John M Schultz Educational Campus

John M Schultz Educational Campus is a small alternative high school in Rochester Hills, MI, serving just 100 students in grades 9-12 within the highly-rated Rochester Community School District.

This school is fundamentally different from the large traditional high schools nearby. It is designed for students who have struggled in conventional settings, and it invests heavily in their success. Per-student spending is roughly $51,000—about 3.5 times more than the $14,000 spent at schools like Rochester Adams High School or Stoney Creek High School. This money funds an exceptionally low student-teacher ratio of 6:1, meaning each student gets a level of individual attention that is simply impossible in a school of 1,500 students. The student body also faces more challenges; 35% qualify for free/reduced lunch, compared to under 16% at Rochester High School. While the graduation rate of 65% is far below the district's 97%, it is a significant improvement from 57% just two years ago, and the dropout rate has plummeted from 21% to 5%.

The most encouraging news is the academic trajectory. The school's state ranking has jumped from the 17th percentile to the 70th percentile in just two years. Science proficiency has nearly doubled to 36%, and social studies proficiency now exceeds the state average. This progress is even more notable when compared to a similar alternative program, the Diploma and Careers Institute in the Avondale School District, which spends far less per student and achieves a lower 48% graduation rate. The biggest hurdle remains attendance, with chronic absenteeism at 88.5%. This is a school in transition, showing that its intensive, high-cost model can yield results, but only if students are present to benefit from it.