High Schools in Traverse City Area Public Schools

The Traverse City Area Public Schools district in Michigan is home to three high schools: West Senior High, Central High School, and Traverse City High School. While West Senior High and Central High School are standout performers, ranking 140th and 136th respectively out of 743 Michigan high schools, Traverse City High School struggles, ranking 675th and receiving a 0-star rating.

West Senior High and Central High School consistently outperform the district and state averages on standardized tests, with impressive graduation rates of 93.5% and 87.0%, respectively. In contrast, Traverse City High School has alarmingly low academic proficiency, a 23.9% four-year graduation rate, and a corresponding 23.9% dropout rate. These disparities may be linked to the school's higher percentage of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch (67.09%) and its higher spending per student ($17,598) compared to the other two schools.

The stark performance differences between the three high schools within the same district suggest significant inequities in educational opportunities and resources. Addressing the root causes of these disparities, such as the demographic and socioeconomic factors, as well as the high chronic absenteeism rates at Traverse City High School, should be a priority for the Traverse City Area Public Schools district to ensure all students have access to a quality education.