Center Line Public Schools

Center Line Public Schools is a Michigan district serving about 2,484 students across six schools—three elementary schools (May V Peck Elementary School, Mark C Roose Elementary School, and Crothers Elementary School), one middle school (Wolfe Middle School), and two high schools (Center Line High School and Academy 21). All schools serve economically disadvantaged populations, with free/reduced lunch rates between 61% and 76%, and the district ranks in the 20th percentile statewide.

The clear standout is Mark C Roose Elementary School, which has climbed from the 19th to the 43rd percentile in two years despite having the highest poverty rate in the district. Its 5th grade ELA proficiency (41%) nearly matches the state average, and its math proficiency (28.2%) nearly doubles the district average. In contrast, May V Peck Elementary School shows the weakest performance, with 5th grade ELA at just 13%—a 28-point gap between these two schools serving similar demographics. Center Line High School excels at graduating students (92.1% vs. 84% state average) with a low 2.1% dropout rate, while Academy 21, the alternative high school, is in crisis with a 55.3% graduation rate and 23.2% dropout rate, ranking in the bottom 1% of Michigan high schools.

Math is a systemic weakness across every grade and school—at Center Line High School, only 12.7% of 11th graders are proficient in SAT Math versus 32.3% in reading. Chronic absenteeism is also troubling, especially at Wolfe Middle School (41%), which often predicts dropout risk. Notably, Mark C Roose spends the most per student ($18,250) and achieves the best results, while Crothers Elementary School spends nearly as much ($17,227) with far weaker outcomes—suggesting spending effectiveness matters more than total dollars. The district's overall graduation rate (81.7%) is close to the state average, offering some hope despite persistent test score gaps.