Summary:
Alma Public Schools is a Michigan district of 5 schools—3 elementary, 1 middle, and 1 high school—serving roughly 1,815 students in grades PK-12, with a district ranking of 295 out of 625 Michigan districts (53rd percentile) and a 3-star rating.
For parents, the standout academic performer is Donald L Pavlik Middle School, which leads the district in several subjects. Its 8th grade PSAT English Language Arts proficiency is 72.5% versus the state's 64.8%, and it showed a remarkable +16.8 point jump in 6th grade ELA year-over-year. In contrast, Luce Road Elementary School is a concern: it has the district's highest chronic absenteeism rate at 37.9% (10 points above the state average) and the highest per-student spending at $21,262, yet no test score data exists to assess its academic impact. Alma Senior High School is the district's improver, jumping 118 spots in statewide ranking to 354th, with a 91.6% graduation rate (well above the state's 84.0%) and a dropout rate of just 2.2% versus the state's 7.1%.
The district's most pressing issue is a systemic math gap—every grade level lags state averages, with 7th grade math at Pavlik at 20.8% proficiency versus 33.3% statewide, and high school SAT math at 20.2% versus 26.5%. Chronic absenteeism splits by level: elementary schools like Hillcrest Elementary School (16.9%) and Pine Avenue Elementary School (18.6%) are well below the state average, while secondary schools hover near it. Spending efficiency is questionable—Pavlik spends the least per student ($12,873) yet performs best, while Luce Road spends the most with no measurable outcomes. The district overall improved from the 47th to 53rd percentile, suggesting initiatives are working, but math intervention and addressing Luce Road's attendance crisis remain critical priorities.
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