Portage Community High School

Q: Is Portage Community High School a good school?

Portage Community High School ranks 552 nd of 743 Michigan high schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 1 star out of 5.

Summary:

Portage Community High School is a public high school serving grades 9-12 in Portage, Michigan, with a relatively small student population of 138 as of the 2022-2023 school year. However, the school faces significant challenges, including consistently low academic performance, high dropout rates, and chronic absenteeism issues.

Portage Community High School has consistently ranked in the bottom 25% of Michigan high schools over the past decade, with its performance on standardized tests well below the state and district averages. The school has struggled with high dropout rates, reaching as high as 35% in the 2022-2023 school year, and its four-year graduation rate has ranged from 33.3% to 54% over the past five years. Additionally, the school has very high rates of chronic absenteeism, reaching as high as 84.4% in the 2021-2022 school year. These issues are particularly concerning given the school's high percentage of students eligible for free or reduced-price lunch, indicating a high proportion of students from low-income families.

In contrast to Portage Community High School, its neighboring schools, Portage Central High School and Portage Northern High School, are both ranked significantly higher and have much stronger academic outcomes, lower dropout rates, and lower chronic absenteeism. When compared to other alternative high schools in the Kalamazoo Public Schools district, such as Youth Advancement Academy and Kalamazoo Covenant Academy, Portage Community High School's performance is mixed, with a higher four-year graduation rate but also higher dropout rates and chronic absenteeism.

Detail:

Public 9-12

1010 W Milham Ave
Portage, MI 49024-1263

(269) 323-6700

District: Portage Public Schools

SchoolDigger Rank:
552^nd of 743 Michigan High Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures: $23,452

Student/teacher ratio: 12.5

Number of students: 138

Racial breakdown:

White:

53.6%

African American:

17.4%

Hispanic:

13.8%

Free/discounted lunch recipients: 71%

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Performance Trends

Compare Details Portage Community High School ranks worse than 74.3% of high schools in Michigan. It also ranks last among 3 ranked high schools in the Portage Public Schools District. (See more...)

Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 25.14. (See more...)

The Adjusted Cohort Graduation Rate (ACGR) measures the percentage of Portage Community High School freshmen who graduate within four years, adjusting for students who transfer in or out.

The high school dropout rate measures the percentage of students who do not complete their high school education.

Chronic absenteeism in a high 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

Compare Details Portage Community High School has the smallest high school student body size in the Portage Public Schools District. Student population at Portage Community High School is diverse. Racial makeup is: White (53.6%), African American (17.4%), Hispanic (13.8%). (See more...)

Compare Details 71% of students are receiving a free or discounted lunch. This is the highest percentage in the Portage Public Schools District. (See more...)

Teachers

Compare Details The student/teacher ratio at Portage Community High School is 12.5, which is the lowest among 3 high schools in the Portage Public Schools District! (See more...)

Compare Portage Community High School employs 11 full-time teachers.

Finance

Compare Details The average total spent per student at Portage Community High School is $23,452, which is the highest among 3 high schools in the Portage Public Schools District!

Schooldigger 2024 Rankings:

Portage Community High School:

SchoolDigger ranks Portage Community High School 552^nd of 743 Michigan public high schools. (See Portage Community High School in the ranking list.)

High School Test Score Ratings by Student Subgroup:

White students:

Portage Public Schools:

SchoolDigger ranks Portage Public Schools 123^rd of 610 Michigan school districts. (See district ranking list.)

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Rank History for Portage Community High School

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Rank History for all students at Portage Community High School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	MI State Percentile
2006	8.59	634^th	705	10.1%
2007	6.88	706^th	767	8.0%
2008	16.40	618^th	750	17.6%
2009	16.06	628^th	754	16.7%
2010	10.70	678^th	765	11.4%
2011	24.64	601^st	784	23.3%
2012	9.48	704^th	773	8.9%
2013	22.17	592^nd	805	26.5%
2014	8.11	734^th	799	8.1%
2015	65.02	294^th	832	64.7%
2016	7.83	751^st	852	11.9%
2017	5.57	752^nd	835	9.9%
2018	7.57	737^th	824	10.6%
2024	25.14	552^nd	743	25.7%

See the entire list of Michigan High School Rankings!

Rank History for Special Education students at Portage Community High School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	MI State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2018	5.36	314^th	315	0.3%

See the entire list of Best Michigan High Schools for Special Education Students!

Rank History for Low Socio Economic Status students at Portage Community High School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	MI State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2018	14.69	614^th	755	18.7%

See the entire list of Best Michigan High Schools for Low Socio Economic Status Students!

Rank History for Female students at Portage Community High School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	MI State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2018	5.65	645^th	710	9.2%

See the entire list of Best Michigan High Schools for Female Students!

Rank History for White students at Portage Community High School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	MI State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2018	4.67	654^th	708	7.6%
2024	19.16	536^th	638	16.0%

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.

Data source: Michigan Department of Education

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Enrollment information for Portage Community High School

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Year	White	African American	Asian	Hispanic	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Not Specified	Total
2002	153	33	10	14	2	n/a	n/a	0	212
2003	153	33	10	14	2	n/a	n/a	0	212
2004	187	29	2	7	2	n/a	n/a	17	244
2005	168	36	4	6	1	n/a	n/a	14	229
2006	168	37	1	6	1	n/a	n/a	11	224
2007	161	40	3	6	2	n/a	n/a	8	220
2008	132	45	1	14	1	n/a	n/a	11	204
2009	140	59	1	13	1	n/a	n/a	19	233
2010	185	64	5	14	1	n/a	n/a	9	278
2011	153	53	1	8	3	0	13	0	231
2012	163	77	1	4	4	0	0	0	249
2013	108	52	1	9	1	0	14	0	185
2014	120	42	1	10	0	2	17	0	192
2015	98	46	13	12	0	0	22	0	191
2016	91	41	5	9	0	0	28	0	174
2017	92	27	2	10	1	0	19	0	151
2018	84	17	3	7	1	0	13	0	125
2019	80	14	1	8	1	0	9	0	113
2020	79	15	2	9	0	0	13	0	118
2021	67	15	2	11	1	0	13	0	109
2022	69	24	6	22	0	0	13	0	134
2023	74	24	5	19	0	0	16	0	138

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 Portage Community High School

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Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
2002	212	12.4	17.1	58.5
2003	212	12.4	17.1	58.5
2004	244	11.6	21.0	50.7
2005	229	11.6	19.7	61.9
2006	224	9.8	22.9	62.4
2007	220	10.6	20.8	65.6
2008	204	9.4	21.7	65.3
2009	233	9.9	23.5	75.2
2010	278	13.4	20.7	68.4
2011	231	12.9	17.8	71.4
2012	249	12.0	20.5	75.1
2013	185	12.2	15.1	74.1
2014	192	15.8	12.1	66.7
2015	191	16.0	11.9	69.6
2016	174	10.0	17.4	67.8
2017	151	11.8	12.7	76.2
2018	125	11.8	10.5	68
2019	113	10.0	11.3	64.6
2020	118	10.0	11.8	68.6
2021	109	10.0	10.9	69.7
2022	134	11.0	12.1	67.2
2023	138	11.0	12.5	71

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 Portage Community High School

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Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
2002	212	12.4	17.1	58.5
2003	212	12.4	17.1	58.5
2004	244	11.6	21.0	50.7
2005	229	11.6	19.7	61.9
2006	224	9.8	22.9	62.4
2007	220	10.6	20.8	65.6
2008	204	9.4	21.7	65.3
2009	233	9.9	23.5	75.2
2010	278	13.4	20.7	68.4
2011	231	12.9	17.8	71.4
2012	249	12.0	20.5	75.1
2013	185	12.2	15.1	74.1
2014	192	15.8	12.1	66.7
2015	191	16.0	11.9	69.6
2016	174	10.0	17.4	67.8
2017	151	11.8	12.7	76.2
2018	125	11.8	10.5	68
2019	113	10.0	11.3	64.6
2020	118	10.0	11.8	68.6
2021	109	10.0	10.9	69.7
2022	134	11.0	12.1	67.2
2023	138	11.0	12.5	71

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 Portage Community High School

Year	Expenditures from Federal Funds	Expenditures from State and Local Funds	Total Expenditures Per Pupil (All Funds)
2019	$318 (1.4%)	$21,829 (98.6%)	$22,147
2020	$334 (1.6%)	$21,122 (98.4%)	$21,456
2021	$520 (2.3%)	$21,892 (97.7%)	$22,412
2022	$846 (3.4%)	$23,862 (96.6%)	$24,708
2023	$572 (2.4%)	$22,880 (97.6%)	$23,452

Data source: Michigan Department of Education

Pre and Post Pandemic Data

Impact of COVID-19 on Portage Community 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.

Student Body

	Number of students Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	Number of students Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
Total Students	113	138	22.1%
African American	14	24	71.4%
American Indian	1	0	100%
Asian	1	5	400%
Hispanic	8	19	137.5%
Pacific Islander	0	0
White	80	74	7.5%
Two or More Races	9	16	77.8%
% Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	64.6%	71%	6.4%

Schools Near Portage Community High School

Choose columns to see: Summary School Students/Teachers Ranking Test Scores Finance All

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2024)				Ranking (2023)				SAT Evidence-Based Reading and Writing (2024)	SAT Mathematics (2024)	M-Step Science (2024)	M-Step Social Studies (2024)	Per Pupil Expenditures (2023)
Name	Type	Grades	Address	City	Zip	County	District	Is Charter	Is Magnet	Is Virtual	Is Title I	Phone	Enrollment	Full-time Teachers	Student/ Teacher Ratio	Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	White	Black	Hispanic	Asian	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Average Standard Score (2024)	Statewide Rank (2024)	State Percentile (2024)	SchoolDigger Rating (2024)	Average Standard Score (2023)	Statewide Rank (2023)	State Percentile (2023)	Rank Change from Previous Year	SAT Evidence-Based Reading and Writing 11th Grade	SAT Mathematics 11th Grade	M-Step Science 11th Grade	M-Step Social Studies 11th Grade	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
Portage Community High School	Public	9-12	1010 W Milham Ave	Portage	49024	Kalamazoo County	Portage Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(269) 323-6700	138	11	12.5	71.0%	74 (53.6%)	24 (17.4%)	19 (13.8%)	5 (3.6%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	16 (11.6%)	25.1	552^nd of 743 public high schools	25.7%					(n/a)			28.6	19.1	$23,452	$572	$22,880
Portage Northern High School	Public	9-12	1000 Idaho Ave	Portage	49024	Kalamazoo County	Portage Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(616) 323-5400	1,252	61	20.3	30.7%	837 (66.9%)	106 (8.5%)	108 (8.6%)	73 (5.8%)	2 (0.2%)	1 (0.1%)	125 (10.0%)	77.4	132^nd of 743 public high schools	82.2%		82.1	104^th of 735 public high schools	85.9%	28	70.2	36.4	49.2	44.3	$13,693	$880	$12,813
Loy Norrix High School	Public	9-12	606 E Kilgore Rd	Kalamazoo	49001	Kalamazoo County	Kalamazoo Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(269) 337-0200	1,771	73	24.2	67.5%	708 (40.0%)	501 (28.3%)	335 (18.9%)	23 (1.3%)	3 (0.2%)	1 (0.1%)	200 (11.3%)	58.7	272^nd of 743 public high schools	63.4%		50	345^th of 735 public high schools	53.1%	73	51.4	23.1	41.5	45.8	$14,759	$2,321	$12,438
Kalamazoo Innovative Learning Program	Public	9-12	3333 S Westnedge Ave	Kalamazoo	49008	Kalamazoo County	Kalamazoo Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(269) 548-0190	110	6	18.3	86.4%	32 (29.1%)	59 (53.6%)	10 (9.1%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	9 (8.2%)	38.6	438^th of 743 public high schools	41.0%		23.9	557^th of 735 public high schools	24.2%	119	38.1		27.3	36.4	$9,086	$1,263	$7,823
Portage Central High School	Public	9-12	8135 S Westnedge Ave	Portage	49002	Kalamazoo County	Portage Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(269) 323-5200	1,420	69	20.6	16.1%	1,089 (76.7%)	37 (2.6%)	86 (6.1%)	103 (7.3%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	105 (7.4%)	92.9	45^th of 743 public high schools	93.9%		71.4	176^th of 735 public high schools	76.1%	131	80.2	50.3	60.5	56.5	$13,347	$749	$12,598
Kalamazoo Covenant Academy	Public, Charter	9-12	400 W Crosstown Pkwy	Kalamazoo	49001	Kalamazoo County	Kalamazoo Covenant Academy	Yes	No	No	Yes	(269) 888-2700	132	8	17.6	97.7%	28 (21.2%)	71 (53.8%)	19 (14.4%)	2 (1.5%)	1 (0.8%)	0 (0.0%)	11 (8.3%)								(n/a)					$10,628	$1,324	$9,304
Phoenix Alternative High School	Public	9-12	1411 Oakland Dr	Kalamazoo	49008	Kalamazoo County	Kalamazoo Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(269) 337-0760	219	10	21.0	88.6%	48 (21.9%)	109 (49.8%)	33 (15.1%)	6 (2.7%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	23 (10.5%)	3.7	733^rd of 743 public high schools	1.3%					(n/a)	11.3		6.9	5.6	$16,761	$1,553	$15,208
Transition Services	Public	9-12	1411 Oakland Dr	Kalamazoo	49008	Kalamazoo County	Kalamazoo Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(269) 337-0161	29	3	10.5	79.3%	11 (37.9%)	15 (51.7%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	3 (10.3%)								(n/a)					$59,006	$2,688	$56,318
Kalamazoo Area Math and Science Center	Public	9-12	600 W Vine St	Kalamazoo	49008	Kalamazoo County	Kalamazoo Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(269) 337-0004	0	9	.0		0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()								(n/a)
Youth Advancement Academy	Public, Virtual, Charter	7-12	6750 Chime St	Kalamazoo	49009	Kalamazoo County	Youth Advancement Academy	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	(269) 443-7740	29	1	22.3	93.1%	8 (27.6%)	21 (72.4%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)								(n/a)					$18,359	$569	$17,789

Frequently Asked Questions about Portage Community High School

What district is Portage Community High School in?

Portage Public Schools

How many students attend Portage Community High School?

In the 2022-23 school year, 138 students attended Portage Community High School.

What is the racial makeup of Portage Community High School?

Students at Portage Community High School are 54% White, 17% African American, 14% Hispanic, 12% Two or more races, 4% Asian.

Is Portage Community High School a good school?

Portage Community High School ranks 552^nd of 743 Michigan high schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 1 star out of 5.

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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.