Leslie Public Schools

Leslie Public Schools is a mid-sized Michigan district serving about 1,087 students across four schools—Woodworth Elementary School (PK-4), Leslie Middle School (5-8), and two high schools, Leslie High School and Ingham Virtual High School (both 9-12). The district ranks in the 54th percentile statewide with a 3-star rating, but performance varies sharply between buildings.

Leslie High School is the clear standout, posting a 96.4% graduation rate—well above the state average of 84%—and a dropout rate of just 2.3%. It also beats state averages on both SAT sections, with 56.3% of 11th graders proficient in reading/writing and 34.4% in math. By contrast, Ingham Virtual High School is a major concern: with only 29 students and a 170.5:1 student-teacher ratio, its graduation rate is just 35.2% and its dropout rate is 23.5%. The virtual school also serves the highest share of economically disadvantaged students (58.6%) yet receives the lowest per-student funding ($5,820). Woodworth Elementary School excels in 4th grade math, with 50% proficiency versus 39.4% statewide, and also edges out the state in 4th grade ELA.

A troubling pattern emerges at Leslie Middle School, where test scores plummet after 5th grade: ELA proficiency falls from 48.6% in 5th grade to 22.4% by 7th grade, and math proficiency drops from 15.3% in 5th grade—a steep decline from Woodworth’s strong elementary results. The middle school also has the district’s highest chronic absenteeism rate at 32.3%. Meanwhile, Leslie High School saw its ranking slip from the 74th to 53rd percentile year-over-year, though its strong graduation rate suggests this may be a temporary cohort effect. Overall, the district’s bright spot is Leslie High School’s success with economically disadvantaged students, while the middle school transition and the underfunded virtual program represent the biggest challenges.