Summary:
Pontiac Academy for Excellence MiddleHigh is the sole high school within the Pontiac Academy for Excellence district, a public charter serving grades 6-12 in Pontiac, MI, with 553 students and a 100% free/reduced lunch population.
This single school faces severe academic and engagement challenges that place it well below state averages. Ranked 628th out of 739 Michigan high schools (15th percentile) with a 1-star rating, the school’s proficiency rates are strikingly low. For example, 11th-grade SAT reading proficiency is just 25% versus the state’s 55.4%, while 7th-grade math proficiency sits at a mere 5.45% compared to 33.3% statewide. The middle school years appear to be a critical failing point—8th-grade science proficiency is only 6.12% versus the state’s 41.1%—suggesting students fall far behind before reaching high school. Chronic absenteeism is a major red flag at 64.2%, more than double the state’s 27.9%, and the dropout rate of 17.2% is over twice the state’s 7.1%. These factors point to widespread disengagement that likely drives the low test scores.
Despite these struggles, there are a few notable takeaways. The graduation rate of 82.7% is close to the state’s 84.0%, indicating the school does help many students finish, even if academic achievement is low. A slight positive trend appears in 11th-grade social studies, which improved from 25% to 15.38% in preliminary 2025-2026 data, though it remains below the state’s 43.2%. The student-teacher ratio is 17.9, and spending per student is listed as $0, which is likely a data error. For parents, this school presents a high-risk environment with significant academic deficits and attendance problems, but the near-average graduation rate offers a small silver lining. The projected ranking drop to the 8th percentile for 2025-2026 suggests challenges may be intensifying.
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