Newaygo Public School District

The Newaygo Public School District operates three schools serving students from elementary through high school: Newaygo Elementary School, Newaygo High School, and Newaygo Middle School. While the high school stands out with a strong 90.3% graduation rate and better academic performance, the district faces challenges, including declining proficiency at the elementary school and high chronic absenteeism rates across all grade levels.

Newaygo Elementary School has seen a drop in its statewide ranking and proficiency rates on state assessments, particularly in math and English language arts. In contrast, Newaygo High School performs better on state tests, with 11th-grade students scoring above the state average in science and social studies. However, chronic absenteeism remains a concern across the district, ranging from 23.7% at the elementary school to 33.9% at the middle school.

Socioeconomic factors also play a role, with the elementary and middle schools having a high percentage of students eligible for free or reduced-price lunch, at 66.49% and 61.88%, respectively. While the district's relatively low student-teacher ratios present an opportunity for more individualized support, targeted efforts to address chronic absenteeism and provide additional resources for economically disadvantaged students could help improve overall academic outcomes in the Newaygo Public School District.