High Schools in Central Montcalm Public School

Central Montcalm Middle High School is the sole high school in the Central Montcalm Public School district, serving grades 6-12 in Stanton, Michigan, with 739 students and a predominantly low-income population (62% free/reduced lunch).

This school presents a striking contrast: it excels at keeping students on track to graduate, with a 92.5% graduation rate and a 3.7% dropout rate—both far better than state averages (84% and 7.1%, respectively). However, academic proficiency on standardized tests lags significantly behind Michigan averages across nearly every subject and grade level. For example, 7th grade math proficiency is just 12.6% versus the state's 33.3%, and 11th grade SAT reading scores sit at 33% compared to the state's 52.1%. The strongest relative performance appears in 9th grade PSAT English, where students score within 5.5 points of the state average, suggesting a particularly effective reading program at that level. Encouragingly, the school shows notable year-over-year improvements in upper grades—11th grade science jumped 8.1 points and 6th grade math nearly doubled from 9.2% to 17.3% proficiency—indicating that targeted interventions may be gaining traction.

For parents, the key takeaway is that this school prioritizes student retention and support over test-score maximization. The low dropout rate and high graduation rate, despite significant economic challenges, suggest a caring environment where students feel connected. However, the persistent achievement gaps—especially in middle school math, where proficiency is less than half the state rate—mean that academically ambitious students may need supplemental support. Chronic absenteeism (28.2%) slightly exceeds the state average and likely contributes to learning loss. With a student-teacher ratio of 19.7:1 and per-student spending of $14,351, resources are moderate, but the school's ability to graduate students at rates far exceeding the state, despite its high-poverty population, is a genuine strength worth acknowledging.