Marquette Area Public Schools

The Marquette Area Public Schools district in Michigan consists of 7 schools, including 4 elementary schools, 1 middle school, 2 high schools (1 traditional and 1 alternative), and no alternative schools. The district as a whole is ranked 102 out of 610 school districts in Michigan and is rated 4 out of 5 stars by SchoolDigger.

Within the district, a few schools stand out. Sandy Knoll School, an elementary school, consistently performs above the district and state averages on M-Step and SAT tests, with the highest proficiency rates in the district for 3rd, 4th, and 5th grade English Language Arts and Math, as well as 5th grade Science and Social Studies. Marquette Senior High School, the district's main high school, also performs very well, ranking 30 out of 743 Michigan high schools and earning a 5-star rating, with high graduation rates and low dropout rates. Bothwell Middle School is another strong performer, ranking 158 out of 897 Michigan middle schools and earning a 4-star rating.

However, there is a significant disparity in performance between the traditional high school and the alternative high school, Vandenboom Alternative High School, which has much lower test scores, graduation rates, and higher chronic absenteeism. The district's per-student spending also varies, with higher-performing schools like Sandy Knoll School receiving more resources. Overall, the Marquette Area Public Schools district appears to have a strong educational system, with several standout schools, but the performance gap between the traditional and alternative high schools is an area that may warrant further investigation and targeted interventions.