Beta You're viewing our redesigned school page. Prefer the classic layout?

Portage Central Middle School

Q: Is Portage Central Middle School a good school?

Portage Central Middle School ranks 100 th of 896 Michigan middle schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

Public Grades 6-8

100^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 896 Michigan Middle Schools

Better than 89% of Michigan middle schools

Summary

Portage Central Middle School in Portage, MI, serves 719 students in grades 6 through 8 and is part of the highly rated Portage Public Schools district, ranking in the top 15% of middle schools statewide with a 4-star rating.

Academically, Portage Central consistently outperforms both its district and state averages across all subjects and grade levels. For example, 6th-grade ELA proficiency is 59.3% compared to the state average of 37.5%, and 8th-grade Social Studies proficiency reaches 71% versus 50.3% statewide. Within its own district, Portage Central is a clear leader, outperforming Portage North Middle School by a wide margin—7th-grade ELA proficiency is 51.2% at Portage Central versus 34.5% at Portage North. The school also demonstrates notable strengths with male students, who rank in the 91st percentile (5 stars), and maintains a chronic absenteeism rate of 20.1%, substantially lower than the state average of 27.9%. Furthermore, Portage Central achieves these results efficiently, spending $12,080 per student—significantly less than Comstock Middle School's $28,682 per student, which has far lower academic performance.

However, there are important trends to note. The school has seen a dramatic decline in performance for Special Education students, with their subgroup rank falling from the 59th percentile in 2023-2024 to the 12th percentile in 2025-2026—a trend that warrants attention. In contrast, students from low socio-economic backgrounds have shown strong improvement, jumping from the 65th to the 75th percentile over the same period. Portage Central also faces strong local competition from Portage West Middle School (ranked 79th in the state) and Mattawan Middle School (ranked 131st), making the greater Portage/Kalamazoo area a highly competitive educational landscape where Portage Central consistently holds its own as one of the best options for families.

719

Students ?

17.3

Student/teacher ratio ?

$12,080

Per pupil spending ?

18.9%

Free/reduced lunch eligible (2024-25) ?

All students in Michigan receive free school meals.

8305 S Westnedge Ave
Portage, MI 49002-5437

(269) 323-5600

District: Portage Public Schools

Students who attend Portage Central Middle School usually attend:

High:

Portage Central High School

Feeder schools for Portage Central Middle School:

Elementary:	Central Elementary School
	Lake Center Elementary School
	Woodland Elementary School

Racial breakdown:

White:

74.0%

Two or more races:

9.0%

Hispanic:

7.6%

See top rated Michigan middle schools

Compare Portage Central Middle School to nearby middle schools!

At a glance

▬ Ranking trend: Holding steady — 87th percentile in 2016 → 89th in 2026

Strengths

✓Test scores above the Michigan average (58% vs 41% meeting standards)

✓Ranks in the top 11% of Michigan middle schools

Worth a look

!Some student groups rank well below the school's overall statewide standing

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school58%

District avg55%

Michigan avg41%

100^th of 896

Michigan public middle schools ?

Top 11%▲ up 1 pts since 2016

See the entire ranking list of Michigan Middle Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

2^nd of 3Middle Schools in the Portage Public Schools

130^th of 625Portage 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	86.1	100 of 896	88.8%	★★★★☆
2025	82.5	117 of 890	86.9%	★★★★☆
2024	83.2	107 of 897	88.1%	★★★★☆
2023	89.6	77 of 883	91.3%	★★★★★
2022	81.0	106 of 776	86.3%	★★★★☆
2021	94.3	34 of 675	95.0%	★★★★★
2019	81.2	120 of 792	84.8%	★★★★☆
2018	85.7	99 of 838	88.2%	★★★★☆
2017	79.8	118 of 821	85.6%	★★★★☆
2016	83.5	113 of 894	87.4%	★★★★☆
2015	84.0	96 of 919	89.6%	★★★★☆
2014	76.3	171 of 921	81.4%	★★★★☆
2013	76.6	163 of 919	82.3%	★★★★☆
2012	74.7	187 of 900	79.2%	★★★★☆
2011	77.7	150 of 858	82.5%	★★★★☆
2010	75.7	181 of 851	78.7%	★★★★☆
2009	82.3	93 of 847	89.0%	★★★★☆
2008	79.0	129 of 839	84.6%	★★★★☆
2007	81.4	103 of 823	87.5%	★★★★☆
2006	80.7	109 of 806	86.5%	★★★★☆

Asian

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Michigan percentile	Rating
2026	77.2	24 of 87	72.4%	★★★★☆
2025	52.9	48 of 85	43.5%	★★☆☆☆
2024	43.9	55 of 88	37.5%	★★☆☆☆
2023	54.5	44 of 87	49.4%	★★★☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Michigan percentile	Rating
2026	79.2	117 of 789	85.2%	★★★★☆
2025	75.6	134 of 789	83.0%	★★★★☆
2024	80.0	99 of 771	87.2%	★★★★☆
2023	86.2	75 of 770	90.3%	★★★★★
2022	76.9	101 of 657	84.6%	★★★★☆
2021	91.3	36 of 521	93.1%	★★★★★
2019	77.1	115 of 658	82.5%	★★★★☆
2018	84.9	93 of 794	88.3%	★★★★☆

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Michigan percentile	Rating
2026	57.9	95 of 260	63.5%	★★★☆☆
2025	71.8	58 of 265	78.1%	★★★★☆
2024	60.3	82 of 257	68.1%	★★★☆☆
2023	81.7	27 of 246	89.0%	★★★★☆
2018	60.7	87 of 266	67.3%	★★★☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Michigan percentile	Rating
2026	65.6	209 of 834	74.9%	★★★★☆
2025	51.3	371 of 832	55.4%	★★★☆☆
2024	56.7	289 of 836	65.4%	★★★☆☆
2023	69.0	163 of 825	80.2%	★★★★☆
2022	57.1	245 of 691	64.5%	★★★☆☆
2019	69.1	137 of 672	79.6%	★★★★☆
2018	66.7	223 of 815	72.6%	★★★★☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Michigan percentile	Rating
2026	87.9	71 of 813	91.3%	★★★★★
2025	83.3	97 of 798	87.8%	★★★★☆
2024	80.6	114 of 786	85.5%	★★★★☆
2023	88.0	79 of 776	89.8%	★★★★☆
2022	78.3	104 of 658	84.2%	★★★★☆
2021	94.2	23 of 540	95.7%	★★★★★
2019	78.2	104 of 639	83.7%	★★★★☆
2018	83.5	107 of 797	86.6%	★★★★☆

Multi-racial

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Michigan percentile	Rating
2026	76.8	32 of 195	83.6%	★★★★☆
2025	52.8	79 of 190	58.4%	★★★☆☆
2024	63.6	55 of 176	68.8%	★★★☆☆
2023	60.2	53 of 163	67.5%	★★★☆☆
2018	70.7	43 of 156	72.4%	★★★★☆

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Michigan percentile	Rating
2026	20.2	208 of 236	11.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	36.6	139 of 244	43.0%	★★☆☆☆
2024	47.7	83 of 201	58.7%	★★★☆☆
2023	57.1	64 of 199	67.8%	★★★☆☆
2018	74.2	48 of 377	87.3%	★★★★☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Michigan percentile	Rating
2026	81.7	103 of 687	85.0%	★★★★☆
2025	76.1	133 of 696	80.9%	★★★★☆
2024	77.5	122 of 701	82.6%	★★★★☆
2023	86.2	77 of 688	88.8%	★★★★☆
2022	75.9	119 of 638	81.3%	★★★★☆
2021	93.6	26 of 577	95.5%	★★★★★
2019	73.4	134 of 624	78.5%	★★★★☆
2018	77.4	121 of 678	82.2%	★★★★☆

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)

Male (2026)91st percentile~ school

Female (2026)85th percentile-4 vs school

White (2026)85th percentile-4 vs school

Multi-racial (2026)84th percentile-5 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2026)75th percentile-14 vs school

Asian (2026)72nd percentile-16 vs school

Hispanic (2026)63rd percentile-25 vs school

Special Education (2026)12th percentile-77 vs school

By subject vs Michigan (2025-2026) ?

Social Studies71%+21 vs state

English Language Arts55%+17 vs state

Science52%+13 vs state

Mathematics52%+18 vs state

Math49%+16 vs state

★

No ratings yet

Be the first to rate Portage Central Middle School and help other families decide.

Rate Portage Central Middle School

Have first-hand experience? A quick rating - and a sentence or two about what stands out (teachers, academics, safety, communication) - helps other families know what to expect.

Takes about a minute. We email you a link to verify your review - your address is never shown publicly.

Tap a star to rate

Reviews

No written reviews yet. If you know this school, be the first to share what stands out.

Schools Near Portage Central Middle School

Load more schools when map is moved

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)	M-Step English Language Arts (2026)		M-Step Math (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 Mathematics 8th Grade	M-Step English Language Arts 6th Grade	M-Step English Language Arts 7th Grade	M-Step Math 6th Grade	M-Step Math 7th Grade	M-Step Science 8th Grade	M-Step Social Studies 8th Grade	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
Portage Central Middle School	Public	6-8	8305 S Westnedge Ave	Portage	49002	Kalamazoo County	Portage Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(269) 323-5600	719	41	17.3	18.9%	532 (74.0%)	30 (4.2%)	55 (7.6%)	37 (5.1%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	65 (9.0%)	86.1	100^th of 896 public middle schools	88.8%		82.5	117^th of 890 public middle schools	86.9%	17	80.6	51.6	59.3	51.2	50.2	47.1	52.4	71.0	$12,080	$570	$11,510
Portage West Middle School	Public	6-8	7145 Moors Bridge Rd	Portage	49024	Kalamazoo County	Portage Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(269) 323-5800	717	39	18.3	17.4%	465 (64.9%)	49 (6.8%)	62 (8.6%)	79 (11.0%)	1 (0.1%)	0 (0.0%)	61 (8.5%)	88.7	79^th of 896 public middle schools	91.2%		87.5	90^th of 890 public middle schools	89.9%	11	83.5	57.6	56.5	63.0	54.3	48.7	51.7	68.5	$13,214	$571	$12,643
Portage North Middle School	Public	6-8	1100 W Milham Ave	Portage	49024	Kalamazoo County	Portage Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(269) 323-5700	609	38	16.1	33.8%	371 (60.9%)	69 (11.3%)	62 (10.2%)	34 (5.6%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	73 (12.0%)	62.9	270^th of 896 public middle schools	69.9%		58.2	316^th of 890 public middle schools	64.5%	46	74.6	37.3	39.5	34.5	36.3	32.0	47.6	52.9	$15,738	$727	$15,012
Milwood Magnet School	Public, Magnet	6-8	2916 Konkle St	Kalamazoo	49001	Kalamazoo County	Kalamazoo Public Schools	No	Yes	No	No	(269) 337-0670	731	38	19.3	66.1%	287 (39.3%)	217 (29.7%)	114 (15.6%)	17 (2.3%)	10 (1.4%)	2 (0.3%)	84 (11.5%)	31.4	589^th of 896 public middle schools	34.3%		34.6	562^nd of 890 public middle schools	36.9%	27	44.7	18.2	24.2	33.9	20.4	21.5	29.6	38.2	$17,235	$1,490	$15,745
Maple Street Magnet School for the Arts	Public, Magnet	6-8	922 W Maple St	Kalamazoo	49008	Kalamazoo County	Kalamazoo Public Schools	No	Yes	No	No	(269) 337-0730	889	46	19.3	60.4%	350 (39.4%)	278 (31.3%)	138 (15.5%)	7 (0.8%)	9 (1.0%)	1 (0.1%)	106 (11.9%)	44.8	467^th of 896 public middle schools	47.9%		46	459^th of 890 public middle schools	48.4%	8	51.5	28.5	34.0	38.0	23.7	28.7	37.0	42.9	$15,841	$1,481	$14,360
Vicksburg Middle School	Public	6-8	348 E Prairie St	Vicksburg	49097	Kalamazoo County	Vicksburg Community Schools	No	No	No	No	(269) 321-1300	601	35	17.2	32.1%	527 (87.7%)	12 (2.0%)	27 (4.5%)	2 (0.3%)	3 (0.5%)	0 (0.0%)	30 (5.0%)	73.9	184^th of 896 public middle schools	79.5%		72.3	193^rd of 890 public middle schools	78.3%	9	76.7	50.8	40.1	43.7	37.3	38.4	54.4	59.3	$14,079	$385	$13,694
Linden Grove Middle School	Public	6-8	4241 Arboretum Pkwy	Kalamazoo	49008	Kalamazoo County	Kalamazoo Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(269) 337-1740	727	38	18.9	62.7%	232 (31.9%)	305 (42.0%)	73 (10.0%)	14 (1.9%)	7 (1.0%)	1 (0.1%)	95 (13.1%)	41.4	502^nd of 896 public middle schools	44.0%		46.2	456^th of 890 public middle schools	48.8%	46	55.2	22.5	35.6	35.2	19.8	25.3	38.8	38.4	$17,064	$1,503	$15,562
Hillside Middle School	Public	6-8	1941 Alamo Ave	Kalamazoo	49006	Kalamazoo County	Kalamazoo Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(269) 337-0570	476	28	17.3	60.1%	173 (36.3%)	209 (43.9%)	20 (4.2%)	3 (0.6%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.2%)	70 (14.7%)	41.3	504^th of 896 public middle schools	43.8%		30	601^st of 890 public middle schools	32.5%	97	53.3	24.1	35.1	24.7	25.8	25.3	38.7	46.0	$18,808	$1,549	$17,259
Comstock Middle School	Public	6-8	3100 N 26th St	Kalamazoo	49048	Kalamazoo County	Comstock Public Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(269) 250-8600	276	17	15.9	66.3%	134 (48.6%)	73 (26.4%)	29 (10.5%)	2 (0.7%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	38 (13.8%)	18.1	726^th of 896 public middle schools	19.0%		12.9	781^st of 890 public middle schools	12.2%	55	47.9	9.9	6.6	16.7	1555.5	6.4	29.6	34.8	$28,682	$2,449	$26,233
Parchment Middle School	Public	6-8	307 N Riverview Dr	Kalamazoo	49004	Kalamazoo County	Parchment School District	No	No	No	No	(269) 488-1200	352	21	16.9	49.7%	237 (67.3%)	41 (11.6%)	25 (7.1%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	48 (13.6%)	29.3	618^th of 896 public middle schools	31.0%		29.1	608^th of 890 public middle schools	31.7%	10	59.3	17.6	29.4	26.4	9.2	13.9	28.0	37.7	$16,226	$1,889	$14,337

Frequently Asked Questions about Portage Central Middle School

How many students attend Portage Central Middle School?

In the 2024-25 school year, 719 students attended Portage Central Middle School.

What high school do graduates of Portage Central Middle School attend?

Students who attend Portage Central Middle School usually go on to attend Portage Central High School

What district is Portage Central Middle School in?

Portage Public Schools

What is the racial makeup of Portage Central Middle School?

Students at Portage Central Middle School are 74% White, 9% Two or more races, 8% Hispanic, 5% Asian, 4% African American.

Is Portage Central Middle School a good school?

Portage Central Middle School ranks 100^th of 896 Michigan middle schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

Rate Portage Central Middle School!

Other helpful SchoolDigger resources...

Compare to nearby schools

MIMichigan Middle School Rankings

MIMichigan District Rankings

Schools in Portage, MI

Sign up for updates!

Be the first to know when there is an update for Portage Central Middle School!

Latest Michigan data All new data »

2024–25 school spending data (updated)NewNov 2, 2026

2021–22 through 2025–26 immunization rates (updated)Oct 19, 2026

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

2024–25 dropout rates & graduation ratesJun 13, 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.