Best Public Schools in Gaylord, MI

The Gaylord Community Schools district in Gaylord, Michigan, serves roughly 2,747 students across five schools, including two PK-3 elementary schools, one intermediate school for grades 4-6, a middle school for grades 7-8, and a high school for grades 9-12.

For parents, the standout is Gaylord Middle School, which consistently earns a 4-star rating and outperforms state averages in nearly every subject, particularly in 7th-grade ELA and 8th-grade PSAT. In contrast, the district's elementary schools, North Ohio Elementary School and South Maple Elementary School, serve similar high-poverty populations (over 63% free/reduced lunch) but score below state averages in 3rd-grade math and ELA. Interestingly, North Ohio spends over $1,500 more per student than South Maple, yet their test scores are nearly identical, raising questions about resource efficiency. A significant academic dip occurs when students transition to Gaylord Intermediate School, where 5th-grade math proficiency falls to just 22.5% versus the state's 32.2%, suggesting the move to a larger school may be disruptive. However, by the time students reach Gaylord High School Voc Bldg, performance rebounds dramatically—the high school boasts a 90.1% graduation rate and strong SAT reading scores (62.7% proficient vs. 52.1% statewide), though math proficiency remains a relative weakness at 33.7%.

One of the most striking findings is the high school's remarkable science turnaround, jumping from 28.6% to 44.1% proficiency in just one year. Chronic absenteeism is a hidden challenge, particularly at the middle school (28.1%) and North Ohio Elementary (26.1%), which may correlate with the academic struggles seen in younger grades. The district also shows a demographic shift, with free/reduced lunch rates dropping from roughly 63% at the elementary level to 42% at the high school, suggesting families may leave the district as children age. Overall, while the middle and high schools are clear academic leaders, the elementary and intermediate schools face significant challenges that warrant attention from district leadership.