Summary:
Zip code 49038 in Coloma, Michigan, is served by two elementary schools within the Coloma Community Schools district, together educating roughly 531 students in grades PK-5. Coloma Elementary School handles the younger grades (PK-3) with 356 students, while Coloma Intermediate School serves just grades 4-5 with 175 students.
Both schools face significant academic challenges, with proficiency rates in every subject and grade level falling well below state averages. The district itself ranks in the bottom quarter of Michigan districts. In the most recent testing, Coloma Elementary School posted 3rd-grade ELA proficiency of just 19.3% and math proficiency of 16.9%, compared to state averages of 38.2% and 42.9% respectively. Coloma Intermediate School performs somewhat better in ELA, with 4th-grade proficiency at 30.5% and 5th-grade at 25.6%, but math proficiency is particularly weak, dropping to just 10.5% by 5th grade. A concerning trend shows math performance collapsing between 3rd and 5th grade, with 5th-grade math proficiency less than half the 4th-grade rate. Year-over-year data reveals mixed signals: 4th grade improved in both ELA and math, but 5th grade declined across all four subjects tested.
Both schools serve predominantly low-income populations, with 75-79% of students qualifying for free/reduced lunch. Chronic absenteeism is a critical issue, especially at Coloma Elementary School, where 34.9% of students are chronically absent—nearly 11 percentage points higher than the Intermediate school's 24.1% rate and well above the state average. Despite similar needs, Coloma Elementary School spends $1,593 more per student ($15,709 vs. $14,116) than Coloma Intermediate School. The district's historical rankings show a long-term decline from the 39th-44th percentile a decade ago to its current 24th percentile, suggesting persistent challenges that require targeted interventions, particularly around attendance and math instruction.
Thank you for your feedback!