High Schools in Marquette Area Public Schools

Marquette Area Public Schools operates two high schools serving roughly 1,067 students in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula: Marquette Senior High School (grades 7-12, enrollment 940) and Vandenboom Alternative High School (grades 9-12, enrollment 127). These schools represent two very different educational models, and their performance reflects that divide.

Marquette Senior High School is the clear academic standout, ranking in the top 8% of Michigan high schools with a consistent 5-star rating. It posts a 97% graduation rate, a 0% dropout rate, and proficiency rates that far exceed state averages—science proficiency (68%) is nearly double the state’s 35.2%, and social studies (64.5%) beats the state by 21 points. Its weakest subject is SAT math, where only 39.5% of 11th graders are proficient, though that still tops the state by 13 points. By contrast, Vandenboom Alternative High School serves students who need a different support structure, with a 75% graduation rate, a 2.5% dropout rate, and proficiency levels well below district and state averages—for example, only 24.1% of 11th graders are proficient in science. Vandenboom’s state ranking has swung wildly, from the 71st percentile in 2024-2025 to the 35th percentile in 2025-2026, likely due to its small cohort of 127 students.

The district invests more in Vandenboom, spending $17,525 per student versus $13,731 at Marquette Senior High, and maintains a lower student-teacher ratio (14.9:1 vs. 19.5:1). However, Vandenboom faces steep challenges: 47.2% of its students qualify for free/reduced lunch (vs. 17.3% at Marquette), and chronic absenteeism is 63.4%—more than double the state average and far above Marquette’s 29.8%. Even at the high-performing school, chronic absenteeism exceeds the state average, suggesting attendance is a district-wide issue. For parents, this district offers a top-tier traditional high school in Marquette Senior High, while Vandenboom provides a smaller, more resource-intensive alternative for students who struggled in mainstream settings—though its academic outcomes and attendance rates warrant careful consideration.