- Enrollment
- 434
- Students per teacher
- 16.1:1
- Resource Index
- 24/100
High school (grades 9-12) · Hillsdale, MI
Horizon Alternative School
Federal NCES profile for Horizon Alternative School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 53/100.
2024-25 NCES dataHigh school (grades 9-12)NCES 261839007796
🌟 Gifted program 30
🎓 Counselors 89
📋 Attendance 41
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Horizon Alternative School earns 53/100 on the Resource Investment Index on federal resource data.
- #1 of 3
- public schools in Hillsdale · Resource Index
- 53
- Resource Index · Higher
- 76.7%
- free-lunch eligible
- 55
- students enrolled
By Resource Investment Index, Horizon Alternative School ranks #1 of 3 public schools in Hillsdale, MI.
School address
District: Hillsdale Community Schools · Michigan
NCES ID 261839007796 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
+6 students YoY
Horizon Alternative School grew from 30 students in 2022-23 to 36 in 2023-24 (+20.0%).
Teacher FTE held 0.6 → 0.6 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Growing CCD campus
+6 students YoY 261839007796 · Hillsdale, MI High · SMALL · TRAD
55 enr · 76.7% lunch · RII 53
Nearest enrollment peer: Gier Elementary School (434 students)
Horizon Alternative School grew from 30 students in 2022-23 to 36 in 2023-24 (+20.0%). Teacher FTE held 0.6 → 0.6 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Michigan schools → · Find another →
Horizon Alternative School in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Gier Elementar
Gier Elementary School
434 students
- Hillsdale High
Hillsdale High School
370 students
- Davis Middle S
Davis Middle School
366 students
- This school 55
Horizon Alternative School
55 students
- Bailey Early C 34
Bailey Early Childhood Center
34 students
What this shows Horizon Alternative School reports 55 students on the CCD universe file.
How Horizon Alternative School compares
Horizon Alternative School is a growing campus on CCD: ratios and free-lunch share vs Michigan and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Michigan | Michigan avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Free-lunch eligible | 76.7% | ▲ 41% | 54.3% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 55 | top 91% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
55
Bigger than 6% of US schools by enrollment, a small campus.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
76.7%
free-lunch eligible
- 41% above the Michigan average of 54.3%
Above the 40% Title I schoolwide threshold; federal funds support the whole school, not individual students.
Engagement
23.6%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
At or above 20%, the commonly used threshold for "high" chronic absenteeism, signaling significant barriers to regular attendance.
Funding equity
$14,538
per pupil, district-wide
- below Michigan avg of $15,012
Somewhat below the U.S. average per-pupil spend; funding constraints may affect programs, facilities, and staffing.
Support staff
Counselors1.0 FTE
Per 55 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
1
in-school suspensions + 0 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 1.8 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 1.8 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
White 87.3%
Hispanic or Latino 9.1%
Two or More 3.6%
Largest group: White at 87.3% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 22.8/100
Simpson diversity index - at 22.8, Horizon Alternative School is less mixed than the Michigan school average of 36.2.
Programs
AP program Not offered
District finance for Hillsdale Community Schools reports $14,538 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Horizon Alternative School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gier Elementary School | Larger | Lower economic need | No ratio data |
| Hillsdale High School | Larger | Lower economic need | No ratio data |
| Davis Middle School | Larger | Lower economic need | No ratio data |
| Bailey Early Childhood Center | Smaller | Similar economic need | No ratio data |
Comparisons are relative to Horizon Alternative School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 370
- Students per teacher
- 17.6:1
- Resource Index
- 22/100
- Enrollment
- 366
- Students per teacher
- 16.6:1
- Resource Index
- 37/100
- Enrollment
- 34
- Students per teacher
- 6.8:1
- Resource Index
- 50/100
Nationwide high schools with similar size or staffing
Out-of-state peers matched by enrollment and by student-teacher ratio, not the same-city or same-district lists above.
Frequently asked questions about Horizon Alternative School
How many students attend Horizon Alternative School?
Horizon Alternative School has 55 students enrolled. It is a high school in Hillsdale, MI. CCD year-over-year: 30 (2022-23) → 36 (2023-24), up 6.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Horizon Alternative School?
76.7% of students at Horizon Alternative School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Michigan average of 54.3%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Horizon Alternative School?
The largest demographic group at Horizon Alternative School is White at 87.3% of enrollment, in Hillsdale, MI.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Horizon Alternative School?
Horizon Alternative School has a Resource Investment Index of 53/100 (higher reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 3 factors: gifted-program reporting, counselor availability, chronic absenteeism. Not a test-score or academic measure (national median ~41/100, see methodology).
How does Horizon Alternative School rank among public schools in Hillsdale?
By Resource Investment Index, Horizon Alternative School ranks #1 of 3 public schools in Hillsdale, MI. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all public schools in Hillsdale on the city page.
What other schools are in Hillsdale Community Schools?
Besides Horizon Alternative School, Hillsdale Community Schools also operates Gier Elementary School (434 students), Hillsdale High School (370 students), and Davis Middle School (366 students). See the Hillsdale Community Schools district page for the complete list.