Parchment School District

The Parchment School District in Kalamazoo, Michigan, serves approximately 1,558 students across six schools—three elementary schools, one middle school, and two high schools—and currently holds a 1-star rating, placing it in the lower quartile of Michigan districts.

For parents, the standout success is Parchment North Elementary School, which posted a dramatic 28-point jump in 5th grade English Language Arts proficiency (from 21.6% to 49.5%), now exceeding the state average. Meanwhile, Parchment High School is the district's strongest overall performer, with a 90.6% graduation rate and a remarkably low 1.8% dropout rate—far better than the district's 71.9% and 14.6% averages. In contrast, Parchment Innovation Center is a major concern, with only a 36.8% graduation rate, a 38.6% dropout rate, and a 61.8% chronic absenteeism rate, which dramatically skews district-wide metrics. Among the elementary schools, Parchment Central Elementary School consistently outperforms Parchment Northwood Elementary School in both 3rd grade ELA (17.6% vs. 8.89%) and math (29.7% vs. 15.6%), despite similar economic profiles.

A district-wide math crisis is evident, with proficiency rates at every grade level—from 3rd grade (15.6-29.7%) through 11th grade (12.3%)—falling below half the state average. Parchment Middle School shows particularly severe math deficiencies (9.2% in 6th grade vs. 31.9% statewide), and the transition from elementary to middle school appears especially challenging. Chronic absenteeism exceeds state averages at the middle and high school levels, though Parchment North Elementary (19.8%) and Parchment Central Elementary (22.9%) fare better. Resource concerns are notable at the Innovation Center, which has a 39.6:1 student-teacher ratio and per-student spending of just $7,862—less than half of other district schools. Despite these challenges, positive trends exist, including year-over-year improvements in high school science and social studies, and modest gains in middle school ELA and math.