Summary:
The Mar Lee School District is a small, rural district in Marshall, Michigan, containing just one school—Mar Lee School—which serves 295 students in grades K-8, after which students move to neighboring districts for high school.
This single-building district shows a clear split between strong literacy and weaker math skills. In English Language Arts, Mar Lee School beats the state average at every grade level, with particularly strong results in 3rd grade (51.4% proficient vs. 38.2% statewide) and 4th grade (56.0% vs. 41.3%). However, math tells a different story—proficiency falls below state averages in every grade except 3rd, with the sharpest drop occurring between 3rd grade (51.4%) and 4th grade (24.0%). This "4th grade cliff" has persisted for two consecutive years, suggesting a curriculum transition issue rather than a one-time cohort problem. The school also excels in 8th grade science (50% vs. 39.2% state) and social studies (53.1% vs. 50.3%), but 5th grade stands out as a consistent weak point across ELA, math, and social studies.
On a positive note, the district is improving—it jumped 146 spots in statewide rankings and earned a third star. Notable gains include 7th grade ELA (+25.8 points) and 6th grade math (+12.5 points) year-over-year. With a low 12.6:1 student-teacher ratio, $15,291 per-student spending, and chronic absenteeism nearly 10 points below the state average (18.0% vs. 27.9%), the school has a solid foundation. However, with only about 33 students per grade, small cohort sizes mean a few students can dramatically shift percentages, explaining the volatility in scores like 8th grade science dropping from 65% to 50%. For parents, this is a caring, well-funded school with strong reading instruction and improving overall performance, but math intervention after 3rd grade should be a priority.
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