Best Public Schools in Coloma, MI

The city of Coloma, Michigan, is served by the Coloma Community Schools district, which operates four schools—Coloma Elementary School (PK-3), Coloma Intermediate School (4-5), Coloma Junior High School (6-8), and Coloma High School (9-12)—serving roughly 1,095 students in a predominantly economically disadvantaged community where 64% to 79% of students qualify for free or reduced lunch.

Across the district, math proficiency is the most significant concern, with scores falling 50-67% below state averages and declining as students advance—from 16.9% proficiency in 3rd grade at Coloma Elementary School to just 10.5% in 5th grade at Coloma Intermediate School, and only 13.8% on the SAT math at Coloma High School. Reading scores are stronger but still lag, with a notable bright spot: 10th grade PSAT English Language Arts proficiency at Coloma High School (58.8%) exactly matches the state average, and the school's graduation rate (86.9%) exceeds the state's 84.0%. Coloma Junior High School shows a similar ELA strength in 8th grade PSAT (60.9% vs. 64.8% state), though its 8th grade math proficiency dropped sharply from 32.5% to 18.8% year-over-year.

Chronic absenteeism follows a "U-shaped" pattern: Coloma Elementary School (34.9%) and Coloma Junior High School (32.3%) exceed the state rate of 27.9%, while Coloma Intermediate School (24.1%) and Coloma High School (24.7%) fare better. Despite spending $14,116-$16,173 per student, outcomes remain below state averages, though Coloma High School outperforms its feeder schools academically and in graduation rates, suggesting effective remediation or that struggling students may drop out (8.3% dropout rate vs. 7.1% state). The district's biggest opportunities lie in addressing early math foundations and elementary absenteeism, which appear to drive later difficulties.