Gladstone Area Schools

Every figure on PlainSchools is rendered directly from the source NCES, CRDC and F-33 federal records, no number is typed in by an editor. District totals are aggregated directly from the schools reporting under this district in the source records. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of June 2026.

Gladstone, Michigan - 4 schools

An equity score of 30/100 ranks Gladstone Area Schools #632 of 707 districts in Michigan (state average 50). Derived live from how evenly resources are distributed across the district's schools.

At $11,155 per pupil, Gladstone Area Schools ranks #692 of 821 Michigan districts by per-pupil spending (Michigan districts). NCES F-33 finance data.

1,490
Total Enrollment
4
Schools
$11,155
Per-Pupil Spending
Elementary, High
School Types

District-Level NCES Analysis

Gladstone Area Schools operates 4 public schools serving 1,490 students, placing it among the smallest districts in Michigan. The school portfolio breaks down into 2 elementary, 1 high, 1 middle schools, a small enough portfolio that most families will interact with nearly every campus in the district at some point. These enrollment and school figures come from the NCES Common Core of Data (CCD) 2024-25 release, and the district is based in Delta County.

Per-pupil expenditure runs $11,155 according to the NCES F-33 School District Finance Survey, in the lower half of 821 Michigan districts by per-pupil spending. See how Michigan compares in our national per-pupil spending analysis. The funding mix is 20.2% local, 69.1% state, and 10.6% federal, a state-revenue-heavy mix that insulates the district somewhat from local property-tax volatility, though it ties funding to state budget cycles. The district's equity score is 30/100, ranked #632 of 707 in Michigan against a state average of 50, notably less even than the typical district in the state for how evenly funding reaches its schools.

Academic infrastructure includes 1 of 4 schools offering Advanced Placement (1 AP courses district-wide), and 34.4% chronic absenteeism from the 2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection. Demographically, the student body averages 87.0% White, 1.5% Hispanic or Latino, 0.4% African American across the district's schools. Its most demographically mixed campus is James T Jones Elementary School, with a diversity index of 24.7/100.

Its largest campus is Gladstone Area High School, enrolling 472 students (32% of the district's total enrollment).

Gladstone Area High School accounts for 31.6% of all Gladstone Area Schools student enrollment

That dominant concentration means Gladstone Area Schools-wide averages can mask substantial variation outside the dominant entity. Grade band: high. A single dominant campus often anchors a district's program offerings and staffing patterns; the share helps explain why district-wide averages may not reflect the typical neighbourhood-school experience. When one entity dominates a region's footprint, its programmatic and budget decisions effectively set policy for a majority of the affected population.

Source: NCES Common Core of Data NCES Common Core of Data

Gladstone Area Schools chronic absenteeism rate is 34.4% — high (typically associated with higher-than-average disruption; recent CRDC data showed elevated rates persisting after pandemic-era schooling changes)

chronic absenteeism rate is the simplest comparative metric but it does not capture the full picture: a student is chronically absent if they miss ≥10% of enrolled days for any reason, illness, family obligations, or disengagement Higher values may reflect larger urban scale or recent resource constraints that have widened the gap.

Source: NCES Civil Rights Data Collection 2021-22 NCES Civil Rights Data Collection 2021-22

Where does the funding come from?

10.6%
Federal
69.1%
State
20.2%
Local

Funding Equity

30
Equity Score
632 / 707
State Rank
50
State Average

This district scores below average on funding equity. High reliance on local revenue or lower spending may contribute.

Student Demographics

Average demographic composition across 4 schools in Gladstone Area Schools.

White 87.0%
Hispanic or Latino 1.5%
Multiracial 7.2%
Other 3.8%

Source: NCES CCD School Membership 2024-25.

Student-body diversity

Average diversity index 23.6/100

Average Simpson diversity index across Gladstone Area Schools's schools, below the Michigan average of 36.2.

Most mixed schools

  1. 1 James T Jones Elementary School 24.7
  2. 2 Gladstone Area Middle School 24.1
  3. 3 Gladstone Area High School 22.9
  4. 4 Cameron Elementary School 22.7

Programs & Resources

1 / 4
Schools with AP
1 AP courses total
34.4%
Chronically Absent

Source: NCES Civil Rights Data Collection (CRDC) 2021-22.

Schools in Gladstone Area Schools

School Enrollment
Gladstone Area High School
472
James T Jones Elementary School
355
Gladstone Area Middle School
346
Cameron Elementary School
321

How Gladstone Area Schools Compares to Similar-Size Districts

The Michigan districts closest to this one in total enrollment.

District Enrollment Spending Funding Mix
Westwood Community School District Similar size Higher spending Similar funding mix
Kingsley Area Schools Similar size Similar spending Similar funding mix
Columbia School District Similar size Similar spending More locally funded
Caro Community Schools Similar size Similar spending Similar funding mix
South Lake Schools Similar size Higher spending More locally funded

Comparisons are relative to Gladstone Area Schools's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data and the F-33 Finance Survey.

Nearby Districts in Michigan

Top districts in the same state, compare side-by-side for enrollment, spending, and demographics.

Utica Community Schools
25,744 students · 38 schools · $12,513/pupil
Compare vs Gladstone Area Schools →
Dearborn City School District
20,128 students · 37 schools · $16,677/pupil
Compare vs Gladstone Area Schools →
Ann Arbor Public Schools
17,026 students · 32 schools · $17,642/pupil
Compare vs Gladstone Area Schools →
Plymouth-Canton Community Schools
16,294 students · 25 schools · $13,630/pupil
Compare vs Gladstone Area Schools →

Compare Gladstone Area Schools

See how this district compares to others in enrollment, spending, demographics, and academic resources.

Compare vs Detroit Public Schools Community District →

Frequently Asked Questions

How many schools are in Gladstone Area Schools?

Gladstone Area Schools has 4 schools, including 1 high, 2 elementary, 1 middle. Total enrollment is 1,490 students.

How much does Gladstone Area Schools spend per student?

Gladstone Area Schools spends $11,155 per student. The district has an equity score of 30/100, ranking #632 in Michigan.

What is the demographic composition of Gladstone Area Schools?

Gladstone Area Schools students are 87.0% White, 1.5% Hispanic or Latino, 0.4% African American, 0.1% Asian, averaged across 4 schools. Source: NCES CCD Membership 2024-25.

What is the equity score for Gladstone Area Schools?

Gladstone Area Schools has an equity score of 30/100, ranking #632 out of 707 districts in Michigan.