High Schools in Coopersville Area Public School District

The Coopersville Area Public School District in Michigan is served by two very different high schools: Coopersville High School, a large traditional school with 860 students, and CAPS Academy, a small alternative program with just 22 students. Both serve grades 9-12, but they cater to distinct student needs, making direct comparisons less meaningful than understanding each school’s unique role.

Coopersville High School is the district’s academic standout. It posted a 97.4% graduation rate and a 1.0% dropout rate in 2024-2025, far better than state averages (84.0% and 7.1%, respectively). Its chronic absenteeism rate of 14.8% is roughly half the state’s 27.9%. Academically, the school’s state ranking has been volatile—jumping from the 60th percentile (2023-2024) to the 85th (2024-2025), then settling at the 74th (2025-2026). Notably, 11th-grade SAT scores dropped sharply between 2024-2025 and 2025-2026: reading/writing proficiency fell from 66.8% to 51.8%, and math from 39.3% to 30.6%. Despite this decline, math and science proficiency remain above state averages. The school spends $15,330 per student, and about one-third of its students qualify for free/reduced lunch.

CAPS Academy faces significant challenges, with a 72.2% graduation rate, an 11.1% dropout rate, and a chronic absenteeism rate of 56.2%—nearly four times that of Coopersville High. It serves a higher proportion of economically disadvantaged students (59.1% free/reduced lunch) and spends less per student ($13,325) than the larger high school, which is unusual for an alternative program that typically requires more support services. The most telling takeaway is that chronic absenteeism separates these two student bodies: Coopersville High’s low rate supports its success, while CAPS Academy’s high rate likely drives its lower outcomes. Parents should view CAPS Academy as a specialized option for students needing alternative pathways, not as a direct competitor to Coopersville High’s traditional college-prep environment.