North Central Middle School

North Central Middle School in Powers, MI, is a small, rural school serving 61 students in grades 6-8 as part of the North Central Area Schools district. While its overall state ranking is solidly average (3 stars), this school stands out for its remarkable success with students from low socio-economic backgrounds and its standout performance in 8th-grade science.

The most defining characteristic of North Central is its effectiveness with low-income students. In the most recent school year, this subgroup ranked in the 84th percentile statewide—a 4-star rating—and has consistently ranked in the 85th and 92nd percentiles in prior years. This means the school is exceptionally good at helping students who often face additional challenges achieve strong academic results, significantly outpacing state averages for similar demographics. Another clear point of excellence is 8th-grade science: students achieved a 78.9% proficiency rate on the state M-Step, nearly double the state average of 39.2% and far ahead of nearby Kingsford Middle School (46.1%). The school has also made major strides in reducing chronic absenteeism, dropping from 24.7% to 16.1%—well below the state average of 27.9%.

Because the school is so small, test scores can swing dramatically from year to year as different cohorts of students move through the grades. For example, 6th-grade English proficiency dropped from 47.8% to 18.2% in one year, while 7th-grade math proficiency (44%) was notably higher than Kingsford's (34%). This volatility makes year-to-year comparisons less reliable, but one area shows consistent strength: 8th-grade PSAT English scores have ranged from 68% to 88% over four years, always meeting or exceeding state averages. Additionally, North Central spends about $2,000 less per student than Kingsford yet achieves comparable overall rankings and superior outcomes for its low-income students—a sign of strong cost-efficiency. For parents, this is a school that shines brightest with its most vulnerable students and in specific subjects, even if its overall profile appears average.