Summary:
Lawrence Public Schools is a small, rural Michigan district serving about 393 students across two schools: Lawrence Elementary School (grades K-6) and Lawrence JrSr High School (grades 7-12). The district ranks in the 26th percentile statewide, with a predominantly low-income student population (roughly 75% qualify for free/reduced lunch) and per-pupil spending that is notably high due to the small enrollment.
The two schools are heading in opposite directions. Lawrence JrSr High School is the relative bright spot, jumping from the 20th to the 44th percentile in state rankings over the past year—a remarkable 24-point improvement. In contrast, Lawrence Elementary School has slipped from the 31st to the 23rd percentile over two years. The elementary school’s decline is driven by a dramatic "5th grade cliff": ELA proficiency plunges from 32.4% in 4th grade to just 11.5% in 5th grade, a 21-point drop that far exceeds state trends. Math proficiency is a district-wide concern, with every grade level lagging 15-21 points behind state averages—only 12.1% of 7th graders and 17.1% of 11th graders are proficient in math.
Despite low test scores, the high school posts a 0.0% dropout rate and an 86.2% graduation rate, both better than state averages, suggesting strong student support systems. Chronic absenteeism is nearly double at the secondary level (25.8%) compared to elementary (13.4%), though both are below the state average. The high school’s strongest relative performance is 10th grade PSAT ELA (51.6% vs. 58% statewide). With only about 30 students per grade, year-to-year swings can reflect just a few students’ results, so interpret changes cautiously. For parents, the high school shows promising momentum, while the elementary school—especially 5th grade literacy—needs urgent attention.
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