Summary:
The Mason Consolidated Schools (Monroe) district in Erie, Michigan, offers two very different high school options for families: the large, traditional Mason Senior High School (serving grades 9-12 with 316 students) and the much smaller, online Mason Virtual Academy (serving grades 6-12 with just 20 students).
For parents seeking a traditional school experience, Mason Senior High School is clearly the district's academic leader. It ranks in the 80th percentile statewide and boasts an exceptional 95.9% graduation rate, far surpassing the state average of 84.0%. The school excels in Social Studies and SAT Evidence-Based Reading and Writing, with students outperforming state averages. However, there is a significant red flag in mathematics: only 12.9% of 11th graders were proficient on the SAT Math exam, a dramatic drop from 34.6% the previous year and less than half the state average of 26.5%. This decline warrants immediate attention from parents, especially since 9th and 10th graders show promising PSAT math scores. Additionally, chronic absenteeism (30.6%) runs above the state average, even as the school maintains strong graduation outcomes.
In contrast, Mason Virtual Academy presents a more concerning picture. Its graduation rate (76.9%) falls below the state average, its dropout rate (7.6%) exceeds it, and chronic absenteeism (39.1%) is the highest in the district. The virtual school also spends over $4,000 less per student ($10,547 vs. $14,686) and has a much higher student-teacher ratio (25.9 vs. 16.5) than the traditional high school. While the virtual model may serve a niche population, the data suggests it struggles with student engagement and outcomes. For most families, Mason Senior High School offers a more robust, well-resourced education, though parents should investigate the math proficiency decline and absenteeism concerns before enrolling.
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