Au Gres-Sims School District

The Au Gres-Sims School District is a small, rural Michigan district serving approximately 414 students across three schools on a centralized campus in Au Gres, MI: Au Gres-Sims Elementary School (PK-5), Au Gres-Sims Middle School (6-8), and Au Gres-Sims High School (9-12).

This district is one of contrasts, with the elementary school clearly leading the way. Au Gres-Sims Elementary School is a standout, earning a 4-star rating and ranking in the 72nd percentile statewide. It achieves this despite having the highest poverty rate in the district (nearly 63% free/reduced lunch), with 3rd-grade proficiency rates in ELA and Math exceeding state averages by roughly 30 points. In comparison, the middle and high schools are more average performers. Au Gres-Sims Middle School is a consistent 3-star school, showing a steady climb to the 63rd percentile, and boasts a notable strength in 8th-grade Social Studies, where proficiency (65.6%) is 15 points above the state average. The Au Gres-Sims High School is the district's most improved school, having jumped from the 25th to the 53rd percentile over three years, yet it still faces significant challenges, particularly in SAT Math where proficiency sits at just 12.1%.

For parents, the key takeaway is a clear academic cliff between elementary and upper grades. While the elementary school builds a strong foundation, the middle school struggles to sustain it, with 6th-grade ELA proficiency dropping to 25.7%—well below the state average. This issue is compounded by high chronic absenteeism in the middle (33.6%) and high (32.0%) schools, which are roughly 5-6 points above state averages. The high school also has a notably higher student-teacher ratio (20.9:1) than the elementary (15.1:1). Despite these hurdles, the positive momentum is district-wide, as every school improved its state ranking in the latest year, suggesting recent initiatives are starting to take hold.