Best Public Schools in Homer, MI

The Homer Community School District, located in the small, rural city of Homer, Michigan, serves approximately 834 students across three schools: Lillian Fletcher Elementary School (grades K-4), Homer Middle School (grades 5-8), and Homer Community High School (grades 9-12). The district holds a 2-star rating and ranks in the 46th percentile statewide, with a significant portion of students qualifying for free or reduced lunch, ranging from about 45% at the high school to 66% at the elementary school.

Homer Middle School is the clear standout in this district. Its state ranking has soared from the 35th percentile to the 72nd percentile in just one year, earning a 4-star rating while the other two schools sit at 2 stars. In the latest testing year, middle school students outperformed state averages in 7th-grade ELA (50.7% vs. 38.4%), 7th-grade math (44.8% vs. 33.3%), and 8th-grade social studies (61.9% vs. 50.3%). However, this success does not carry through to the upper grades. Homer Community High School lags behind state averages in nearly every subject, with particularly weak results in 11th-grade science (20.5% vs. 35.2%) and SAT math (15.2% vs. 26.5%). Its graduation rate (82.2%) is also slightly below the state average, and the dropout rate (8.0%) is higher than the state norm.

One of the most concerning trends is the dramatic drop in high school science proficiency, which fell from 42.6% to 20.5% in a single year—a red flag that warrants immediate investigation. Chronic absenteeism is another issue, with Homer Middle School posting a 27.6% rate, above the state average, while the elementary and high schools fare better. Lillian Fletcher Elementary School struggles academically, with proficiency in both ELA and math below state averages in all tested grades. Despite these challenges, the middle school’s success—even with a 57% free/reduced lunch population—shows that strong instructional practices can overcome socio-economic hurdles, making its achievements particularly noteworthy for parents exploring this district.