Achievement Across the Board: Will Carleton Academy Has the Highest Third-Grade ELA and SAT Scores in Hillsdale County

From the little kids to the big kids, Will Carleton Academy is the highest-achieving school in all of Hillsdale County.

An analysis of the most recent batch of M-STEP and SAT scores, released in August, shows that Will Carleton Academy, a K-12 charter public school, has the highest third-grade English Language Arts (ELA) scores and among all districts in the county, as well as the highest SAT scores.

In third-grade ELA, 57.1 percent of Will Carleton Academy’s students scored proficient, well above the state average of 38.9 percent and much higher than the Hillsdale County average of 23.2 percent.

Third-grade ELA is considered one of the most important benchmark scores by literacy experts, because third grade is when students should be “reading to learn” instead of “learning to read.”

On the Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT), meanwhile, Will Carleton Academy again had the highest scores in the county, with WCA students scoring an average of 990.7. That’s above the state average of 954.0 and the Hillsdale County average of 882.3. Students take the SAT during the fall of their junior year.

So, from early elementary school through high school, Will Carleton Academy has the best scores in the county. That’s something that WCA Director Colleen Vogt says is a direct byproduct of the school’s mission and focus, along with hard work on the part of students and staff.

“WCA values content that requires the students to think critically and to truly dive in when considering the depth and breadth of our courses,” Vogt said. “Our students begin vocabulary studies as young as third grade, and the longevity of this study allows the students to cultivate an understanding of language, which leads to better comprehension when reading and an ability to write clear, cohesive essays across the curriculum.”

By the time students make it to high school, they have a great academic foundation for success.

“WCA commits to intentionally scheduling all high school students, creating a liberal arts approach to their learning,” Vogt said. “The students are required to complete coursework in the four core areas, with foreign language, physical education, and the arts rounding out their day.  This scheduling continues for their freshman and sophomore years.  The students keep those core subjects into their junior and senior years, adding elective credits to deepen their expertise with classes that encourage the cultivation of their interests and academic strengths.”

The proof is in the pudding (and the scores), and Vogt is proud of the entire school community.

“The faculty works tirelessly to afford the students an opportunity to truly build an understanding of content which leads to a successful educational experience,” she said. “Our students should be so proud of their efforts!

Named for the great American poet Will Carleton, who grew up in the area and graduated from nearby Hillsdale College in 1869, Will Carleton Academy is authorized by the Hillsdale ISD and managed by Choice School Associates.

The school’s mission combines high academic standards with character education, and a curriculum that includes the study of phonics, reading, spelling, grammar, classical literature, math, science, geography, history, a foreign language, fine arts, and physical education.

One of the unique aspects of Will Carleton Academy is that each school day begins with all of the students outside gathered around the flagpole for announcements, inspiration, and the reciting of the Pledge of Allegiance. This happens rain or shine all year long.