High Schools in Allegan Public Schools

The two high schools in Allegan Public Schools—Allegan High School and Allegan Alternative High School—serve roughly 655 students in grades 9-12 in a district ranked near the middle of Michigan schools, yet they offer vastly different educational experiences and outcomes.

Allegan High School is the district’s flagship, enrolling 543 students and earning a 3-star rating. It outperforms the district on nearly every measure, with a graduation rate of 82.6% (close to the state’s 84.0%) and strengths in social studies (50.5% proficient, 7 points above the state) and SAT reading/writing (53.3%, slightly above state). However, math is a critical weakness: only 15.9% of 11th graders are proficient in SAT math (vs. 26.5% statewide), and 9th grade PSAT math proficiency sits at just 19.2%—14 points below the state. The school’s state ranking has slipped from the 62nd to the 53rd percentile over two years, and chronic absenteeism (30.1%) exceeds the state average, likely hindering progress. In contrast, Allegan Alternative High School (112 students) faces severe challenges: a 19.1% graduation rate, a 26.4% dropout rate (nearly 4x the state), and proficiency levels 16-23 points below state averages in science, social studies, and ELA. Its ranking has plummeted from the 53rd to the 20th percentile since 2022-2023.

Perhaps the most striking finding is the alternative school’s paradox: its chronic absenteeism (13.2%) is far below the state average and less than half of Allegan High School’s rate, meaning students are showing up—yet outcomes remain poor. This likely stems from significant learning gaps, a high student-teacher ratio (25.8:1), and notably lower per-student funding ($13,173 vs. $18,164 at the main high school), despite serving a higher-poverty population (65.2% free/reduced lunch). The district’s overall 60.6% graduation rate masks this stark divide between a solid traditional school and an alternative program in crisis. For parents, Allegan High School offers a decent education with clear ELA strengths but urgent math intervention needs, while the alternative school requires substantial additional resources and support to reverse its alarming trajectory.