Summary:
The Carson City-Crystal Area Schools district in Michigan serves roughly 665 students across three schools: Carson City Elementary School (grades PK-3), Carson City Crystal Upper Elementary/Middle School (grades 4-8), and Carson City Crystal High School (grades 9-12).
The standout performer is Carson City Elementary School, which achieves remarkable results despite having the highest poverty rate in the district (66.2% free/reduced lunch). Its 3rd graders score 65.9% proficient in math versus the 42.9% state average, and 50% in ELA versus 38.2% statewide. This school also has the lowest chronic absenteeism (20.8%) and the best student-teacher ratio (12.3:1). In stark contrast, Carson City Crystal Upper Elementary/Middle School shows a dramatic academic slide—by 8th grade, only 13.7% of students are proficient in PSAT math versus 33.2% statewide, and science scores hover around 25% versus 40% statewide. The middle school also has the highest chronic absenteeism (31.5%) and the lowest per-student spending ($13,782).
Carson City Crystal High School is a genuine success story, improving its state ranking from the 24th to the 46th percentile in just two years. It boasts a 92.3% graduation rate (versus 84% statewide) and a 2.5% dropout rate (versus 7.1% statewide). Its 11th grade science scores (45.5%) exceed the state average by 10 points, though SAT math (20.5%) and EBRW (47.7%) remain below state averages. The district's overall 2-star rating masks this variation—parents should look at school-specific data, as the elementary school's excellence and the high school's momentum are not reflected in the aggregate district score.
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