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North Central Area Senior High School

Q: Is North Central Area Senior High School a good school?

North Central Area Senior High School ranks 258 th of 800 Michigan high schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

Public Grades 9-12

258^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 800 Michigan High Schools

Better than 68% of Michigan high schools

Summary

North Central Area Senior High School is a small, rural high school in Powers, MI, serving just 100 students in grades 9-12 as part of the North Central Area Schools district.

This school has a real strength in science. On the 11th-grade M-Step science test, 57.7% of students were proficient, which is far above the state average of 35.2% and beats nearby schools like Kingsford High School (46.9%) and Iron Mountain High School (39.5%). Reading and English scores are also solid, above state averages. However, math is a major concern. Only about 12-15% of 9th and 10th graders are proficient in math on the PSAT, compared to state averages above 31%. This is the lowest math performance in the region—Norway JRSR High School, for example, has roughly double the proficiency rate. The school spends a generous $17,859 per student and has a low student-teacher ratio of 13.7, which suggests small class sizes, yet that investment isn't translating into math success.

The most pressing issue is chronic absenteeism. At 37.2%, it's more than double the rate at nearby schools (Kingsford: 16.1%, Iron Mountain: 15.3%) and well above the state average of 27.9%. This rate has more than doubled since 2021-2022, and it's likely a big reason the school's state ranking has dropped sharply—from 61st (5 stars) in 2022-2023 to 258th (3 stars) for 2025-2026. Graduation rates have also slipped from 96.4% to 88%, though that's still above the state average. If your child excels in science and reading and thrives in a small, close-knit environment, this school could be a great fit—but it's worth asking the school directly about how they're addressing math proficiency and student attendance.

100

Students ?

13.7

Student/teacher ratio ?

$17,859

Per pupil spending ?

39%

Free/discounted lunch ?

3795 Hwy Us 2 41
Powers, MI 49874

(906) 497-5226

District: North Central Area Schools

Feeder schools for North Central Area Senior High School:

Elementary:	North Central Elementary School
Middle:	North Central Middle School

Racial breakdown:

White:

94.0%

American Indian:

4.0%

Hispanic:

2.0%

See top rated Michigan high schools

Compare North Central Area Senior High School to nearby high schools!

At a glance

▬ Ranking trend: Holding steady — 66th percentile in 2016 → 68th in 2026

Strengths

✓88% graduate in 4 years — above the Michigan average (84%)

✓Above the Michigan median (68th percentile)

Worth a look

!High chronic absenteeism (37% vs 28% Michigan)

!Mathematics scores 19 pts below the Michigan average

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school47%

District avg47%

Michigan avg43%

258^th of 800

Michigan public high schools ?

Top 32%▲ up 2 pts since 2016

See the entire ranking list of Michigan High Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

253^rd of 625North Central Area 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)

Middle school ranking

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Michigan percentile	Rating
2018	79.4	152 of 838	81.9%	★★★★☆
2017	58.4	286 of 821	65.2%	★★★☆☆
2016	62.1	304 of 894	66.0%	★★★☆☆
2015	64.6	294 of 919	68.0%	★★★☆☆
2014	75.4	183 of 921	80.1%	★★★★☆
2013	74.8	184 of 919	80.0%	★★★★☆
2012	75.7	176 of 900	80.4%	★★★★☆
2011	77.8	148 of 858	82.8%	★★★★☆
2010	72.9	232 of 851	72.7%	★★★★☆
2009	57.7	478 of 847	43.6%	★★☆☆☆
2008	50.5	550 of 839	34.4%	★★☆☆☆
2007	47.8	553 of 823	32.8%	★★☆☆☆
2006	63.4	350 of 806	56.6%	★★★☆☆

High school ranking

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Michigan percentile	Rating
2026	60.3	258 of 800	67.8%	★★★☆☆
2025	79.9	114 of 739	84.6%	★★★★☆
2024	88.0	70 of 743	90.6%	★★★★★
2023	88.6	61 of 735	91.7%	★★★★★
2022	90.2	54 of 531	89.8%	★★★★★
2021	39.0	346 of 561	38.3%	★★☆☆☆
2019	83.2	96 of 666	85.6%	★★★★☆
2018	68.2	243 of 824	70.5%	★★★★☆
2017	51.6	363 of 835	56.5%	★★★☆☆
2016	63.3	289 of 852	66.1%	★★★☆☆
2015	31.8	570 of 832	31.5%	★★☆☆☆
2014	50.2	436 of 799	45.4%	★★☆☆☆
2013	41.7	495 of 805	38.5%	★★☆☆☆
2012	51.4	423 of 773	45.3%	★★☆☆☆
2011	61.6	387 of 784	50.6%	★★★☆☆
2010	72.5	240 of 765	68.6%	★★★☆☆
2009	68.9	282 of 754	62.6%	★★★☆☆
2008	77.7	172 of 750	77.1%	★★★★☆
2007	46.5	490 of 767	36.1%	★★☆☆☆
2006	63.5	303 of 705	57.0%	★★★☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Michigan percentile	Rating
2026	54.3	271 of 686	60.5%	★★★☆☆
2024	92.1	36 of 619	94.2%	★★★★★
2018	82.1	97 of 710	86.3%	★★★★☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Michigan percentile	Rating
2026	63.0	202 of 719	71.9%	★★★★☆
2018	54.4	308 of 755	59.2%	★★★☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Michigan percentile	Rating
2026	74.4	133 of 693	80.8%	★★★★☆
2023	81.7	92 of 611	84.9%	★★★★☆
2018	36.3	451 of 707	36.2%	★★☆☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Michigan percentile	Rating
2026	59.7	228 of 671	66.0%	★★★☆☆
2025	83.0	82 of 639	87.2%	★★★★☆
2024	84.0	72 of 638	88.7%	★★★★☆
2023	86.9	67 of 647	89.6%	★★★★☆
2022	89.7	54 of 492	89.0%	★★★★☆
2021	31.8	363 of 516	29.7%	★★☆☆☆
2019	77.7	111 of 582	80.9%	★★★★☆
2018	56.8	294 of 708	58.5%	★★★☆☆

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)

High school

Male (2026)81st percentile+13 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2026)72nd percentile+4 vs school

White (2026)66th percentile~ school

Female (2026)60th percentile-7 vs school

By subject vs Michigan (2025-2026) ?

English Language Arts69%+10 vs state

Science58%+22 vs state

Evidence-Based Reading and Writing58%+6 vs state

Social Studies54%+11 vs state

Mathematics14%-19 vs state

★

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Schools Near North Central Area Senior 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
North Central Area Senior High School	Public	9-12	3795 Hwy Us 2 41	Powers	49874	Menominee County	North Central Area Schools	No	No	No	No	(906) 497-5226	100	7	13.7	39.0%	94 (94.0%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (2.0%)	0 (0.0%)	4 (4.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	60.3	258^th of 800 public high schools	67.8%		79.9	114^th of 739 public high schools	84.6%	144		62.5	73.5		12.5	14.7	57.7	460.0				57.7		53.8	$17,859	$2,868	$14,991
Iron Mountain High School	Public	9-12	300 W B St	Iron Mountain	49801	Dickinson County	Iron Mountain Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(906) 779-2610	243	11	22.8	52.3%	198 (81.5%)	0 (0.0%)	24 (9.9%)	3 (1.2%)	4 (1.6%)	0 (0.0%)	14 (5.8%)	53.1	334^th of 800 public high schools	58.3%		26.4	525^th of 739 public high schools	29.0%	191		57.9	58.8		31.6	23.5	55.8	30.2				39.5		32.6	$14,057	$396	$13,662
DickinsonIron Technical Educational Center	Public	9-12	300 North Blvd	Kingsford	49802	Dickinson County	Dickinson-Iron Independent School District (Isd)	No	No	No	No	(906) 779-2697	0	10	.0		0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()								(n/a)
Kingsford High School	Public	9-12	431 Hamilton Ave	Kingsford	49802	Dickinson County	Breitung Township School District	No	No	No	No	(906) 779-2670	566	28	20.2	38.0%	517 (91.3%)	0 (0.0%)	11 (1.9%)	3 (0.5%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (0.4%)	33 (5.8%)	75.4	142^nd of 800 public high schools	82.3%		67.5	199^th of 739 public high schools	73.1%	57		76.1	71.3		51.6	34.1	60.4	25.4				46.9		57.5	$11,739	$809	$10,930
Norway JRSR High School	Public, Magnet	7-12	300 Section St	Norway	49870	Dickinson County	Norway-Vulcan Area Schools	No	Yes	No	No	(906) 563-9542	183	9	20.7	29.5%	168 (91.8%)	1 (0.5%)	4 (2.2%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.5%)	0 (0.0%)	9 (4.9%)	62	245^th of 800 public high schools	69.4%		28.7	514^th of 739 public high schools	30.4%	269	73.2	83.7	64.7	48.8	65.3	47.1	57.1	23.2	47.9	64.6	48.8	26.8	60.5	28.6	$15,430	$644	$14,786

Frequently Asked Questions about North Central Area Senior High School

What is the racial makeup of North Central Area Senior High School?

Students at North Central Area Senior High School are 94% White, 4% American Indian, 2% Hispanic.

What district is North Central Area Senior High School in?

North Central Area Schools

How many students attend North Central Area Senior High School?

In the 2024-25 school year, 100 students attended North Central Area Senior High School.

Is North Central Area Senior High School a good school?

North Central Area Senior High School ranks 258^th of 800 Michigan high schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

What schools feed into North Central Area Senior High School?

North Central Area Senior High School is fed by the following schools:

Elementary : North Central Elementary School
Middle : North Central Middle School

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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.