Summary:
Three Lakes Academy is a single, small elementary school (serving grades PK-6) in Curtis, Michigan, operating as its own district with 114 students in a rural Upper Peninsula setting.
For parents, the standout story here is the exceptional performance of 6th graders in the 2025-2026 school year. ELA proficiency hit 72.73% and math proficiency reached 72.73%, both nearly double the state averages of 37.5% and 31.9%, respectively. This "upper elementary surge" is also visible in the progression: 3rd grade ELA sits near the state average (38.9%), but by 5th grade it rises to 46.15%, and by 6th grade it nearly doubles the state figure. Science scores are consistently strong, holding at 61.54% proficiency for two consecutive years—a full 21 percentage points above the state. The school's overall state ranking has improved steadily, moving from the 66th percentile (2023-2024) to the 70th percentile (2025-2026), with a current rank of 451 out of 1,492 schools.
Not everything is perfect, though. Math scores show significant volatility from year to year—5th grade math plummeted from 69.23% to 30.77% between 2024-2025 and 2025-2026, likely due to very small cohort sizes (roughly 16 students per grade). Social studies is a relative weakness, with 5th grade proficiency at 23.08% in 2025-2026, falling below the state's 27.5%. Despite these dips, the school outperforms expectations given that 62.28% of students qualify for free/reduced lunch. Chronic absenteeism is remarkably low at 14.4% (state: 27.9%), and the student-teacher ratio of 12.3:1 allows for personalized attention. With per-student spending of $13,792, Three Lakes Academy leverages its small size and strong attendance to deliver solid, improving results—particularly in upper elementary grades—making it a dependable choice for families seeking a close-knit, academically supportive environment.
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