Summary
Caro Middle School, part of the Caro Community Schools district in Caro, MI, serves 305 students in grades 6-8 and has consistently earned a 2-star rating from SchoolDigger, placing it in the lower half of Michigan middle schools. About 54% of students qualify for free or reduced lunch, reflecting a significant level of economic need in the community.
Academically, Caro Middle School trails state averages in most subjects. For example, 7th-grade math proficiency sits at just 17.3% compared to the state average of 33.3%, and 8th-grade PSAT math scores are similarly low at 22.7% versus 33.2% statewide. The school also struggles with chronic absenteeism—30% of students were chronically absent in the 2024-2025 school year, higher than the state average and well above nearby schools. However, there are bright spots: 8th-grade social studies proficiency (45.8%) nearly matches the state average, and 6th-grade English Language Arts has improved dramatically from 12.7% proficiency in 2023-2024 to 27.1% in 2025-2026, suggesting recent literacy efforts are gaining traction.
Comparisons with nearby schools reveal a complex picture. EF Rittmueller Middle School in Frankenmuth, just 19 miles away, is a top performer with 7th-grade math proficiency of 67.3%—nearly four times Caro's rate—though it serves a much wealthier population (only 18.75% free/reduced lunch). A fairer comparison is Millington Junior High School, which has similar economic demographics (47% free/reduced lunch). Here, results are mixed: Caro outperforms Millington in 6th-grade math (28% vs. 15.5%) but lags in 7th-grade ELA (23.5% vs. 35.6%). Notably, Caro spends more per student ($14,088) than all nearby schools, including Frankenmuth ($11,972), and has a lower student-teacher ratio—suggesting resources alone don't explain the performance gap, and there may be room to examine how funds are allocated to instructional programs.
Thank you for your feedback!