High Schools in Lawton Community School District

The Lawton Community School District in Michigan contains two high schools serving grades 5-12, offering a stark contrast between a large traditional high school and a small alternative program.

Lawton High School is the district's primary and standout school, serving 279 students in grades 8-12. It boasts a 93.1% graduation rate, far exceeding the district (85.0%) and state (84.0%) averages, with a remarkably low 1.7% dropout rate. The school is on an upward trajectory, improving its state ranking from the 31st percentile in 2024-2025 to the 48th percentile in 2025-2026. While reading and writing scores are near state averages, math remains a significant weakness, with only 17.7% of 11th graders proficient in SAT math compared to the state's 26.5%. Chronic absenteeism at 23.4% is better than the state average of 27.9%, and over half of its students (53.05%) qualify for free/reduced lunch.

In stark contrast, Lawton Accelerated Academic Center serves just 26 students in grades 5-12 and faces severe challenges. Its graduation rate is a critical 33.3%, with an equally alarming 33.3% dropout rate—nearly 20 times the state average. Chronic absenteeism affects 62.5% of its students, indicating a serious engagement crisis. With 73.08% of students economically disadvantaged, this center appears to serve a high-need, at-risk population requiring intensive intervention rather than a traditional accelerated curriculum. The student-teacher ratio of 152.9 is an outlier, likely reflecting a specialized or self-directed learning model given the tiny enrollment.

For parents, the choice is clear: Lawton High School offers strong graduation outcomes, improving test scores, and a positive trajectory, though math support is needed. The Accelerated Academic Center appears to be a last-resort option for students with profound academic or behavioral needs, given its extremely low graduation rate and high dropout/absenteeism figures. The district-wide math deficiency and the economic disadvantage affecting over half of all students are important context for any family evaluating these schools.