Summary:
The Carman-Ainsworth Community Schools district, located in the Flint, Michigan area, oversees four high schools serving grades 8-12 (or 6-12 for the alternative program) with a combined enrollment of roughly 1,500 students, ranging from a top-10% statewide performer to a school in the bottom 10%.
For parents, the standout is Genesee Early College, which ranks 61st out of 800 Michigan high schools (5 stars) and boasts a 100% graduation rate with zero dropouts. Its SAT reading proficiency (82%) is more than double the state average, and its math proficiency (34%) outpaces the state (26.5%)—a rare feat in this district. In stark contrast, CA Alternative Ed - Atlantis ranks 726th (0 stars) with a 59.4% graduation rate and 64.2% chronic absenteeism, serving the highest-need population (90.9% free/reduced lunch). Mott Middle College High School sits in the middle, improving to 499th statewide, with strong 9th/10th grade ELA scores (64.5% and 60.5% proficiency) that exceed state averages, suggesting continued gains. Carman-Ainsworth High School, the traditional comprehensive school, ranks 654th and shows declining SAT reading scores (35.3% to 27.8% proficiency) year-over-year.
A district-wide math crisis is evident—every school falls below state SAT math proficiency (26.5%), with Carman-Ainsworth HS at 7.3% and Mott Middle College at 6.3%. Chronic absenteeism also exceeds the state rate (27.9%) at all four schools, from 32.7% at Genesee Early College to 64.2% at CA Alternative Ed. Notably, Genesee Early College achieves top results while spending just $3,398 per student—one-fifth of Carman-Ainsworth HS's $17,572—highlighting that program structure and student selection may matter more than funding. The early college model appears particularly effective here, as both early/middle college programs outperform the traditional high school despite similar poverty levels.
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