Climax-Scotts Community Schools

Climax-Scotts Community Schools is a small, rural Michigan district serving roughly 650 students in grades PK-12 across three schools: Climax-Scotts High School (grades 6-12), Climax-Scotts Elementary School (grades PK-5), and Climax-Scotts Virtual Academy (grades 5-12). The district overall earns a 3-star rating, ranking in the 50th percentile of Michigan districts.

The standout performer is Climax-Scotts High School, which has surged from the 35th to the 58th percentile in state rankings over two years and boasts a perfect 100% graduation rate with a 0% dropout rate. Its 11th graders score above the state average in reading/writing (55.9% vs. 52.1%) but lag in math (23.5% vs. 26.5%). Climax-Scotts Elementary School provides a stable foundation with 2-star ratings, excelling in 5th-grade science (58.8% proficiency vs. 40% statewide) while keeping chronic absenteeism low at 11%. In stark contrast, Climax-Scotts Virtual Academy struggles across nearly every metric: a 47% graduation rate, 21.5% dropout rate, and 36.9% chronic absenteeism—all far worse than state averages.

The most striking finding is the disparity between the traditional schools and the Virtual Academy. The high school and elementary school serve relatively similar populations (28-31% economically disadvantaged) and spend roughly $17,000 per student, while the Virtual Academy serves a much higher-need population (69.7% free/reduced lunch) but spends only $6,646 per student—a $10,000 gap that likely explains its poor outcomes. Additionally, with no dedicated middle school, 6th-8th graders attend the high school, where 8th-grade science proficiency (22%) lags far behind the state (39.2%). For parents, the traditional schools offer strong, improving academics and excellent graduation outcomes, but the Virtual Academy's high absenteeism and low graduation rate raise serious concerns about whether it adequately supports its students.