Muskegon High School

Muskegon High School is a large, urban public high school in Muskegon, MI, serving 1,003 students in grades 9-12 within the Muskegon Public Schools of the City of district, where about 78% of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch.

For parents, the most important thing to know is that Muskegon High faces significant academic challenges, but it also has some genuine bright spots. The school's overall performance places it in the bottom 13th percentile of high schools statewide, and math proficiency is a major concern—only 6.5% of 10th graders and 9% of 9th graders scored proficient on the PSAT, compared to state averages of 31.5% and 33.5%. This is starkly lower than nearby North Muskegon High School, where 44.9% of 10th graders were proficient in math. Chronic absenteeism is also a serious issue, with 50.6% of students missing substantial instructional time—nearly double the state average and far higher than the 16.1% rate at North Muskegon or 18.8% at Mona Shores High School. On a positive note, the school excels in serving its English Language Learner students, ranking in the 91st percentile statewide for that subgroup and earning a 5-star rating—a remarkable strength that suggests effective programs exist that could be expanded.

There is also encouraging news on graduation. The graduation rate rose from 80.4% to 84.6% in the last year, now slightly above the state average, while the dropout rate fell from 12.5% to 8.1%. This shows the school is making real progress in keeping students on track to finish. However, it's worth noting that the school spends a substantial $15,433 per student—more than the higher-performing North Muskegon High—yet maintains a high student-teacher ratio of 22.2, suggesting resources may not be reaching classrooms in the most effective way. Performance across student subgroups has also been inconsistent from year to year, pointing to a need for more stable, sustained support. Overall, Muskegon High is a school with real challenges, but also with proven strengths and a positive trajectory in helping students graduate.