northwest High School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	MI State Percentile
2018	41.51	417^th	710	41.3%
2019	39.67	348^th	554	37.2%
2021	37.34	294^th	462	36.4%
2022	22.47	375^th	416	9.9%
2023	40.86	357^th	611	41.6%
2024	35.69	389^th	619	37.2%

See the entire list of Best Michigan High Schools for Female Students!

Rank History for Male students at Northwest High School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	MI State Percentile
2018	46.56	383^rd	707	45.8%
2019	13.11	487^th	543	10.3%
2021	41.54	273^rd	472	42.2%
2022	23.70	373^rd	440	15.2%
2023	35.10	401^st	611	34.4%
2024	42.12	356^th	633	43.8%

See the entire list of Best Michigan High Schools for Male Students!

Rank History for African American students at Northwest High School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	MI State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2018	53.68	88^th	254	65.4%

See the entire list of Best Michigan High Schools for African American Students!

Rank History for Hispanic students at Northwest High School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	MI State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2024	25.22	149^th	195	23.6%

See the entire list of Best Michigan High Schools for Hispanic Students!

Rank History for White students at Northwest High School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	MI State Percentile
2018	38.96	446^th	708	37.0%
2019	22.40	469^th	582	19.4%
2021	35.73	338^th	516	34.5%
2022	18.59	445^th	492	9.6%
2023	37.05	401^st	647	38.0%
2024	37.56	402^nd	638	37.0%

See the entire list of Best Michigan High Schools for White Students!

Data source: test scores: Michigan Department of Education, rankings: SchoolDigger.com

As you review the school rankings data, please be aware that some of the information from certain demographics is missing. The reason for this omission is that the data has been redacted from the source data itself due to low population samples in these specific demographic groups.

Redacting data from low population samples is a necessary step to ensure the reliability and accuracy of the results, as small sample sizes may not be representative of the broader population. Additionally, this measure helps protect the privacy of individuals belonging to these demographic groups.

Data source: Michigan Department of Education

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Enrollment information for Northwest High School

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Year	White	African American	Asian	Hispanic	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Not Specified	Total
1988	850	9	9	6	40	n/a	n/a	-2	912
1989	837	9	9	3	20	n/a	n/a	0	878
1990	854	7	10	7	13	n/a	n/a	0	891
1991	835	8	6	11	7	n/a	n/a	0	867
1992	857	6	6	10	4	n/a	n/a	0	883
1993	864	6	3	7	5	n/a	n/a	0	885
1994	898	8	7	8	4	n/a	n/a	0	925
1995	940	12	8	7	4	n/a	n/a	0	971
1996	940	12	8	7	4	n/a	n/a	0	971
1997	942	13	9	10	5	n/a	n/a	0	979
1998	962	13	10	11	4	n/a	n/a	0	1000
1999	936	12	9	7	1	n/a	n/a	0	965
2000	930	11	8	9	6	n/a	n/a	0	964
2001	962	15	9	7	8	n/a	n/a	0	1001
2002	1013	17	11	11	12	n/a	n/a	0	1064
2003	1013	17	11	11	12	n/a	n/a	0	1064
2004	982	23	10	13	12	n/a	n/a	0	1040
2005	999	31	15	15	8	n/a	n/a	0	1068
2006	1012	37	15	22	9	n/a	n/a	0	1095
2007	1013	33	14	28	9	n/a	n/a	0	1097
2008	988	37	12	33	14	n/a	n/a	0	1084
2009	891	37	8	35	8	n/a	n/a	0	979
2010	877	43	4	27	6	n/a	n/a	0	957
2011	776	34	4	28	2	1	14	0	859
2012	797	37	4	38	0	1	19	0	896
2013	786	28	4	32	1	1	25	0	877
2014	747	27	4	33	1	3	37	0	852
2015	761	32	6	40	0	6	41	0	886
2016	758	25	6	36	0	3	50	0	878
2017	778	22	9	35	0	4	51	0	899
2018	775	31	6	39	0	4	51	0	906
2019	816	35	9	46	1	4	50	0	961
2020	824	33	4	61	2	4	44	0	972
2021	839	43	5	64	2	1	64	0	1018
2022	850	42	4	66	5	1	66	0	1034
2023	788	36	7	63	1	1	76	0	972
2024	769	28	8	66	2	0	81	0	954

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Enrollment/Ethnicity

For more information about how the Department of Education defines ethnicity, see Defining Race and Ethnicity Data, National Center for Education Statistics

Students eligible for free or discounted lunch at Northwest High School

Compare

Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
1988	912	n/a	n/a	n/a
1989	878	n/a	n/a	5.5
1990	891	50.0	17.8	3.7
1991	867	n/a	n/a	n/a
1992	883	n/a	n/a	5.7
1993	885	n/a	0.0	8.2
1994	925	44.5	20.8	5.1
1995	971	46.2	21.0	5.6
1996	971	46.2	21.0	5.6
1997	979	46.0	21.3	8.9
1998	1000	48.0	20.8	10.2
1999	965	48.0	20.1	12.4
2000	964	49.6	19.4	18.5
2001	1001	51.9	19.3	18.4
2002	1064	n/a	n/a	19.6
2003	1064	n/a	n/a	19.6
2004	1040	54.0	19.3	23.2
2005	1068	53.0	20.2	27.3
2006	1095	60.0	18.3	26.4
2007	1097	60.0	18.3	11.3
2008	1084	49.0	22.1	10
2009	979	53.0	18.5	33.5
2010	957	51.0	18.7	30.7
2011	859	45.0	19.0	36.8
2012	896	42.0	21.3	35.3
2013	877	44.0	19.9	38.1
2014	852	43.4	19.6	38.1
2015	886	46.0	19.2	39.2
2016	878	46.0	19.0	35.9
2017	899	47.7	18.8	43.5
2018	906	49.7	18.2	43.8
2019	961	51.4	18.6	53.5
2020	972	52.6	18.4	54.9
2021	1018	49.2	20.6	44.9
2022	1034	48.4	21.3	45.2
2023	972	52.0	18.6	39.5
2024	954	48.6	19.6	44.1

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Students eligible for discounted/free lunch:

The National School Lunch Program (NSLP) provides low-cost or free meals to students in U.S. public and nonprofit private schools based on household income. Those with incomes below 130% of the poverty line receive free lunch, while those between 130% and 185% qualify for reduced-price lunch. The percentage of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch serves as a marker for poverty, as it reflects the socioeconomic status of families in a given school or district. A higher FRPL rate typically indicates a higher concentration of low-income families, suggesting that the school or district may face additional challenges in providing adequate resources and support for student success.

Student/Teacher Ratio Northwest High School

Compare

Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
1988	912	n/a	n/a	n/a
1989	878	n/a	n/a	5.5
1990	891	50.0	17.8	3.7
1991	867	n/a	n/a	n/a
1992	883	n/a	n/a	5.7
1993	885	n/a	0.0	8.2
1994	925	44.5	20.8	5.1
1995	971	46.2	21.0	5.6
1996	971	46.2	21.0	5.6
1997	979	46.0	21.3	8.9
1998	1000	48.0	20.8	10.2
1999	965	48.0	20.1	12.4
2000	964	49.6	19.4	18.5
2001	1001	51.9	19.3	18.4
2002	1064	n/a	n/a	19.6
2003	1064	n/a	n/a	19.6
2004	1040	54.0	19.3	23.2
2005	1068	53.0	20.2	27.3
2006	1095	60.0	18.3	26.4
2007	1097	60.0	18.3	11.3
2008	1084	49.0	22.1	10
2009	979	53.0	18.5	33.5
2010	957	51.0	18.7	30.7
2011	859	45.0	19.0	36.8
2012	896	42.0	21.3	35.3
2013	877	44.0	19.9	38.1
2014	852	43.4	19.6	38.1
2015	886	46.0	19.2	39.2
2016	878	46.0	19.0	35.9
2017	899	47.7	18.8	43.5
2018	906	49.7	18.2	43.8
2019	961	51.4	18.6	53.5
2020	972	52.6	18.4	54.9
2021	1018	49.2	20.6	44.9
2022	1034	48.4	21.3	45.2
2023	972	52.0	18.6	39.5
2024	954	48.6	19.6	44.1

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Student-Teacher Ratio

Student/teacher ratio is calculated by dividing the total number of students by the total number of full-time equivalent teachers. Please note that a smaller student/teacher ratio does not necessarily translate to smaller class size. In some instances, schools hire teachers part time, and some teachers are hired for specialized instruction with very small class sizes. These and other factors contribute to the student/teacher ratio. Note: For private schools, Student/teacher ratio may not include Pre-Kindergarten.

Finances

Per Pupil Expenditures for Northwest High School

Year	Expenditures from Federal Funds	Expenditures from State and Local Funds	Total Expenditures Per Pupil (All Funds)
2019	$2,728 (21.7%)	$9,849 (78.3%)	$12,578
2020	$1,221 (10.7%)	$10,166 (89.3%)	$11,387
2021	$598 (5.5%)	$10,183 (94.5%)	$10,781
2022	$822 (7.3%)	$10,362 (92.7%)	$11,184
2023	$899 (7.1%)	$11,789 (92.9%)	$12,688

Data source: Michigan Department of Education

Pre and Post Pandemic Data

Impact of COVID-19 on Northwest High School

The coronavirus has had a profound impact on education in America. Learning shifted online overnight, attendance numbers dwindled, and enrollment decreased. SchoolDigger.com is making it easier for you to better assess how COVID-19 has impacted your school. Through the collection of pre-pandemic (2019) and current data, SchoolDigger.com is sharing test scores, enrollment numbers and school demographics from schools across the country – and we make it easy to see how impacted schools compare locally and statewide.

Rankings

Rank Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	Rank Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
Ranks 465^th of 666 High schools	Ranks 410^th of 735 High schools	14%

Test Scores

	% proficient Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	% proficient Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
11th Grade Social Studies (Northwest High School)	33.5	33.8	0.3%
11th Grade Social Studies (Northwest Community Schools)	33.7	31.7	2%
11th Grade Social Studies (Michigan)	46.6	36.1	10.5%
11th Grade Evidence-Based Reading and Writing (Northwest High School)	48.1	45.4	2.7%
11th Grade Evidence-Based Reading and Writing (Northwest Community Schools)	46.8	43.8	3%
11th Grade Evidence-Based Reading and Writing (Michigan)	55.3	52.2	3.1%
11th Grade Mathematics (Northwest High School)	23.5	16.4	7.1%
11th Grade Mathematics (Northwest Community Schools)	22.4	15	7.4%
11th Grade Mathematics (Michigan)	36.3	29.9	6.4%

Student Body

	Number of students Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	Number of students Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
Total Students	961	972	1.1%
African American	35	36	2.9%
American Indian	1	1
Asian	9	7	22.2%
Hispanic	46	63	37%
Pacific Islander	4	1	75%
White	816	788	3.4%
Two or More Races	50	76	52%
% Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	53.5%	39.5%	14%

Schools Near Northwest High School

Choose columns to see: Summary School Students/Teachers Ranking Test Scores Finance All

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2024)				Ranking (2023)				PSAT English Language Arts (2024)	PSAT Mathematics (2024)	SAT Evidence-Based Reading and Writing (2024)	SAT Mathematics (2024)	M-Step English Language Arts (2024)		M-Step Science (2024)		M-Step Social Studies (2024)		Per Pupil Expenditures (2023)
Name	Type	Grades	Address	City	Zip	County	District	Is Charter	Is Magnet	Is Virtual	Is Title I	Phone	Enrollment	Full-time Teachers	Student/ Teacher Ratio	Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	White	Black	Hispanic	Asian	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Average Standard Score (2024)	Statewide Rank (2024)	State Percentile (2024)	SchoolDigger Rating (2024)	Average Standard Score (2023)	Statewide Rank (2023)	State Percentile (2023)	Rank Change from Previous Year	PSAT English Language Arts 8th Grade	PSAT Mathematics 8th Grade	SAT Evidence-Based Reading and Writing 11th Grade	SAT Mathematics 11th Grade	M-Step English Language Arts 6th Grade	M-Step English Language Arts 7th Grade	M-Step Science 8th Grade	M-Step Science 11th Grade	M-Step Social Studies 8th Grade	M-Step Social Studies 11th Grade	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
Northwest High School	Public	9-12	4200 Van Horn Rd	Jackson	49201	Jackson County	Northwest Community Schools	No	No	No	No	(517) 817-4702	954	49	19.6	44.1%	769 (80.6%)	28 (2.9%)	66 (6.9%)	8 (0.8%)	2 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	81 (8.5%)	43.8	393^rd of 743 public high schools	47.1%		42.7	410^th of 735 public high schools	44.2%	17			45.1	16.2				41.0		32.7	$12,688	$899	$11,789
Northwest Connect	Public	7-12	6900 Rives Junction Rd	Jackson	49201	Jackson County	Northwest Community Schools	No	No	No	No	(517) 817-4702	128	4	29.7	68.0%	94 (73.4%)	6 (4.7%)	11 (8.6%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	17 (13.3%)	11.6	657^th of 743 public high schools	11.6%		12.1	653^rd of 735 public high schools	11.2%	4			19.4					22.2		11.1	$12,827	$2,813	$10,014
Da Vinci Schools 612	Public, Virtual, Charter	6-12	2985 Springport Rd	Jackson	49201	Jackson County	Da Vinci Schools	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	(517) 796-0031	355	16	21.7	85.9%	250 (70.4%)	56 (15.8%)	21 (5.9%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	28 (7.9%)	31.5	499^th of 743 public high schools	32.8%		37.1	456^th of 735 public high schools	38.0%	43	44.1	8.8	31.1		10.3	32.0	23.5	28.9	14.7	31.1	$11,537	$2,019	$9,518
SAI Camp Cassidy Lake	Public	12	3100 Cooper St	Jackson	49201	Jackson County	Michigan Department of Corrections	No	No	No	No	(734) 475-1368	0	0			0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()								(n/a)
Cooper Correctional Facility	Public	9-12	3100 Cooper St	Jackson	49201	Jackson County	Michigan Department of Corrections	No	No	No	No	(517) 780-6175	0	0			0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()								(n/a)
Egeler Correctional Facility	Public	9-12	3855 Cooper St	Jackson	49201	Jackson County	Michigan Department of Corrections	No	No	No	No	(517) 780-5600	0	0			0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()								(n/a)
Parnall Correctional Facility	Public	9-12	1780 E Parnall Rd	Jackson	49201	Jackson County	Michigan Department of Corrections	No	No	No	No	(517) 780-6004	6	0			4 (66.7%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (33.3%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)								(n/a)
Cotton Correctional Facility	Public	9-12	3500 N Elm Ave	Jackson	49201	Jackson County	Michigan Department of Corrections	No	No	No	No	(517) 780-5000	6	0			2 (33.3%)	4 (66.7%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)								(n/a)
Woodville Community Center	Public	9-12	3950 Catherine St	Jackson	49203	Jackson County	Western School District	No	No	No	No	(517) 841-8770	124	5	25.6	68.5%	101 (81.5%)	4 (3.2%)	6 (4.8%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	13 (10.5%)								(n/a)										11.5	$00	$00	$00
Jackson Pathways	Public	9-12	544 Wildwood Ave	Jackson	49201	Jackson County	Jackson Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(517) 841-3729	82	5	15.7	86.6%	26 (31.7%)	32 (39.0%)	9 (11.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	15 (18.3%)								(n/a)											$8,407	$1,299	$7,108

Northwest High School

Northwest High School:

High School Test Score Ratings by Student Subgroup:

Northwest Community Schools:

What do you think?

Rank History for Northwest High School

Rank History for all students at Northwest High School

Rank History for Multi-racial students at Northwest High School

Rank History for Low Socio Economic Status students at Northwest High School

Rank History for Female students at Northwest High School

Rank History for Male students at Northwest High School

Rank History for African American students at Northwest High School

Rank History for Hispanic students at Northwest High School

Rank History for White students at Northwest High School

Enrollment information for Northwest High School

Students eligible for free or discounted lunch at Northwest High School

Student/Teacher Ratio Northwest High School

Per Pupil Expenditures for Northwest High School

Impact of COVID-19 on Northwest High School

Rankings

Test Scores

Student Body

Schools Near Northwest High School

Frequently Asked Questions about Northwest High School

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