Pontiac High School

Summary:

Pontiac High School is a public high school serving 935 students in grades 9-12 in Pontiac, Michigan. The school is part of the Pontiac City School District, which is ranked 592 out of 610 districts in the state and has a 0-star rating from SchoolDigger. Pontiac High School has a diverse student body, with a racial makeup of 3.1% White, 45.13% African American, 46.74% Hispanic, 2.78% Asian, 0.11% Native American, and 2.14% two or more races.

Pontiac High School consistently ranks in the bottom 10-15% of Michigan high schools based on the SchoolDigger statewide ranking, with a 0-star rating. The school's academic performance is poor, with low proficiency rates in subjects like M-Step Science (16.7%), M-Step Social Studies (13.2%), and SAT Evidence-Based Reading and Writing (17.8%). Pontiac High School also struggles with low graduation rates (63.1%) and high dropout rates (27.7%), as well as a very high chronic absenteeism rate of 59.1%. These challenges are compounded by the fact that 74.97% of Pontiac High School students come from low-socioeconomic status families.

When compared to nearby schools like Waterford Durant High School and Rochester Adams High School, Pontiac High School's academic performance and student outcomes are significantly lower. For example, Waterford Durant High School and Rochester Adams High School have higher graduation rates (72.7% and 97.5%, respectively) and better test scores. Pontiac High School's sister school, Pontiac Academy for Student Success, has even more concerning outcomes, with a 0.0% four-year graduation rate and a 34.7% dropout rate.


Detail:

Public 9-12

 1051 Arlene Ave
       Pontiac, MI  48340-2904


(248) 451-7424

District: Pontiac City School District

SchoolDigger Rank:
670th of 743 Michigan High Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures:  $24,425 Help


Feeder schools for Pontiac High School:

Elementary:    Alcott School
    Herrington School
    Owen Elementary School
    Rogers School
    More...
Middle:    Pontiac Middle School

Student/teacher ratio:  18.7 Help
Number of students:  935

Racial breakdown:

Hispanic:
46.7%
African American:
45.1%
White:
3.1%
more

Free/discounted lunch recipients:  75% Help


 See top rated Michigan high schools

 Compare Pontiac High School to nearby high schools!

Performance Trends
Help
Compare Details Pontiac High School ranks worse than 90.2% of high schools in Michigan. (See more...)
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Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 9.51. (See more...)
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The four-year cohort graduation rate measures the percentage of students at Pontiac High School who earn a standard high school diploma within four years of starting ninth grade.
Help
The high school dropout rate measures the percentage of students who do not complete their high school education.
Help
Chronic absenteeism in a school refers to a situation where students repeatedly miss school, with the threshold often defined as missing 10% or more of school days for any reason, excused or unexcused.
Student Body
Help
Compare Details Pontiac High School has the largest high school student body size in the Pontiac City School District. Racial makeup is: Hispanic (46.7%), African American (45.1%), White (3.1%). (See more...)
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Compare Details 75% of students are receiving a free or discounted lunch. (See more...)
Teachers
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Compare Details The student/teacher ratio at Pontiac High School is 18.7. 1 high schools in the Pontiac City School District have better student/teacher ratios. (See more...)
Help
Compare Pontiac High School employs 49.8 full-time teachers.
Finance
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Compare Details The average total spent per student at Pontiac High School is $24,425, which is the highest among 3 high schools in the Pontiac City School District!
Schooldigger 2024 Rankings:

Pontiac High School:

SchoolDigger ranks Pontiac High School 670th of 743 Michigan public high schools. (See Pontiac High School in the ranking list.)

High School Test Score Ratings by Student Subgroup:


Low Socio Economic Status students:
Female students:
Male students:
African American students:
Hispanic students:


Pontiac City School District:

SchoolDigger ranks Pontiac City School District 592nd of 610 Michigan school districts. (See district ranking list.)


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Your rating for Pontiac High School?

Rank History for Pontiac High School

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Compare

Rank History for all students at Pontiac High School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools MI State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2006 4.62 659th 705 6.5%
2007 9.72 675th 767 12.0%
2008 9.72 665th 750 11.3%
2009 7.08 702nd 754 6.9%
2010 5.21 732nd 765 4.3%
2011 5.36 744th 784 5.1%
2012 10.31 691st 773 10.6%
2013 8.48 739th 805 8.2%
2014 8.90 714th 799 10.6%
2015 9.16 778th 832 6.5%
2016 8.78 739th 852 13.3%
2017 6.06 734th 835 12.1%
2018 13.43 663rd 824 19.5%
2019 2.94 652nd 666 2.1%
2021 6.26 543rd 561 3.2%
2023 8.22 678th 735 7.8%
2024 9.51 670th 743 9.8%
See the entire list of Michigan High School Rankings!

Rank History for English Language Learner students at Pontiac High School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools MI State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 31.65 66th 102 35.3%
2023 29.91 20th 35 42.9%
See the entire list of Best Michigan High Schools for English Language Learner Students!

Rank History for Special Education students at Pontiac High School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools MI State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 10.08 306th 315 2.9%
See the entire list of Best Michigan High Schools for Special Education Students!

Rank History for Low Socio Economic Status students at Pontiac High School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools MI State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 16.66 600th 755 20.5%
2019 3.28 523rd 532 1.7%
2021 10.30 400th 417 4.1%
2023 9.49 571st 614 7.0%
2024 14.76 574th 654 12.2%
See the entire list of Best Michigan High Schools for Low Socio Economic Status Students!

Rank History for Female students at Pontiac High School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools MI State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 9.45 600th 710 15.5%
2019 1.79 547th 554 1.3%
2021 3.86 456th 462 1.3%
2023 4.58 592nd 611 3.1%
2024 7.61 578th 619 6.6%
See the entire list of Best Michigan High Schools for Female Students!

Rank History for Male students at Pontiac High School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools MI State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 8.79 617th 707 12.7%
2019 1.27 539th 543 0.7%
2023 8.07 574th 611 6.1%
2024 6.59 598th 633 5.5%
See the entire list of Best Michigan High Schools for Male Students!

Rank History for Asian students at Pontiac High School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools MI State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 10.67 78th 87 10.3%
See the entire list of Best Michigan High Schools for Asian Students!

Rank History for African American students at Pontiac High School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools MI State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 19.46 207th 254 18.5%
2019 11.57 136th 147 7.5%
2023 10.68 166th 170 2.4%
2024 29.48 134th 188 28.7%
See the entire list of Best Michigan High Schools for African American Students!

Rank History for Hispanic students at Pontiac High School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools MI State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 20.18 159th 201 20.9%
2019 4.49 97th 97 0.0%
2023 10.92 177th 190 6.8%
2024 7.24 190th 195 2.6%
See the entire list of Best Michigan High Schools for Hispanic Students!

Rank History for White students at Pontiac High School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools MI State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 16.79 576th 708 18.6%
See the entire list of Best Michigan High Schools for White Students!

Data source: test scores: Michigan Department of Education, rankings: SchoolDigger.com

As you review the school rankings data, please be aware that some of the information from certain demographics is missing. The reason for this omission is that the data has been redacted from the source data itself due to low population samples in these specific demographic groups.

Redacting data from low population samples is a necessary step to ensure the reliability and accuracy of the results, as small sample sizes may not be representative of the broader population. Additionally, this measure helps protect the privacy of individuals belonging to these demographic groups.

Pontiac High School Test Scores
Tests: 
  
Grades: 
  
Years: 
  
Group by: 
District Scores:
State Scores:    
  
Subgroup: 



Data source: Michigan Department of Education

Review counts

All ratings (Avg rating: 1)
0%

0%

0%

0%

100%

  

Reviews:
by a student
Thursday, August 7, 2014

Open Quote I know I shouldn't be all negative but there is nothing good about the Pontiac school district. I'm a student and go to Pontiac high, starting off they keep closing down the schools and cramming all the kids in what's left. The building are all run down and not kept up well, which the kids there don't make it any better because they don't care. There is always something wrong with the bus's and there never own time, I can recall a dozen times when I had to wait at the bus stop in the cold for up to or more than an half an hour and once didn't even show up. There are some teacher who care about whether or not you make to the next grade, but for the most part they don't care all they think about is there paycheck and I don't blame them for that because the students treat them like there doing something for the teacher when its the other way around. The student cuss out the teacher and just treat them like trash. There are so many fight, food fights and bullying. Every morning before you can even walk through the door you have to take your coat/sweater and backpack off and put them through a metal detector and walk through one, its like airport security. you cant bring your own food or drinks in so its there food (which I wont even go there right know) or you wait till your 8 hour school day is over. In my opinion the state needs to close down Pontiac school district and just bus the kids to the surrounding schools, but the city thinks it going to get better but its not if anything its staying the same. Close Quote



Enrollment information for Pontiac High School

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Compare
Year White African American Asian Hispanic American Indian Pacific Islander Two or More Races Not Specified Total
1988 669 1249 44 170 42 n/a n/a 0 2174
1989 606 1240 37 172 47 n/a n/a -5 2097
1990 545 1134 37 175 35 n/a n/a 0 1926
1991 502 1051 38 157 34 n/a n/a 0 1782
1992 445 968 37 125 24 n/a n/a 0 1599
1993 384 894 25 130 10 n/a n/a 0 1443
1994 332 909 28 121 10 n/a n/a 0 1400
1995 224 845 29 113 13 n/a n/a 0 1224
1996 224 845 29 113 13 n/a n/a 0 1224
1997 233 822 41 105 13 n/a n/a 0 1214
1998 232 788 38 100 14 n/a n/a 0 1172
1999 224 765 33 114 5 n/a n/a 0 1141
2000 221 872 41 128 6 n/a n/a 0 1268
2001 229 968 49 156 9 n/a n/a 0 1411
2002 226 1067 55 211 8 n/a n/a 0 1567
2003 226 1067 55 211 8 n/a n/a 0 1567
2004 208 1085 59 193 7 n/a n/a 0 1552
2005 179 1089 59 189 5 n/a n/a 4 1525
2006 170 1080 50 220 6 n/a n/a 6 1532
2007 168 1009 48 194 6 n/a n/a 6 1431
2008 132 943 45 182 7 n/a n/a 9 1318
2009 109 843 40 147 1 n/a n/a 10 1150
2010 141 1297 98 226 2 n/a n/a 16 1780
2011 123 1300 72 232 2 1 4 0 1734
2012 97 1195 71 226 2 0 6 0 1597
2013 92 1011 60 241 3 0 5 0 1412
2014 62 693 38 177 2 0 3 0 975
2015 55 619 34 208 4 0 4 0 924
2016 45 525 39 225 3 0 7 0 844
2017 54 475 41 267 2 1 7 0 847
2018 64 539 53 371 3 0 11 0 1041
2019 53 506 43 414 1 2 8 0 1027
2020 34 474 36 418 0 2 10 0 974
2021 38 445 33 435 0 1 11 0 963
2022 35 432 26 466 0 0 13 0 972
2023 29 422 26 437 1 0 20 0 935

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Enrollment/Ethnicity

For more information about how the Department of Education defines ethnicity, see Defining Race and Ethnicity Data, National Center for Education Statistics

Students eligible for free or discounted lunch at Pontiac High School

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Compare
Year # Students Full-time Teachers Student/Teacher ratio % Free/Discounted Lunch
1988 2174 n/a n/a n/a
1989 2097 n/a n/a 1.8
1990 1926 109.0 17.6 4.9
1991 1782 n/a n/a n/a
1992 1599 n/a n/a 5.5
1993 1443 n/a 0.0 5.3
1994 1400 67.0 20.9 11.8
1995 1224 61.0 20.1 30.1
1996 1224 61.0 20.1 30.1
1997 1214 69.0 17.6 30
1998 1172 58.0 20.2 37.5
1999 1141 55.0 20.7 40.8
2000 1268 48.0 26.4 37.5
2001 1411 53.0 26.6 36.9
2002 1567 63.0 24.9 49.7
2003 1567 63.0 24.9 49.7
2004 1552 71.5 21.7 47.4
2005 1525 77.9 19.6 67.1
2006 1532 78.9 19.4 51.2
2007 1431 61.0 23.5 65.8
2008 1318 64.1 20.6 73.1
2009 1150 64.1 17.9 85.1
2010 1780 91.1 19.5 82.4
2011 1734 81.1 21.3 70.5
2012 1597 93.0 17.1 69
2013 1412 72.0 19.6 69.5
2014 975 53.0 18.3 68.4
2015 924 50.0 18.4 72.8
2016 844 51.0 16.5 73.1
2017 847 55.2 15.3 72.7
2018 1041 52.0 20.0 86.5
2019 1027 51.5 19.9 76.8
2020 974 53.0 18.3 77.1
2021 963 51.8 18.5 75.2
2022 972 44.9 21.6 74.5
2023 935 49.8 18.7 75

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Students eligible for discounted/free lunch:

The National School Lunch Program (NSLP) provides low-cost or free meals to students in U.S. public and nonprofit private schools based on household income. Those with incomes below 130% of the poverty line receive free lunch, while those between 130% and 185% qualify for reduced-price lunch. The percentage of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch serves as a marker for poverty, as it reflects the socioeconomic status of families in a given school or district. A higher FRPL rate typically indicates a higher concentration of low-income families, suggesting that the school or district may face additional challenges in providing adequate resources and support for student success.

Student/Teacher Ratio Pontiac High School

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Compare
Year # Students Full-time Teachers Student/Teacher ratio % Free/Discounted Lunch
1988 2174 n/a n/a n/a
1989 2097 n/a n/a 1.8
1990 1926 109.0 17.6 4.9
1991 1782 n/a n/a n/a
1992 1599 n/a n/a 5.5
1993 1443 n/a 0.0 5.3
1994 1400 67.0 20.9 11.8
1995 1224 61.0 20.1 30.1
1996 1224 61.0 20.1 30.1
1997 1214 69.0 17.6 30
1998 1172 58.0 20.2 37.5
1999 1141 55.0 20.7 40.8
2000 1268 48.0 26.4 37.5
2001 1411 53.0 26.6 36.9
2002 1567 63.0 24.9 49.7
2003 1567 63.0 24.9 49.7
2004 1552 71.5 21.7 47.4
2005 1525 77.9 19.6 67.1
2006 1532 78.9 19.4 51.2
2007 1431 61.0 23.5 65.8
2008 1318 64.1 20.6 73.1
2009 1150 64.1 17.9 85.1
2010 1780 91.1 19.5 82.4
2011 1734 81.1 21.3 70.5
2012 1597 93.0 17.1 69
2013 1412 72.0 19.6 69.5
2014 975 53.0 18.3 68.4
2015 924 50.0 18.4 72.8
2016 844 51.0 16.5 73.1
2017 847 55.2 15.3 72.7
2018 1041 52.0 20.0 86.5
2019 1027 51.5 19.9 76.8
2020 974 53.0 18.3 77.1
2021 963 51.8 18.5 75.2
2022 972 44.9 21.6 74.5
2023 935 49.8 18.7 75

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Student-Teacher Ratio

Student/teacher ratio is calculated by dividing the total number of students by the total number of full-time equivalent teachers. Please note that a smaller student/teacher ratio does not necessarily translate to smaller class size. In some instances, schools hire teachers part time, and some teachers are hired for specialized instruction with very small class sizes. These and other factors contribute to the student/teacher ratio. Note: For private schools, Student/teacher ratio may not include Pre-Kindergarten.
Finances

Per Pupil Expenditures for Pontiac High School

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YearExpenditures from Federal FundsExpenditures from State and Local FundsTotal Expenditures Per Pupil (All Funds)
2019 $416 (5.3%) $7,451 (94.7%) $7,866
2020 $2,903 (21.6%) $10,538 (78.4%) $13,440
2021 $5,329 (30.5%) $12,122 (69.5%) $17,451
2022 $6,064 (30.0%) $14,151 (70.0%) $20,216
2023 $4,597 (18.8%) $19,828 (81.2%) $24,425

Data source: Michigan Department of Education
Pre and Post Pandemic Data

Impact of COVID-19 on Pontiac High School

The coronavirus has had a profound impact on education in America. Learning shifted online overnight, attendance numbers dwindled, and enrollment decreased. SchoolDigger.com is making it easier for you to better assess how COVID-19 has impacted your school. Through the collection of pre-pandemic (2019) and current data, SchoolDigger.com is sharing test scores, enrollment numbers and school demographics from schools across the country – and we make it easy to see how impacted schools compare locally and statewide.

Rankings

Rank
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)
Rank
Post pandemic (2022-2023)
Change (%)
Ranks 652nd of 666 High schoolsRanks 678th of 735 High schools
 5.7%

Test Scores

% proficient
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)
% proficient
Post pandemic (2022-2023)
Change (%)
11th Grade Social Studies (Pontiac High School)13.710.9
 2.8%
   11th Grade Social Studies (Pontiac City School District)13.710.7
 3%
   11th Grade Social Studies (Michigan)46.636.1
 10.5%
11th Grade Evidence-Based Reading and Writing (Pontiac High School)13.719.8
 6.1%
   11th Grade Evidence-Based Reading and Writing (Pontiac City School District)13.419.8
 6.4%
   11th Grade Evidence-Based Reading and Writing (Michigan)55.352.2
 3.1%

Student Body

Number of students
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)
Number of students
Post pandemic (2022-2023)
Change (%)
Total Students1027935
 9%
African American506422
 16.6%
American Indian11
Asian4326
 39.5%
Hispanic414437
 5.6%
Pacific Islander20
 100%
White5329
 45.3%
Two or More Races820
 150%
% Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients76.8%75%
 1.9%


Schools Near Pontiac High School









Frequently Asked Questions about Pontiac High School

In the 2022-23 school year, 935 students attended Pontiac High School.

Pontiac High School is fed by the following schools:

Elementary : Alcott School
Elementary : Herrington School
Elementary : Owen Elementary School
Elementary : Rogers School
Elementary : Whitman Elementary School
Middle : Pontiac Middle School

Students at Pontiac High School are 47% Hispanic, 45% African American, 3% White, 3% Asian, 2% Two or more races.

Pontiac High School ranks in the bottom 9.8% of Michigan high schools.


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SchoolDigger data sources: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education, the U.S. Census Bureau and the Michigan Department of Education.

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMERS: Not all boundaries are included. We make every effort to ensure that boundaries are up-to-date. But it's important to note that these are approximations and are for general informational purposes only. To verify legal descriptions of boundaries or school locations, contact your local tax assessor's office and/or school district.





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