Onaway Middle School

Onaway Middle School is a small, rural public school in Onaway, MI, serving just 106 students in grades 6 through 8 as part of the Onaway Area Community School District. With over 60% of students eligible for free or reduced-price lunch, the school serves a predominantly low-income population in a community where there are no other schools within 20 miles.

The most striking finding is a dramatic academic decline in the 2025-2026 school year. After ranking in the 42nd percentile statewide the previous year, the school plummeted to the 18th percentile—its lowest ranking in a decade. This drop affected nearly every subject and student group. For example, 6th-grade ELA proficiency fell to just 9.5% (compared to the state average of 37.5%), and 7th-grade math proficiency dropped to 11.4% (state: 33.3%). The decline was especially sharp for low-income students, who had ranked in the 89th percentile (4 stars) for their subgroup in 2024-2025 but fell to the 9th percentile (0 stars) just one year later. This reversal suggests that strategies that were previously working may no longer be effective, or that the current group of students has needs that aren't being fully met.

It's important to note that the school's small size makes year-to-year data volatile—a single class of high-performing students can dramatically shift results. The previous 8th-grade class, for instance, excelled in science (56.3% proficiency) and social studies (62.5%), but that cohort has since moved on to high school. Chronic absenteeism also remains a challenge, affecting about one in four students. On a positive note, per-student spending has increased significantly, from $9,683 in 2021-2022 to $14,831 in 2024-2025, though this investment hasn't yet translated into improved test scores. For parents, this means Onaway Middle School is at a critical juncture—the recent decline is broad and concerning, but the school's small size and increased funding suggest there's potential for a turnaround if the right supports are put in place.