High Schools in Standish-Sterling Community Schools

Standish-Sterling Community Schools is home to a single high school, StandishSterling Central JrSr High School, which serves students in grades 7-12 in the Standish, Michigan area with an enrollment of 660 students.

This combined junior/senior high school stands out for its exceptional student outcomes: a 98.2% graduation rate and a 0.8% dropout rate, both dramatically better than state averages. The school also earns a 4-star district rating and ranks in the 76th percentile of Michigan districts. However, academic proficiency tells a more complex story. The most striking finding is a persistent gap between English language arts and math—in 11th grade, 56.3% of students are proficient in SAT reading/writing versus just 22.9% in SAT math. While 7th grade scores improved significantly this year (ELA jumped nearly 19 points to 54.9% proficiency), upper-grade performance declined, particularly in 11th grade science, which fell 16.4 points to 36.5% proficiency. The school serves a majority economically disadvantaged population (52.1% free/reduced lunch), yet still outperforms state averages in several areas, including 7th grade ELA and 11th grade social studies.

For parents, the key takeaway is that this school excels at keeping students engaged and on track to graduate, even while facing academic challenges in specific subjects. Math proficiency is consistently below state averages across all grade levels, representing the school's most significant area for improvement. Chronic absenteeism affects 23.3% of students—better than the state rate but higher than the district average—and may be a lever for further gains. The school's ranking has fluctuated notably in recent years (from 238th to 171st to 289th), so single-year rankings should be viewed cautiously. With a reasonable student-teacher ratio of 19.5:1 and per-student spending of $13,791, the school provides a solid foundation, though families should be aware that upper-grade science and math performance may require additional support at home.