Roscommon Area Public Schools

Roscommon Area Public Schools is a small, rural Michigan district serving roughly 791 students in grades PK-12 across three schools: Roscommon Elementary School (PK-4), Roscommon Middle School (5-7), and Roscommon High School (7-12).

The clear standout is Roscommon Middle School, which earns a 4-star rating and ranks in the 71st percentile statewide—well ahead of its peers. Its 7th graders exceed state averages in both math and ELA, and chronic absenteeism is the lowest in the district. Roscommon High School is a solid 3-star performer, boasting a 91.8% graduation rate and strong science scores (49.2% proficiency in 11th grade, 14 points above the state). However, Roscommon Elementary School is the weakest link, earning just 2 stars despite spending the most per student ($19,999) and having the lowest student-teacher ratio. Its 3rd grade ELA proficiency (30.2%) trails the state by 8 points, and 3rd grade math collapsed by nearly 17 points in one year.

The most striking issue is an 8th grade "trough." While 7th graders at the middle school outperform state averages, 8th graders at the high school score 22 points below the state in ELA and 15.6 points below in math. This suggests a difficult transition between buildings, especially since the high school serves grades 7-12, splitting 7th graders across two campuses. Chronic absenteeism at the high school (31.8%) likely compounds this problem. On the positive side, science is a genuine district strength, and the middle school's success offers a blueprint for improvement. The district's high spending and mid-pack results suggest resources aren't yet translating into proportional academic gains, making the 8th grade transition and elementary literacy the top priorities for parents to watch.