Coloma Community Schools

Coloma Community Schools is a small Michigan district serving roughly 1,095 students in grades PK-12 across four schools, and it currently ranks in the 24th percentile statewide with a 1-star rating, reflecting significant challenges relative to other districts.

For parents, the standout school is Coloma High School, which is the district's strongest performer. It boasts an 86.9% graduation rate that exceeds the state average, the lowest chronic absenteeism in the district at 24.7%, and 10th grade PSAT ELA proficiency (58.8%) that essentially matches the state average. In contrast, Coloma Intermediate School is the area of greatest concern, ranking in the 19th percentile statewide with 5th grade math proficiency dropping to just 10.5% and nearly 79% of students qualifying for free/reduced lunch. Coloma Elementary School also struggles, particularly with a 34.9% chronic absenteeism rate—more than one in three students—and 3rd grade proficiency gaps of roughly 19 points in ELA and 26 points in math below state averages. Coloma Junior High School sits in the middle, with 6th and 7th grade math proficiency hovering around 12%, though its 8th grade social studies scores improved dramatically by 17.5 points year-over-year.

A key pattern is the "Coloma Slide," where math proficiency declines from 16.9% in 3rd grade to 10.5% by 5th grade, suggesting cumulative learning gaps. However, there is a remarkable rebound in high school ELA, jumping from roughly 24% proficiency in 7th grade to 47.4% on the 9th grade PSAT and 58.8% on the 10th grade PSAT. The district also shows extreme year-over-year volatility in several metrics, making true trends difficult to assess. Despite spending $14,116-$16,173 per student, outcomes remain low, though the high school's success in graduating students above the state average despite 64% poverty suggests secondary education is doing something right that elementary grades are not. Chronic absenteeism appears to be the district's most pressing issue, correlating strongly with the lowest proficiency rates at the elementary level.