Summary:
The Mt. Pleasant City School District serves roughly 3,341 students across 9 schools, including five elementary schools, one middle school, and three high schools, in a mid-sized Michigan community. The district overall ranks in the 39th percentile statewide, but that average hides a dramatic split between a standout high school and several schools facing serious challenges.
For parents, the most important takeaway is that outcomes vary enormously by school. Mt Pleasant Senior High School is the clear district leader, ranking in the 78th percentile with a 93% graduation rate and test scores that beat state averages in every subject—including 62.7% proficiency in SAT reading and 38.6% in math. By contrast, Oasis is in crisis: only 44.9% of its students graduate, 39.1% drop out, and a staggering 93.7% are chronically absent. Mt Pleasant Middle School sits in the middle, ranking in the 62nd percentile with strong 8th-grade English (70.2% proficiency) but weak math scores (24.2% in 7th grade, well below the state's 33.3%). Among elementary schools, Fancher School and Mary McGuire School both trail state averages in 5th-grade reading and math, with Mary McGuire falling nearly 20 points behind in 4th-grade math.
Several patterns stand out. First, math is the district's weakest subject across nearly all grade levels, with the gap widening as students move from elementary to middle school. Second, the PK-2 schools (Pullen Elementary School, Vowles School, and Ganiard School) have no test data at all, leaving a critical gap in early learning measurement. Third, spending does not predict success—Ganiard School spends the most per student ($20,023) but serves only PK-2, while the high school achieves top results with mid-range spending. Finally, chronic absenteeism is a district-wide issue, though Ganiard School stands out with just 16.6% absenteeism. Isabella Day Treatment, with only 6 students, is too small for meaningful comparison. For parents, the high school offers proven excellence, but elementary and middle school math needs attention, and Oasis requires urgent intervention.
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