Martin Public Schools

Martin Public Schools is a small, two-school district in a rural Michigan community serving about 629 students from pre-kindergarten through 12th grade, with a combined middle/high school configuration and a moderate-to-high poverty rate (roughly 42-50% of students qualifying for free/reduced lunch).

The district’s two schools offer very different stories. Martin High School (grades 6-12) is the clear standout, having climbed from a 2-star to a 3-star rating and now ranking in the 58th percentile statewide. Its most impressive achievement is a 94.3% graduation rate with a 0% dropout rate—well above state averages—showing the school excels at keeping students engaged through completion. The high school also posted a remarkable 81% proficiency rate on the 10th grade PSAT English Language Arts, a stunning 23 points above the state average. However, this strength doesn’t carry into 11th grade SAT scores (42.5% in reading, 12.5% in math), and math proficiency gaps versus the state widen significantly by middle school (e.g., 6th grade math is 17 points below state). In contrast, Robert D Brandon Elementary School (PK-5) has been more volatile, bouncing between 2 and 3 stars. It currently sits at a 2-star rating (36th percentile) after significant year-over-year declines in 3rd, 4th, and 5th grade English Language Arts (drops of 10-20 points). Yet the elementary school shines in 5th grade science, where 51% of students are proficient—11 points above the state average.

For parents, the key takeaway is that this district has bright spots but also clear areas of concern. The high school’s graduation rate and 10th grade reading success are genuine strengths, while the elementary school’s recent ELA slide and the district-wide pattern of math gaps (worsening from 3rd grade through SAT) warrant attention. One notable anomaly: 8th grade science proficiency collapsed from 51% to 14.8% in a single year, suggesting a possible curriculum or cohort issue. Additionally, the district reports 9.6% chronic absenteeism, but the elementary school’s rate is 15.4%—a discrepancy that may indicate data reporting inconsistencies. Social studies is the district’s most consistent subject, with scores within 5 points of state averages at every grade level tested.