Kalkaska Middle School

Kalkaska Middle School serves 307 students in grades 6-8 and is part of the Kalkaska Public Schools district in the rural community of Kalkaska, MI. The school has earned a 2-star rating from the state for several years, placing it in the lower half of Michigan middle schools, though its ranking has improved steadily over the past decade.

Academic proficiency on state tests is significantly below state averages. For example, only 17.6% of 6th graders are proficient in ELA (state: 37.5%) and just 8.1% are proficient in math (state: 31.9%). These scores are also far lower than those at nearby East Middle School in Traverse City and Cherryland Middle School in Elk Rapids, where proficiency rates often reach 40-55%. However, there are bright spots: 8th graders taking the PSAT scored 65.6% proficient in ELA in 2024-2025, actually matching the state average. Performance also varies by grade—7th grade ELA proficiency (27.6%) is notably higher than 6th grade (17.6%)—suggesting that specific teachers or programs are making a difference.

One of the school's biggest challenges is chronic absenteeism, which sits at 33.5%—more than triple the rate at East Middle School (9.8%) and double that at Cherryland Middle School (16.1%). Over 55% of students qualify for free or reduced lunch, reflecting the economic challenges many families face. Despite these obstacles, Kalkaska consistently outperforms Forest Area Middle School, its most demographically similar neighbor, in nearly every subject. The school also spends slightly more per student ($15,111) than the higher-performing nearby schools, indicating that funding isn't the primary issue. For parents, this is a school showing slow but steady improvement, with pockets of success that suggest targeted support in attendance and foundational skills could yield meaningful gains.