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Battle Creek Central High School

Public Grades 9-12

696^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 800 Michigan High Schools

Better than 13% of Michigan high schools

Summary

Battle Creek Central High School is the largest traditional high school in the Battle Creek Public Schools district, serving 978 students in grades 9-12 in the urban core of Battle Creek, MI, where roughly 62% of students qualify for free or reduced lunch.

The most encouraging news for parents is the school's dramatic improvement in graduation rates. Over the past three years, the graduation rate has climbed from 72% to 84.3%—now slightly exceeding the state average of 84% and far outpacing the district average of 69.4%. This puts Battle Creek Central ahead of alternative schools in the area like WK Kellogg Preparatory High School (33.3%) and Battle Creek Area Learning Center (32%), and approaching the rates at nearby Pennfield Senior High School (86.7%). The school's overall statewide ranking has also improved from the 6th percentile to the 13th percentile—its best position in nearly a decade.

However, significant challenges remain. Chronic absenteeism affects 53.8% of students—nearly double the state average and roughly twice the rate at nearby Harper Creek High School (23.1%) and Lakeview High School (30.6%). Academic proficiency also lags: only 5.6% of 11th graders are proficient in math and 23.1% in reading/writing on the SAT, compared to 20.3% and 43.3% respectively at Pennfield. The school spends $19,754 per student—about $5,000 more than neighboring traditional high schools—reflecting the intensive resources needed to support its high-needs population. While the school's English Learner program shows relative strength (ranking in the 34th percentile statewide), the persistent attendance challenges and achievement gaps suggest that improving student engagement will be critical to building on the recent graduation gains.

978

Students ?

16.9

Student/teacher ratio ?

$19,754

Per pupil spending ?

61.9%

Free/reduced lunch eligible (2024-25) ?

All students in Michigan receive free school meals.

100 Van Buren St W
Battle Creek, MI 49017-3050

(269) 213-3500

District: Battle Creek Public Schools

Racial breakdown:

African American:

41.8%

White:

27.0%

Hispanic:

15.3%

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Compare Battle Creek Central High School to nearby high schools!

At a glance

▲ Ranking trend: Rebounding — 1st percentile in 2021 → 13th in 2026

Strengths

✓Ranking is rebounding — up to 13th (2026) from a 1st-percentile low (2021)

Worth a look

!Test scores below the Michigan average (18% vs 43% meeting standards)

!In the lower quartile statewide (13th percentile)

!High chronic absenteeism (54% vs 28% Michigan)

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school18%

District avg17%

Michigan avg43%

696^th of 800

Michigan public high schools ?

Bottom 13%▼ down 23 pts since 2016

From bottom 36% (2016) to bottom 13% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of Michigan High Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

577^th of 625Battle Creek Public Schools among Michigan districts

Statewide rank percentile over time (100 = the top-ranked school in the state; click a legend item to add a student group)

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Michigan percentile	Rating
2026	10.7	696 of 800	13.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	7.0	693 of 739	6.2%	☆☆☆☆☆
2024	7.9	685 of 743	7.8%	☆☆☆☆☆
2023	4.3	717 of 735	2.4%	☆☆☆☆☆
2022	8.9	518 of 531	2.4%	☆☆☆☆☆
2021	3.1	555 of 561	1.1%	☆☆☆☆☆
2019	8.1	613 of 666	8.0%	☆☆☆☆☆
2018	25.2	581 of 824	29.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2017	12.7	634 of 835	24.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2016	32.0	548 of 852	35.7%	★★☆☆☆
2015	33.7	558 of 832	32.9%	★★☆☆☆
2014	24.1	588 of 799	26.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2013	23.6	585 of 805	27.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2012	28.1	564 of 773	27.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2011	27.1	584 of 784	25.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2010	25.3	586 of 765	23.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2009	37.1	537 of 754	28.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2008	26.3	580 of 750	22.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2007	42.2	515 of 767	32.9%	★★☆☆☆
2006	29.9	554 of 705	21.4%	★☆☆☆☆

African American

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Michigan percentile	Rating
2026	16.5	227 of 252	9.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	18.5	170 of 192	11.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	18.9	159 of 188	15.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	11.8	135 of 147	8.2%	☆☆☆☆☆
2018	40.4	130 of 254	48.8%	★★☆☆☆

English Language Learner

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Michigan percentile	Rating
2026	32.9	78 of 119	34.5%	★★☆☆☆
2018	11.2	96 of 102	5.9%	☆☆☆☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Michigan percentile	Rating
2026	8.4	624 of 686	9.0%	☆☆☆☆☆
2025	4.8	611 of 629	2.9%	☆☆☆☆☆
2024	7.6	579 of 619	6.5%	☆☆☆☆☆
2023	4.0	597 of 611	2.3%	☆☆☆☆☆
2021	1.5	462 of 462	0.0%	☆☆☆☆☆
2019	5.4	523 of 554	5.6%	☆☆☆☆☆
2018	24.8	523 of 710	26.3%	★☆☆☆☆

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Michigan percentile	Rating
2026	27.9	200 of 259	22.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	5.5	193 of 195	1.0%	☆☆☆☆☆
2019	8.5	93 of 97	4.1%	☆☆☆☆☆
2018	17.3	165 of 201	17.9%	★☆☆☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Michigan percentile	Rating
2026	9.9	653 of 719	9.2%	☆☆☆☆☆
2025	9.2	590 of 635	7.1%	☆☆☆☆☆
2024	9.9	602 of 654	8.0%	☆☆☆☆☆
2023	3.0	612 of 614	0.3%	☆☆☆☆☆
2021	1.8	417 of 417	0.0%	☆☆☆☆☆
2019	12.3	483 of 532	9.2%	☆☆☆☆☆
2018	21.5	569 of 755	24.6%	★☆☆☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Michigan percentile	Rating
2026	9.2	627 of 693	9.5%	☆☆☆☆☆
2025	6.1	596 of 628	5.1%	☆☆☆☆☆
2024	4.2	615 of 633	2.8%	☆☆☆☆☆
2023	2.5	608 of 611	0.5%	☆☆☆☆☆
2022	7.0	431 of 440	2.0%	☆☆☆☆☆
2021	2.4	470 of 472	0.4%	☆☆☆☆☆
2019	5.4	516 of 543	5.0%	☆☆☆☆☆
2018	17.7	559 of 707	20.9%	★☆☆☆☆

Multi-racial

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Michigan percentile	Rating
2026	9.9	171 of 179	4.5%	☆☆☆☆☆
2023	8.8	106 of 110	3.6%	☆☆☆☆☆
2019	3.2	36 of 36	0.0%	☆☆☆☆☆
2018	46.6	45 of 93	51.6%	★★★☆☆

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Michigan percentile	Rating
2018	18.8	264 of 315	16.2%	★☆☆☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Michigan percentile	Rating
2026	12.1	598 of 671	10.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	15.0	547 of 639	14.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	13.9	572 of 638	10.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	2.9	637 of 647	1.5%	☆☆☆☆☆
2022	10.9	472 of 492	4.1%	☆☆☆☆☆
2021	3.5	514 of 516	0.4%	☆☆☆☆☆
2019	14.0	518 of 582	11.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	38.3	450 of 708	36.4%	★★☆☆☆

How student groups rank statewide ? (each group's percentile vs the same group at other schools — higher is better; the +/- beside each compares the group with this school's overall percentile)

English Language Learner (2026)34th percentile+21 vs school

Hispanic (2026)23rd percentile+10 vs school

Special Education (2018)16th percentile-13 vs school

White (2026)11th percentile~ school

African American (2026)10th percentile-3 vs school

Male (2026)10th percentile-3 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2026)9th percentile-4 vs school

Female (2026)9th percentile-4 vs school

Multi-racial (2026)4th percentile-9 vs school

By subject vs Michigan (2025-2026) ?

English Language Arts32%-27 vs state

Evidence-Based Reading and Writing23%-29 vs state

Social Studies19%-24 vs state

Mathematics10%-23 vs state

Science8%-27 vs state

5.0

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What people are saying

by a student
Thursday, October 4, 2012

I love this school!!! Close Quote

Schools Near Battle Creek Central High School

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Ranking:

E Elementary M Middle H High A Alternative P Private

Choose columns to see: Summary School Students/Teachers Ranking Test Scores Finance All

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2026)				Ranking (2025)				PSAT English Language Arts (2026)			PSAT Mathematics (2026)			SAT Evidence-Based Reading and Writing (2026)	SAT Mathematics (2026)	M-Step Science (2026)		M-Step Social Studies (2026)		Per Pupil Expenditures (2025)
Name	Type	Grades	Address	City	Zip	County	District	Is Charter	Is Magnet	Is Virtual	Is Title I	Phone	Enrollment	Full-time Teachers	Student/ Teacher Ratio	Free/reduced lunch (2024-25)	White	Black	Hispanic	Asian	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Average Standard Score (2026)	Statewide Rank (2026)	State Percentile (2026)	SchoolDigger Rating (2026)	Average Standard Score (2025)	Statewide Rank (2025)	State Percentile (2025)	Rank Change from Previous Year	PSAT English Language Arts 8th Grade	PSAT English Language Arts 9th Grade	PSAT English Language Arts 10th Grade	PSAT Mathematics 8th Grade	PSAT Mathematics 9th Grade	PSAT Mathematics 10th Grade	SAT Evidence-Based Reading and Writing 11th Grade	SAT Mathematics 11th Grade	M-Step Science 8th Grade	M-Step Science 11th Grade	M-Step Social Studies 8th Grade	M-Step Social Studies 11th Grade	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
Battle Creek Central High School	Public	9-12	100 Van Buren St W	Battle Creek	49017	Calhoun County	Battle Creek Public Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(269) 213-3500	978	58	16.9	61.9%	264 (27.0%)	409 (41.8%)	150 (15.3%)	13 (1.3%)	6 (0.6%)	1 (0.1%)	135 (13.8%)	10.7	696^th of 800 public high schools	13.0%		7	693^rd of 739 public high schools	6.2%	3		34.5	30.3		10.0	9.1	23.1	5.6		8.4		18.8	$19,754	$2,586	$17,168
WK Kellogg Preparatory High School	Public	9-12	100 Van Buren St W	Battle Creek	49017	Calhoun County	Battle Creek Public Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(269) 213-3500	173	8	22.9	77.5%	44 (25.4%)	87 (50.3%)	16 (9.2%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.6%)	0 (0.0%)	25 (14.5%)								(n/a)							342.7	320.0		2072.9		2074.5	$11,930	$2,541	$9,389
Battle Creek MathSci Center	Public, Magnet	8-12	171 Michigan Ave W	Battle Creek	49017	Calhoun County	Battle Creek Public Schools	No	Yes	No	No	(269) 965-9440	1	13	.0	—	1 (100.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)								(n/a)													$19,622	$2,077	$17,545
West Michigan Virtual Battle Creek High School	Public, Virtual	9-12	35 Hamblin Ave W	Battle Creek	49017	Calhoun County	Berrien Springs Public Schools	No	No	Yes	No	(269) 965-6486	370	6	59.6	61.9%	268 (72.4%)	43 (11.6%)	24 (6.5%)	2 (0.5%)	3 (0.8%)	0 (0.0%)	30 (8.1%)	12.2	687^th of 800 public high schools	14.1%		7.2	690^th of 739 public high schools	6.6%	3		28.8	44.9		6.3	367.3	26.8	372.5		9.9		15.5	$6,937	$256	$6,681
Calhoun Area Career Center	Public	10-12	475 Roosevelt Ave E	Battle Creek	49017	Calhoun County	Calhoun Intermediate School District	No	No	No	No	(269) 968-2271	0	19	.0	—	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()								(n/a)
Lakeview Alternative High School	Public	9-12	15 Arbor St	Battle Creek	49015	Calhoun County	Lakeview School District (Calhoun)	No	No	No	No	(269) 565-2452	67	1	47.8	68.7%	33 (49.3%)	19 (28.4%)	6 (9.0%)	1 (1.5%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	8 (11.9%)	8.4	720^th of 800 public high schools	10.0%					(n/a)							380.0	324.6		13.0		12.5	$11,813	$925	$10,888
Battle Creek Area Learning Center	Public, Charter	9-12	765 Upton Ave	Springfield	49037	Calhoun County	Battle Creek Area Learning Center	Yes	No	No	Yes	(269) 565-2460	194	13	15.2	88.7%	116 (59.8%)	36 (18.6%)	13 (6.7%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.5%)	1 (0.5%)	27 (13.9%)	8.8	716^th of 800 public high schools	10.5%		4.4	723^rd of 739 public high schools	2.2%	7		30.0	21.1		15.0	344.7	368.5	329.5		2070.0		10.8	$12,569	$970	$11,599
Lakeview High School	Public	9-12	15060 Helmer Rd S	Battle Creek	49015	Calhoun County	Lakeview School District (Calhoun)	No	No	No	No	(269) 565-3700	1,241	66	18.8	48.5%	633 (51.0%)	163 (13.1%)	168 (13.5%)	151 (12.2%)	4 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	122 (9.8%)	46.8	397^th of 800 public high schools	50.4%		51.2	356^th of 739 public high schools	51.8%	41		58.1	57.9		24.5	27.7	43.3	19.8		35.8		39.0	$14,829	$904	$13,925
Pennfield Senior High School	Public	8-12	8299 Pennfield Rd	Battle Creek	49017	Calhoun County	Pennfield Schools	No	No	No	No	(269) 961-9770	748	34	22.1	50.7%	606 (81.0%)	29 (3.9%)	40 (5.3%)	2 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	71 (9.5%)	47.8	389^th of 800 public high schools	51.4%		48.5	381^st of 739 public high schools	48.4%	8	54.4	65.8	49.3	13.4	29.5	20.5	46.6	20.3	21.9	35.1	33.6	45.0	$14,161	$833	$13,328
Harper Creek High School	Public	9-12	12677 Beadle Lake Rd	Battle Creek	49014	Calhoun County	Harper Creek Community Schools	No	No	No	No	(269) 441-8450	823	44	18.5	26.0%	688 (83.6%)	24 (2.9%)	43 (5.2%)	3 (0.4%)	3 (0.4%)	2 (0.2%)	60 (7.3%)	54	322^nd of 800 public high schools	59.8%		64.7	227^th of 739 public high schools	69.3%	95		63.7	61.4		34.1	26.2	46.6	18.8		38.1		44.3	$14,917	$1,158	$13,759

Frequently Asked Questions about Battle Creek Central High School

How many students attend Battle Creek Central High School?

In the 2024-25 school year, 978 students attended Battle Creek Central High School.

What is the racial makeup of Battle Creek Central High School?

Students at Battle Creek Central High School are 42% African American, 27% White, 15% Hispanic, 14% Two or more races, 1% Asian.

What district is Battle Creek Central High School in?

Battle Creek Public Schools

What schools feed into Battle Creek Central High School?

Battle Creek Central High School is fed by the following schools:

Elementary : Ann J Kellogg School
Elementary : Dudley Early Learning Center
Elementary : Lamora Park School
Elementary : Post Franklin School
Elementary : Valley View Elementary School
Elementary : Verona Elementary School
Middle : Springfield Middle School

Is Battle Creek Central High School a good school?

Battle Creek Central High School ranks in the bottom 13.0% of Michigan high schools.

Rate Battle Creek Central High School!

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Latest Michigan data All new data »

2025–26 M-Step, PSAT & SAT test scoresSep 4, 2026

2024–25 school spending dataJun 13, 2026

2024–25 dropout rates & graduation ratesJun 13, 2026

2024–25 attendance dataJan 6, 2026

SchoolDigger data sources: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education, the U.S. Census Bureau and the Michigan Department of Education.

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMERS: Not all boundaries are included. We make every effort to ensure that boundaries are up-to-date. But it's important to note that these are approximations and are for general informational purposes only. To verify legal descriptions of boundaries or school locations, contact your local tax assessor's office and/or school district.