Best Public Schools in Manton, MI

The city of Manton, Michigan, is served by the Manton Consolidated Schools district, which includes three public schools covering kindergarten through 12th grade for a total enrollment of 939 students. The district holds a 3-star rating and ranks in the 62nd percentile statewide, offering a solid, mid-tier educational option for families in this small northern Michigan community.

Among the three schools, Manton Consolidated Middle School is the clear academic standout, ranking in the 73rd percentile and posting exceptional scores in 8th-grade Science (59.7% proficient) and Social Studies (61.3% proficient), both far above state averages. Its 8th-grade PSAT English Language Arts proficiency is also remarkable at 77.4%. In contrast, Manton Consolidated High School shows a dramatic decline in state test performance, with 11th-grade Science proficiency dropping to just 15% and SAT Math proficiency at a concerning 8.2%. However, the high school excels at keeping students on track, boasting a 92.9% graduation rate and a dropout rate of only 3.5%, both significantly better than state averages. Manton Consolidated Elementary School shows inconsistent year-over-year results, with 4th-grade Math proficiency swinging from 61.5% to 34.7% between school years, likely due to small class sizes.

For parents, the key takeaway is that Manton offers a strong foundation in the middle grades, particularly in science and reading, but struggles to maintain that momentum into high school, especially in math and science. The district's chronic absenteeism rate (23.4%) is better than the state average, and per-student spending is consistent across schools, ranging from $13,630 to $16,396. While high school test scores are low, the strong graduation rate and solid PSAT English scores suggest students are developing critical thinking and writing skills, even if state assessments don't fully reflect it. Families should consider the middle school's excellence and the high school's college-readiness focus when evaluating this district.