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Excellent

#333 of 3,192 schools in MI

Top 10% in state

Life Skills Center

School · Northwest Education Services

880 PARSONS RD, Traverse City, MI 49686

Enrollment

70

Student-Teacher

3.3:1

Score

8.1

Grades

15 – 15

Data vintage2022-23

How this school compares

Michigan schools

#333 of 3,192

In Traverse City

#4 of 24

public schools

In district

#1 of 4

Northwest Education Services

School environment

10.0 / 10

Excellent

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Life Skills Center

8.1/10

School in Traverse City · grades 15 – 15. Start here, then compare fit against nearby and district options.

North Edcareer Tech

Nearby

0.0 mi away. Use as a geographic alternative in the same move search.

Traverse City High School

4.7/10

0.3 mi away. Use as a geographic alternative in the same move search.

About Life Skills Center

Life Skills Center is a public school in Traverse City, MI, part of Northwest Education Services. Life Skills Center serves approximately 70 students, and covers grades 15-15, and has a 3.3:1 student-teacher ratio. Life Skills Center has a current MySchoolScout rating of 8.1 out of 10 and ranks #333 of 3,192 schools in MI.

Structured state assessment records for Life Skills Center show 79% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2014) and 71% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2014).

How it compares1.3 pts above district
  • This school 8.1 · Excellent
  • District avg 6.8
  • MI avg 6.2

What Parents Should Know

At 70 students, Life Skills Center is on the smaller side. That usually buys more individual attention and teachers who know every kid by name, with the trade-off of fewer electives and extracurriculars than a larger school can staff. Ask what activities it actually offers.

At 3.3:1 students to teachers, Life Skills Center sits well below the national average. Smaller classes like that usually mean more one-on-one time between students and teachers.

Score Breakdown

Full Profile · 4/3 metrics
Student Progress9.6Excellent25%
Year-over-year improvement in student test scores.
View breakdown
Years of Data4
Annual Change+0.46 pts/yr
Data Period2009–2014
TrendStable
Academics9.9Excellent25%
Student proficiency on state tests, adjusted for community poverty levels.
View breakdown
Math Proficiency75% (2014 EdFacts)
Reading/ELA Proficiency75% (2014 EdFacts)
Overall Proficiency75% (2014 EdFacts, Math+ELA)
Expected (poverty-adj.)44% (model expectation from 2014 EdFacts)
vs. Expected+30.9 pts
Adjusted Percentile98th
College Readiness4.1Below Average30%
Graduation rates, AP course participation, and IB availability.
View breakdown
4-Year Graduation Rate<50%
IB ProgramNo
Resources & Environment10.0Excellent20%
Student-teacher ratio, per-pupil spending, and attendance.
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio3.3:1
Per-Pupil Spending$287,660

Life Skills Center — Students at Life Skills Center score 75% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 44%).

How we calculate scores →

Equity & Diversity

Shown separately, not included in overall score

Free/Reduced Lunch

48.6%

Students qualifying for federal meal assistance

Test Scores MI EDFACTS (2013-14)

Math Proficiency 78.5% (multi-year average, 2009-2014)
School
State
N/A
ELA Proficiency 70.9% (multi-year average, 2009-2014)
School
State
N/A

Based on 8 test records from MI state assessments. About our data

Proficiency Trend

→ Stable

Average proficiency (% at or above grade level) across Math & ELA over time.

2009
Math
74.5%
ELA
74.5%
2010
Math
74.5%
ELA
64.5%
2011
Math
90%
ELA
69.5%
2014
Math
75%
ELA
75%

Source: EdFacts (NCES) and state assessment data. Growth score: 9.6/10.

How Life Skills Center Compares

See how Life Skills Center performs across key quality dimensions compared to state benchmarks.

Overall Score
8.1/10
90th percentile in MI
Academic
9.9/10
Excellent
Growth
9.6/10
Excellent
Environment
10.0/10
Excellent

Funding & Resources

Free/Reduced Lunch
Students eligible for subsidized meals
49%
Teaching Staff
3:1 student-teacher ratio
21 teachers

Location

880 PARSONS RD, Traverse City, MI 49686

Nearby Alternatives

Families considering Life Skills Center may also want to explore other schools in the area. TCAPS Montessori School (rated 8.8/10, 4.0 miles away), which scores slightly higher. Another option is Courtade Elementary School (rated 8.4/10, 4.1 miles away), which scores slightly higher. Additionally, Central Grade School (rated 7.8/10, 3.2 miles away), with a very similar rating. For more schools in Traverse City, see our Traverse City schools guide .

Nearby Schools

20 within 4.1 mi
School Distance Rating
North EdCareer Tech Traverse City 0.0 mi
Traverse City High School Traverse City 0.3 mi 4.7
Eastern Elementary School Traverse City 1.8 mi 6.7
Grand Traverse Academy Traverse City 2.0 mi 6.7
Central High School Traverse City 2.0 mi 7.5
Cherry Knoll Elementary School Traverse City 2.3 mi 6.5
North EdBridgeway Traverse City 1.9 mi 6.0
TRAVERSE BAY MENNONITE SCHOOL Traverse City 1.8 mi
ST ELIZABETH ANN SETON MIDDLE SCHOOL Traverse City 2.5 mi 5.4
North EdNew Horizons Traverse City 1.8 mi 7.7
Traverse Heights Elem School Traverse City 1.8 mi 3.9
East Middle School Traverse City 2.5 mi 7.0
TRAVERSE CITY CHRISTIAN SCHOOL Traverse City 3.0 mi 4.4
The Greenspire High School Travse City 2.7 mi 3.9
Central Grade School Traverse City 3.2 mi 7.8
TRINITY LUTHERAN SCHOOL Traverse City 3.4 mi 6.6
Courtade Elementary School Traverse City 4.1 mi 8.4
North EdCreekside School Traverse City 4.0 mi 5.5
TCAPS Montessori School Traverse City 4.0 mi 8.8
The Greenspire School Traverse City 4.1 mi 5.1

Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)

Census data for ZIP 49686 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources

Median Income

$71,198

Median Home Value

$295,500

Median Rent

$1,209/mo

Population

25,181

College Educated

45.9%

Homeownership

71.1%

Avg Commute

19.8 min

Poverty Rate

11.3%

Median Age

47.1

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about Life Skills Center

What grades does Life Skills Center serve?

Life Skills Center serves students in grades 15 through 15.

How many students attend Life Skills Center?

Life Skills Center has an enrollment of approximately 70 students.

What is the student-teacher ratio at Life Skills Center?

The student-teacher ratio at Life Skills Center is 3.3:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.

How does Life Skills Center rank in MI?

Life Skills Center ranks #333 of 3,192 schools in MI.

What is Life Skills Center's MySchoolScout rating?

Life Skills Center has a current MySchoolScout rating of 8.1 out of 10. This score combines the level-appropriate components shown in the rating breakdown; equity data is shown separately for context.

What are the test scores at Life Skills Center?

Based on loaded state assessment records, Life Skills Center has 79% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2014) and 71% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2014).

Is Life Skills Center a charter school?

No, Life Skills Center is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.

Is Life Skills Center a Title I school?

No, Life Skills Center is not currently a Title I school.

What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Life Skills Center?

48.6% of students at Life Skills Center qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. This is a commonly used indicator of economic need and provides important context when interpreting test scores.

11 schools nearby View map →

Neighborhood Context

Walk Score
24 Car-Dependent
Bike Score
69 Bikeable

Powered by Walk Score

Quick Facts NCES CCD (SY 2022-23)

Grades
15 – 15
Enrollment
70
Student-Teacher Ratio
3.3:1
Teachers (FTE)
21
Free/Reduced Lunch
48.6%
Type
special_ed
Setting
Small City
County
Grand Traverse County
4-Year Graduation
<50%

District

Northwest Education Services
District Enrollment
931
Schools in District
5
Per-Pupil Spending
$287,660
District Rank
#1 of 4

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