Best Public Schools in Montague, MI

The city of Montague, Michigan, is served by the Montague Area Public Schools district, which includes four schools—Montague Area Childhood Center (PK-K), Oehrli Elementary School (1-5), Nellie B Chisholm Middle School (6-8), and Montague High School (9-12)—together educating roughly 1,247 students in a moderate-income area where free/reduced lunch rates range from about 35% to 49%.

The standout performer is Montague High School, which boasts a 96.4% graduation rate—12 points above the state average—and a dropout rate of just 1.8%. Its science proficiency (45.9%) also tops the state by over 10 points. However, its SAT reading scores lag the state by 11 points, and chronic absenteeism (29.6%) is the highest in the district. Nellie B Chisholm Middle School is the most consistent school, holding a 3-star ranking for three straight years (66th percentile statewide). Its 8th graders shine in social studies (58.8% proficient, 8.5 points above state) and PSAT ELA (70.6%, nearly 6 points above state), while 7th grade math (39.1%) also beats the state average. In contrast, Oehrli Elementary School has fallen sharply from the 66th to the 34th percentile in just two years. Its 5th grade is the district’s biggest concern: only 20% are proficient in ELA and 17.6% in math—both less than half the state averages—despite having the lowest chronic absenteeism rate (17.3%).

Several patterns stand out. First, there’s a puzzling proficiency cliff: Oehrli’s 5th graders score very low, yet Chisholm’s 8th graders perform well above state averages, suggesting either a strong middle school turnaround or different testing methods. Second, chronic absenteeism rises with grade level, from 17.3% in elementary to 29.6% in high school, which may help explain the high school’s lower SAT scores despite strong graduation outcomes. Third, the Montague Area Childhood Center spends $20,431 per student—35% more than the high school—due to a low 11.8:1 student-teacher ratio, though its long-term impact is unclear. Finally, the high school shows volatile year-to-year test scores (e.g., SAT reading dropped 16.6 points in one year), likely reflecting small cohorts. Overall, families will find a district with excellent graduation rates and middle school strengths, but elementary achievement—especially in 5th grade—needs urgent attention.