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Portage Central High School

Public Grades 9-12

37^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 800 Michigan High Schools

Better than 95% of Michigan high schools

Summary

Portage Central High School in Portage, MI, is a top-performing public high school serving 1,391 students in grades 9-12 within the Portage Public Schools district, which ranks in the 79th percentile statewide.

Portage Central consistently ranks among Michigan's elite high schools, placing 37th out of 800 schools in the most recent year (95th percentile) after an exceptional 17th-place finish the prior year. Academic proficiency rates dramatically exceed state averages—76% of students are proficient in SAT Reading/Writing versus 52% statewide, and math proficiency (53.5%) is more than double the state average (26.5%). The school maintains a 97.8% graduation rate, nearly 14 points above the state average, with a dropout rate of just 0.9%. What's particularly impressive is that strong results extend across all student groups, including Hispanic students who ranked in the 90th percentile statewide and multi-racial students who ranked 1st in Michigan in a recent year. Even students from low-income backgrounds (10.5% of the student body) perform well, earning a 4-star rating. The school also operates efficiently, spending $13,565 per student—less than nearby Portage Northern High School ($14,291) while achieving significantly better outcomes.

Compared to its sister school, Portage Central outperforms Portage Northern High School by 19 percentage points in SAT Reading/Writing and 18 points in science, despite both being in the same district. The school experienced a temporary dip in 2022-2023 (likely pandemic-related) but rebounded strongly, demonstrating resilience. One area to watch is chronic absenteeism, which has risen from 10.3% to 22.0% over four years—though still better than the state average of 27.9%. For parents seeking a high-achieving, well-rounded high school with consistent excellence across all student populations, Portage Central stands out as one of Michigan's premier public schools.

1,391

Students ?

20.7

Student/teacher ratio ?

$13,565

Per pupil spending ?

10.5%

Free/discounted lunch ?

8135 S Westnedge Ave
Portage, MI 49002-5433

(269) 323-5200

District: Portage Public Schools

Feeder schools for Portage Central High School:

Elementary:	Central Elementary School
	Lake Center Elementary School
	Moorsbridge Elementary School
	Woodland Elementary School
Middle:	Portage Central Middle School

Racial breakdown:

White:

75.1%

Asian:

8.6%

Two or more races:

7.2%

See top rated Michigan high schools

Compare Portage Central High School to nearby high schools!

At a glance

▲ Ranking trend: Improving — 90th percentile in 2016 → 95th in 2026

Strengths

✓Test scores above the Michigan average (67% vs 43% meeting standards)

✓Ranks in the top 5% of Michigan high schools

✓98% graduate in 4 years — above the Michigan average (84%)

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school67%

District avg59%

Michigan avg43%

37^th of 800

Michigan public high schools ?

Top 5%▲ up 6 pts since 2016

From top 10% (2016) to top 5% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of Michigan High Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

1^st of 3High 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	93.2	37 of 800	95.4%	★★★★★
2025	96.6	17 of 739	97.7%	★★★★★
2024	92.9	45 of 743	93.9%	★★★★★
2023	71.4	176 of 735	76.1%	★★★★☆
2022	93.1	41 of 531	92.3%	★★★★★
2021	93.4	31 of 561	94.5%	★★★★★
2019	88.4	68 of 666	89.8%	★★★★☆
2018	88.5	71 of 824	91.4%	★★★★★
2017	89.0	66 of 835	92.1%	★★★★★
2016	86.8	87 of 852	89.8%	★★★★☆
2015	86.9	80 of 832	90.4%	★★★★★
2014	91.4	48 of 799	94.0%	★★★★★
2013	86.8	89 of 805	88.9%	★★★★☆
2012	93.8	33 of 773	95.7%	★★★★★
2011	84.9	73 of 784	90.7%	★★★★★
2010	89.8	36 of 765	95.3%	★★★★★
2009	90.6	41 of 754	94.6%	★★★★★
2008	89.2	53 of 750	92.9%	★★★★★
2007	89.7	39 of 767	94.9%	★★★★★
2006	89.6	42 of 705	94.0%	★★★★★

African American

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Michigan percentile	Rating
2026	74.6	43 of 252	82.9%	★★★★☆

Asian

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Michigan percentile	Rating
2026	82.1	12 of 74	83.8%	★★★★☆
2025	90.6	6 of 69	91.3%	★★★★★
2024	84.7	10 of 70	85.7%	★★★★☆
2023	47.4	34 of 63	46.0%	★★☆☆☆
2022	62.8	15 of 31	51.6%	★★★☆☆
2018	67.8	37 of 87	57.5%	★★★☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Michigan percentile	Rating
2026	91.5	33 of 686	95.2%	★★★★★
2025	96.7	13 of 629	97.9%	★★★★★
2024	90.0	45 of 619	92.7%	★★★★★
2023	72.9	123 of 611	79.9%	★★★★☆
2022	87.4	51 of 416	87.7%	★★★★☆
2021	91.1	30 of 462	93.5%	★★★★★
2019	85.8	61 of 554	89.0%	★★★★☆
2018	75.9	147 of 710	79.3%	★★★★☆

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Michigan percentile	Rating
2026	86.4	27 of 259	89.6%	★★★★☆
2025	94.5	9 of 203	95.6%	★★★★★
2024	96.1	5 of 195	97.4%	★★★★★
2023	57.7	66 of 190	65.3%	★★★☆☆
2019	87.5	8 of 97	91.8%	★★★★★
2018	82.3	28 of 201	86.1%	★★★★☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Michigan percentile	Rating
2026	76.0	99 of 719	86.2%	★★★★☆
2025	86.1	58 of 635	90.9%	★★★★★
2024	63.6	193 of 654	70.5%	★★★★☆
2023	44.1	342 of 614	44.3%	★★☆☆☆
2022	88.3	34 of 369	90.8%	★★★★★
2019	55.2	223 of 532	58.1%	★★★☆☆
2018	85.7	64 of 755	91.5%	★★★★★

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Michigan percentile	Rating
2026	92.3	37 of 693	94.7%	★★★★★
2025	94.5	24 of 628	96.2%	★★★★★
2024	92.7	36 of 633	94.3%	★★★★★
2023	61.0	207 of 611	66.1%	★★★☆☆
2022	95.0	30 of 440	93.2%	★★★★★
2021	92.1	31 of 472	93.4%	★★★★★
2019	86.2	61 of 543	88.8%	★★★★☆
2018	91.7	44 of 707	93.8%	★★★★★

Multi-racial

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Michigan percentile	Rating
2026	82.3	20 of 179	88.8%	★★★★☆
2025	99.1	1 of 127	99.2%	★★★★★
2024	66.5	29 of 105	72.4%	★★★★☆
2023	72.3	24 of 110	78.2%	★★★★☆
2022	47.7	17 of 32	46.9%	★★★☆☆
2021	57.7	11 of 24	54.2%	★★★☆☆
2018	72.3	30 of 93	67.7%	★★★★☆

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Michigan percentile	Rating
2026	69.8	42 of 220	80.9%	★★★★☆
2024	33.6	87 of 130	33.1%	★★☆☆☆
2018	95.5	5 of 315	98.4%	★★★★★

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Michigan percentile	Rating
2026	90.4	39 of 671	94.2%	★★★★★
2025	93.3	28 of 639	95.6%	★★★★★
2024	88.0	58 of 638	90.9%	★★★★★
2023	60.1	224 of 647	65.4%	★★★☆☆
2022	91.3	49 of 492	90.0%	★★★★★
2021	91.0	41 of 516	92.1%	★★★★★
2019	84.3	78 of 582	86.6%	★★★★☆
2018	84.6	84 of 708	88.1%	★★★★☆

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)

Female (2026)95th percentile~ school

Male (2026)95th percentile~ school

White (2026)94th percentile~ school

Hispanic (2026)90th percentile-6 vs school

Multi-racial (2026)89th percentile-7 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2026)86th percentile-9 vs school

Asian (2026)84th percentile-12 vs school

African American (2026)83rd percentile-12 vs school

Special Education (2026)81st percentile-14 vs school

By subject vs Michigan (2025-2026) ?

English Language Arts81%+22 vs state

Evidence-Based Reading and Writing76%+24 vs state

Social Studies69%+26 vs state

Science63%+27 vs state

Mathematics55%+22 vs state

★

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Schools Near Portage Central High School

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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)			SAT Evidence-Based Reading and Writing (2026)	SAT 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/Discounted Lunch Recipients (2025)	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 English Language Arts 9th Grade	PSAT English Language Arts 10th Grade	PSAT Mathematics 8th Grade	PSAT Mathematics 9th Grade	PSAT Mathematics 10th Grade	SAT Evidence-Based Reading and Writing 11th Grade	SAT Mathematics 11th Grade	M-Step English Language Arts 7th Grade	M-Step Math 7th Grade	M-Step Science 8th Grade	M-Step Science 11th Grade	M-Step Social Studies 8th Grade	M-Step Social Studies 11th Grade	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
Portage Central High School	Public	9-12	8135 S Westnedge Ave	Portage	49002	Kalamazoo County	Portage Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(269) 323-5200	1,391	67	20.7	10.5%	1,045 (75.1%)	45 (3.2%)	82 (5.9%)	119 (8.6%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	100 (7.2%)	93.2	37^th of 800 public high schools	95.4%		96.6	17^th of 739 public high schools	97.7%	20		78.5	83.7		53.4	56.1	76.0	53.5				62.6		69.0	$13,565	$517	$13,048
Portage Community High School	Public	9-12	1010 W Milham Ave	Portage	49024	Kalamazoo County	Portage Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(269) 323-6700	137	11	12.4	59.9%	83 (60.6%)	22 (16.1%)	10 (7.3%)	4 (2.9%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	18 (13.1%)	13.1	676^th of 800 public high schools	15.5%					(n/a)			367.5			321.3	418.7	373.0				13.0		21.7	$26,447	$813	$25,635
Portage Northern High School	Public	9-12	1000 Idaho Ave	Portage	49024	Kalamazoo County	Portage Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(616) 323-5400	1,194	64	18.7	22.4%	754 (63.1%)	122 (10.2%)	108 (9.0%)	76 (6.4%)	2 (0.2%)	1 (0.1%)	131 (11.0%)	76.8	133^rd of 800 public high schools	83.4%		72	172^nd of 739 public high schools	76.7%	39		71.0	66.5		45.8	40.6	66.7	37.6				42.9		51.6	$14,291	$643	$13,647
Loy Norrix High School	Public	9-12	606 E Kilgore Rd	Kalamazoo	49001	Kalamazoo County	Kalamazoo Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(269) 337-0200	1,785	80	22.3	53.4%	727 (40.7%)	495 (27.7%)	297 (16.6%)	29 (1.6%)	20 (1.1%)	1 (0.1%)	216 (12.1%)	54.6	318^th of 800 public high schools	60.3%		60.7	268^th of 739 public high schools	63.7%	50		53.1	54.9		27.0	29.1	52.1	26.9				43.6		48.3	$15,714	$1,412	$14,302
Kalamazoo Innovative Learning Program	Public	9-12	600 W Vine St	Kalamazoo	49008	Kalamazoo County	Kalamazoo Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(269) 548-0190	137	4	34.2	84.7%	31 (22.6%)	69 (50.4%)	11 (8.0%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.7%)	0 (0.0%)	25 (18.2%)	25.9	565^th of 800 public high schools	29.4%		26.6	524^th of 739 public high schools	29.1%	41		357.9	26.9		292.9	351.9	27.8	327.2				2078.4		44.4	$12,805	$999	$11,806
Career Connect Campus	Public	9-12	3500 Vanrick Dr	Kalamazoo	49001	Kalamazoo County	Kalamazoo Regional Educational Service Agency	No	(n/a)	(n/a)	(n/a)	(269) 443-7517	0				0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()								(n/a)
Kalamazoo Prep Academy	Public, Charter	9-12	400 W Crosstown Pkwy	Kalamazoo	49001	Kalamazoo County	Kalamazoo Prep Academy	Yes	No	No	Yes	(734) 358-9775	184	6	30.1	82.1%	42 (22.8%)	106 (57.6%)	18 (9.8%)	4 (2.2%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	14 (7.6%)								(n/a)		14.3	372.1		308.6	338.4		316.2				2073.8		2081.7	$10,364	$88	$10,276
Phoenix Alternative High School	Public	9-12	1411 Oakland Dr	Kalamazoo	49008	Kalamazoo County	Kalamazoo Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(269) 337-0760	219	14	15.6	78.1%	54 (24.7%)	112 (51.1%)	21 (9.6%)	7 (3.2%)	4 (1.8%)	0 (0.0%)	21 (9.6%)	2.9	794^th of 800 public high schools	0.7%		4.5	720^th of 739 public high schools	2.6%	74		318.3	323.4		300.8	302.4	5.3	334.4				2066.9		9.4	$20,306	$1,480	$18,826
Transition Services	Public	9-12	1411 Oakland Dr	Kalamazoo	49008	Kalamazoo County	Kalamazoo Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(269) 337-0161	17	0	17.0	58.8%	5 (29.4%)	6 (35.3%)	1 (5.9%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	5 (29.4%)								(n/a)															$42,096	$3,996	$38,100
Schoolcraft High School	Public	7-12	13400 S 14th St	Schoolcraft	49087	Kalamazoo County	Schoolcraft Community Schools	No	No	No	No	(269) 488-7350	502	27	18.8	22.3%	461 (91.8%)	3 (0.6%)	13 (2.6%)	1 (0.2%)	4 (0.8%)	0 (0.0%)	20 (4.0%)	81.5	105^th of 800 public high schools	86.9%		48.9	374^th of 739 public high schools	49.4%	269	78.4	70.9	66.7	48.0	58.2	40.3	61.3	42.7	48.1	49.4	54.8	45.9	78.8	63.5	$13,928	$202	$13,726

Frequently Asked Questions about Portage Central High School

Is Portage Central High School a good school?

Yes! Portage Central High School is one of the best high schools in the state. It ranks 37^th of 800 Michigan high schools.

What schools feed into Portage Central High School?

Portage Central High School is fed by the following schools:

Elementary : Central Elementary School
Elementary : Lake Center Elementary School
Elementary : Moorsbridge Elementary School
Elementary : Woodland Elementary School
Middle : Portage Central Middle School

What district is Portage Central High School in?

Portage Public Schools

How many students attend Portage Central High School?

In the 2024-25 school year, 1,391 students attended Portage Central High School.

What is the racial makeup of Portage Central High School?

Students at Portage Central High School are 75% White, 9% Asian, 7% Two or more races, 6% Hispanic, 3% African American.

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Latest Michigan data All new data »

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

2024–25 school spending dataJun 13, 2026

2024–25 dropout rates & graduation ratesJun 13, 2026

2024–25 attendance dataJan 6, 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.