Best Public Schools in Covert, MI

The city of Covert, Michigan, is served by a single, small public school district—Covert Public Schools—which operates three schools: Covert Elementary School (grades PK-5), Covert Middle School (grades 6-8), and Covert High School (grades 9-12), together enrolling about 324 students in a community facing significant socioeconomic challenges.

For parents, the most important takeaway is that this district is investing heavily—spending over $22,000 per student and keeping class sizes small (about 14-15 students per teacher)—yet academic results are consistently below state averages. Covert Elementary School has the highest poverty rate (81% free/reduced lunch) and the highest spending, but its state ranking has dropped from the 23rd to the 14th percentile, showing a declining trend. Covert High School is the most concerning: it has the lowest graduation rate (79.3% vs. 84% statewide), the highest dropout rate (10.3%), and only 12% of 10th graders are proficient in math. In contrast, Covert Middle School is the bright spot—it is the only school showing consistent year-over-year improvement, with its state ranking rising from the 14th to the 24th percentile and 8th-grade English proficiency jumping from 30.4% to 46.4%.

A district-wide crisis is chronic absenteeism, which is far above the state average of 27.9%: elementary (31.7%), high school (36.0%), and middle school (39.3%). This pattern suggests a pipeline problem where disengagement starts early and worsens, making it hard for students to catch up by high school. The spending-versus-performance paradox indicates that money alone isn't solving the challenges tied to poverty and attendance. However, the middle school's success—despite having the highest absenteeism—offers a potential blueprint. If district leaders can identify what is working there (perhaps targeted literacy programs or effective teaching strategies) and apply it district-wide, while aggressively tackling absenteeism, there is hope for reversing the downward trends seen at the elementary and high school levels.