Skip to main content

Very Good

#482 of 3,192 schools in MI

Top 15% in state

Portage Central High School

High School · Portage Public Schools · Portage, MI

A high school in Portage, MI serving grades 9th – 12th.

8135 SOUTH WESTNEDGE AVE, Portage, MI 49002

  • Math 53% proficient (2021)
  • Reading 76% proficient (2021)
  • 96.0% 4-year graduation

Academics

Full Profile · 4/4 metrics
Student Progress8.5Excellent25%
Year-over-year improvement in student test scores.
View breakdown
Years of Data13
Annual Change-1.31 pts/yr
Data Period2009–2021
TrendDeclining
Academics8.5Excellent25%
Student proficiency on state tests, adjusted for community poverty levels.
View breakdown
Math Proficiency53% (2021 EdFacts)
Reading/ELA Proficiency76% (2021 EdFacts)
Overall Proficiency65% (2021 EdFacts, Math+ELA)
Expected (poverty-adj.)65% (model expectation from 2021 EdFacts)
vs. Expected-0.3 pts
Adjusted Percentile76th
College Readiness8.7Excellent30%
Graduation rates, AP course participation, and IB availability.
View breakdown
4-Year Graduation Rate96%
AP Participation8.9%
IB ProgramYes
Resources & Environment4.8Below Average20%
Student-teacher ratio, district spending per student, and attendance.
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio21.6:1
District spending per student$13,805
Chronic Absenteeism13.7%

Students at Portage Central High School score 64% proficient, which is below what's typical for similar communities (expected: 65%).

How we calculate scores →

2021 EdFacts proficiency

Most recent published year. School vs. MI average.

Math Proficiency53%(2021 EdFacts)
School
State
Not reported(2021 EdFacts)
ELA Proficiency76%(2021 EdFacts)
School
State
Not reported(2021 EdFacts)

Trend

→ Steady

Proficiency is down 15 points across the 13-year record (2009–2021) and has held near 65% recently.

Show all 13 years
2009
Math
75%
ELA
84%
2010
Math
71%
ELA
78%
2011
Math
47%
ELA
75%
2012
Math
43%
ELA
64%
2013
Math
52%
ELA
77%
2014
Math
42%
ELA
59%
2015
Math
55%
ELA
78%
2016
Math
56%
ELA
81%
2017
Math
1%
ELA
1%
2018
Math
61%
ELA
77%
2019
Math
61%
ELA
77%
2020*
Math
53%
ELA
76%
2021*
Math
53%
ELA
76%

Multi-year averages used by the rating model: math 52% (multi-year average, 2009-2021) · reading/ELA 69% (multi-year average, 2009-2021)

* COVID-affected year — test participation was uneven nationwide. This data is weighted at 50% in the Growth score calculation.

Based on 26 test records from MI state assessments and EdFacts (NCES).

Equity & diversity

Shown separately, not included in the overall score

Free/reduced lunch

14.8%

Students qualifying for federal meal assistance

How we rate schools

A clear 1–10 score built from public data — growth, academics, and learning environment. No hidden criteria, no pay-to-play.

See how we rate

The neighborhood

Where Portage Central High School sits, and what the surrounding area looks like.

Nearby same-level schools are colored by their score. Pins are locations, not attendance boundaries.

Getting around & local context

  • Walk 46Car-Dependent
  • Bike 61Bikeable
  • City Safety: High3,264/100K

Powered byWalk Score

FBI Uniform Crime Reporting · 2024 · city context (Portage), not school-level safety or attendance eligibility. Source details

Source period: 2024. Freshness not available.

Area profileU.S. Census ACS 5-year estimates (ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates)

Median income

$71,621

Median home value

$223,000

Median rent

$910/mo

College educated

43%

Homeownership

70.2%

Poverty rate

8.2%

ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates for the ZCTA associated with school ZIP 49002; this is area context, not an attendance boundary.

Programs & students

Programs & Offerings

AP/IB Programs4AP courses offeredIB Programme
8.9% participation·State avg: 2.5 AP courses·34 IB enrolled·CRDC via Urban Institute · SY 2021–22
Athletics29sports offered
15 boys'·14 girls'·52 teams (incl. JV)·CRDC via Urban Institute · SY 2021–22
Advanced STEM Courses5of 5 advanced subjects offered
Algebra II, Advanced Math, Calculus, Chemistry, Physics·CRDC via Urban Institute · SY 2021–22

Compare nearby

Nearby same-level schools

4 from a 5-mile search; district fallback available

SchoolScoreGradesDistanceEnrollmentCompare
Portage Community High SchoolEnrollment path unverified6.59–122.4 mi135Compare →
Woodsedge Learning CenterEnrollment path unverified7.7PK–122.5 mi220Compare →
Portage Northern High SchoolEnrollment path unverified7.69–122.6 mi1,218Compare →
Loy Norrix High SchoolEnrollment path unverified6.99–123.2 mi1,767Compare →

Distance is proximity only; it is not attendance eligibility.

Enrollment path unverified: Potential public school; its attendance or application path has not been classified.

Portage Public Schools

Schools in district
14
Rank in district
#1 of 14
District spending per student
$13,805NCES F-33 · FY 2023 · This annual source is three years behind the current year.
District child poverty rate
5.1%Census SAIPE · 2024

Portage Central High School is listed in Portage Public Schools; a district label does not verify attendance for an address.

About Portage Central High School

Portage Central High School is a public high school in Portage, MI, part of Portage Public Schools, serving approximately 1,385 students in grades 9th-12th with a 21.6:1 student-teacher ratio. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 7.8 out of 10 and ranks #482 of 3,192 schools in MI. State assessment records show 52% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2021) and 69% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2021).

Frequently asked questions

Common questions about Portage Central High School

What grades does Portage Central High School serve?

Portage Central High School serves students in grades 9th through 12th.

How many students attend Portage Central High School?

Portage Central High School has an enrollment of approximately 1,385 students.

What is the student-teacher ratio at Portage Central High School?

The student-teacher ratio at Portage Central High School is 21.6:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.

How does Portage Central High School rank in MI?

Portage Central High School ranks #482 of 3,192 schools in MI.

What is Portage Central High School's MySchoolScout rating?

Portage Central High School has a current MySchoolScout rating of 7.8 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 Portage Central High School?

Based on loaded state assessment records, Portage Central High School has 52% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2021) and 69% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2021).

Is Portage Central High School a charter school?

No, Portage Central High School is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.

Is Portage Central High School a Title I school?

No, Portage Central High School is not currently a Title I school.

What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Portage Central High School?

14.8% of students at Portage Central High School qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. This is a commonly used indicator of economic need and provides important context when interpreting test scores.

School factsNCES Common Core of Data (CCD) (SY 2023–24)

Grades
9th – 12th
Enrollment
1,385
Student-Teacher Ratio
21.6:1
Teachers (FTE)
64
Type
regular
Setting
Small City
County
Kalamazoo County
Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
13.7%
4-Year Graduation
96.0%
Area population (ZIP 49002)
19,444
Area average commute
19.1 min
Area median age
38.6
About this school's data

Every number on this page comes from a published source with a stated period. Where a source is partial, aging, or describes a surrounding area rather than the school, that limitation is named below.

School directory (enrollment, grades, staff, contact)
NCES Common Core of Data (CCD) · SY 2023–24 · Medium confidence
  • Source period: SY 2023–24. A newer release may be available.
MySchoolScout rating and rank
MySchoolScout ranking model · Low confidence
  • Vintage not available. Do not use this measure alone.
  • Derived as a weighted blend of the component scores shown in Academics from state assessment, EdFacts growth, and NCES resource records.
Math proficiency
State department of education · 2021 EdFacts · Low confidence
  • Older source: 2021 EdFacts. Use as historical context.
  • Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
  • Derived from source records rather than read directly from one field.
Reading/ELA proficiency
State department of education · 2021 EdFacts · Low confidence
  • Older source: 2021 EdFacts. Use as historical context.
  • Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
  • Derived from source records rather than read directly from one field.
Student progress (growth)
NCES EdFacts · Mixed source periods · Low confidence
  • Vintage not available. Do not use this measure alone.
  • Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
  • Derived as the fitted year-over-year slope of proficiency from multi-year assessment records.
Neighborhood (income, housing, education)
U.S. Census ACS 5-year estimates · ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates · Low confidence
  • Older source: ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates. Use as historical context.
  • Reported for the ZCTA for ZIP 49002; this does not measure the attendance area.
Programs (AP/IB, athletics, gifted)
CRDC via Urban Institute · SY 2021–22 · Medium confidence
  • Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
  • Source period: SY 2021–22. A newer release may be available.

Evidence periods: Rating mixed/unknown input periods; assessments multi-year average, 2009-2021; directory SY 2023–24

About our data · How we calculate scores

Related reading

Get school insights in your inbox

New rankings, best-schools lists, and parent guides — delivered free. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.

We respect your privacy. Unsubscribe at any time.