Summary:
Comstock Public Schools is a five-school district in Kalamazoo, Michigan, serving roughly 1,838 students from elementary through high school, including an alternative high school. The district overall ranks in the 47th percentile statewide with a 2-star rating, but that average hides a dramatic split between one exceptional school and several that are struggling significantly.
The clear standout is STEM Academy, a K-8 school ranked in the 96th percentile of Michigan elementary schools with a 5-star rating. Its proficiency rates are extraordinary—85.7% of 5th graders are proficient in ELA and 74.3% in math, compared to just 14.4% and 6.7% at Comstock Elementary School. STEM Academy also has the district's lowest chronic absenteeism at 12.1%. In contrast, Comstock Middle School shows only 6.6% proficiency in 6th grade ELA, and Comstock High School posts a 7.9% SAT math proficiency rate. The most challenged school is Comstock Compass High School, the alternative school, with a 46.9% graduation rate and 69.4% chronic absenteeism.
Chronic absenteeism is a district-wide crisis—every school except STEM Academy exceeds the state's 27.9% rate, with Comstock Middle at 53.2% and Comstock Elementary at 49.9%. Despite high per-student spending ($27,000-$29,500 at traditional schools), outcomes remain below state averages. However, Comstock High School is a relative bright spot with an 81.9% graduation rate, nearly matching the state's 84.0%. The stark achievement gap between STEM Academy and the other schools—often 50-70 percentage points—suggests parents should carefully consider school choice options within this district, as the educational experience varies enormously depending on which building their child attends.
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