Summary:
Covert Public Schools is a small, rural district in Covert, Michigan, serving about 324 students across three schools—Covert Elementary School (PK-5), Covert Middle School (6-8), and Covert High School (9-12)—with a district ranking in the bottom 13% of Michigan schools.
Among the three, Covert Middle School stands out as the relative bright spot. Its 8th-grade PSAT English Language Arts proficiency hit 46.4%, the highest in the district and a 16-point jump from the prior year, while its state percentile ranking improved from the 29th to the 24th percentile. Covert Elementary School shows the most consistent upward trend in ranking over three years, though it slipped recently. Covert High School lags behind, with only 12% of 10th graders proficient in PSAT math and a graduation rate of 79.3%—below the state average of 84%. Across all schools, ELA proficiency in grades 3-7 hovers between 12% and 21%, while chronic absenteeism is a district-wide concern, ranging from 31.7% at the elementary to 39.3% at the middle school, all exceeding the state rate of 27.9%.
Despite spending a hefty $22,000–$25,000 per student—well above state norms—and maintaining favorable student-teacher ratios near 15:1, achievement remains low. This disconnect suggests that high poverty levels (71–81% free/reduced lunch) and absenteeism are major hurdles that money alone hasn’t overcome. Math proficiency is especially troubling, dropping from 21.1% in 3rd grade to just 12% by 10th grade, pointing to weak foundational skills. The middle school’s PSAT success hints that targeted interventions can work, but those gains haven’t spread to other subjects or grade levels. For parents, the takeaway is clear: these schools offer small classes and dedicated resources, but academic outcomes are inconsistent, and attendance is the single biggest factor families can influence to help their child succeed.
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