Summary:
Cassopolis, Michigan, is served by five schools—including elementary, middle, and high school levels—that collectively enroll about 917 students, with the majority of families facing significant economic challenges. The district operates under two main authorities: Cassopolis Public Schools, which runs four of the five institutions, and Heritage Southwest Intermediate School District, which oversees Brookside Learning Center.
For parents, the standout choice is Cassopolis High School, which posts a 93.9% graduation rate—well above the district’s 81.2% and the state’s 84.0%—and a low 4.5% dropout rate. Its social studies proficiency (45.9%) even beats the state average, and its ranking has improved from the 26th to the 33rd percentile. In contrast, Cassopolis Middle School struggles significantly, especially in math, where only 6.67% of 7th graders are proficient versus the state’s 33.3%. Sam Adams Elementary School shows a mixed picture: 5th grade science (45.7%) and ELA (42.9%) exceed state averages, but 4th and 5th grade math proficiency languishes near 12%. The alternative schools—Cassopolis Alternative Educational and Brookside Learning Center—serve high-need students, with Brookside spending an extraordinary $111,663 per pupil yet reporting a 0% graduation rate and 42.5% chronic absenteeism.
The most pressing issue district-wide is a math crisis, with proficiency gaps of 20–27 points below state averages at every level, while ELA performance is comparatively stronger. Chronic absenteeism exceeds the state rate in all schools, ranging from 23.2% at Sam Adams to 42.5% at Brookside. Despite above-average per-student spending ($14,973–$15,780 at traditional schools), outcomes remain below state norms, suggesting resource allocation and instructional strategies need review. The high school’s success despite weak feeder-school performance hints at effective interventions, though some struggling students may be diverted to alternative programs with lower graduation rates.
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