Summary:
Lansing, Michigan is home to 9 high schools serving grades 9-12, encompassing a diverse mix of traditional public schools, alternative/credit recovery programs, and specialized learning environments within the Lansing Public School District, Waverly Community Schools, and the Ingham Independent School District (Isd).
For parents seeking strong academic outcomes, Eastern High School stands out as the top traditional performer, achieving a remarkable 97% graduation rate despite nearly 87% of its students qualifying for free/reduced lunch—a rate that exceeds the state average by 13 points. Waverly Senior High School offers the strongest test scores among comprehensive schools, with 10th-grade PSAT English Language Arts proficiency at 52.2% approaching the state average, while serving a comparatively lower poverty population (50% free/reduced lunch). Everett High School is the largest school with 1,017 students and maintains a solid 95% graduation rate, though its math proficiency is concerning at just 8.1%. JW Sexton High School spends the most per student ($24,562) yet shows the weakest academic results, ranking in the bottom 10th percentile statewide.
Chronic absenteeism is a district-wide crisis, with every school exceeding the state average of 27.9%—even the best performer, Waverly, sits at 36.4%. The alternative and virtual schools, including Insight School of Michigan, Blended Learning Academies Credit Recovery High School, and Ingham AcademyFamily Center, serve students facing significant challenges, reflected in graduation rates ranging from 23.5% to 45.4% and dropout rates up to 41.1%. The specialized SAIL Lansing and SAIL Waverly programs offer intensive support with excellent 6:1 and 9:1 student-teacher ratios but serve only a handful of students each. Mathematics proficiency represents the most significant academic weakness across all Lansing schools, with SAT Math proficiency ranging from 8.1% to 12.6% compared to the state average of 26.5%.
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