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Schools in Custer Township · Mancelona Public Schools

Custer Township’s public schools outscore 58% of Michigan districts

The grade covers the public school district serving Custer Township, from kindergarten through graduation, on state tests and graduation. Math proficiency in Custer Township’s districts is 27%, below the Michigan average (34%). Each state writes its own tests, so this is the one TownRatings grade compared within Michigan, not nationally.

K–12Where will my kid go?

From Michigan state tests taken in spring 2022, when 100% of students in the tested grades sat them, and the class of 2023’s four-year graduation rate, as reported to the U.S. Department of Education.

Reading proficiency
43%
▼ 2 pts vs MI 45%
2021–22
Math proficiency
27%
▼ 7 pts vs MI 34%
2021–22
Graduate on time
85–89%
▲ 3–7 pts vs MI 82%
class of 2023
Spent per student
$16.9K
▲ 2% vs MI $16.5K
FY2024
Students per teacher
16.2
MI 16.5
Schools in town
0
773 students on the public path
In brief

Custer Township’s schools, in brief

Against towns with similar incomes

Among the 1022 Michigan towns with household incomes within a quarter of Custer Township’s, its schools beat 39%, lower than their 58% against all the state’s districts. The grade ↓

Results trail the state

In spring 2022, 43% of tested students were proficient in reading and 27% in math, against 45% and 34% statewide; 100% of students in the tested grades sat the tests. The grade ↓

Graduation

85–89% of the class of 2023 graduated in four years, against 82% across Michigan (the state reports Custer Township’s rate as a range). Districts ↓

Spending and class size

The district spends $16,861 per student, against $16,528 across Michigan (FY2024). Spending doesn’t count toward the grade. Districts ↓

One elementary school, then one middle and one high school

From grade 5 the district’s path is Mancelona Middle School, then Mancelona High School. Enrollment is down 11% since 2020–21. See the path ↓

Written from the figures on this page. Tests are from 2021–22, graduation from the class of 2023; each school’s own letter uses 2020–21 results.

The School Grade

What’s behind Custer Township’s grade

B− Test scoresB Graduation

B: better than 58% of Michigan school districts. Graduation is above the Michigan average; test scores are below it.

Michigan school districts we grade (815)Better than 58%
Lower resultsHigher results
Michigan towns with similar household incomes (1022)Better than 39%
Towns in Antrim County (15)Better than 33%
B−B+A fairly firm grade. Ordinary sampling error in 429 test results and a graduating class of 76 could put Custer Township anywhere from B− to B+. The tests are from spring 2022, when 100% of Custer Township’s students in the tested grades sat them (429 in math, 429 in reading).

How TownRatings grades schools →

Where will my kid go?

Pick a grade. These are the public schools that serve Custer Township, with each school’s own grade.

The path, start to finish
PK–4Mancelona Elementary Schoolin MancelonaC
5–8Mancelona Middle Schoolin MancelonaB−
9–12Mancelona High Schoolin MancelonaC

Custer Township’s public schools are run by Mancelona Public Schools, which also serves Coldsprings, Helena, Mancelona and Mancelona. Parts of Custer Township (18% of its land) are served by Bellaire instead. To confirm the school for a specific address, ask the district.

The district

Spending and class size are shown but don’t count toward the grade. Each district’s own page has every school.

Mancelona Public SchoolsGrades PK–12 · 3 schools · 773 students, down 11% since 2020–21 · 16.2 per teacher (MI 16.5)
$16,861MI $16,528 · FY2024
B
Test scores · 2021–22

Below the state in reading

Reading43%
State average 45.4% · 429 students tested
Math27%
State average 33.6% · 429 students tested

Custer Township vs. its neighbors

Schools grades for the Michigan towns that share Custer Township’s borders.

Schools next door
TownSchoolsMain districts
Custer TownshipBMancelona
Helena—Mancelona
Forest HomeBBellaire
Rapid RiverC+Kalkaska
KearneyBBellaire
MancelonaBMancelona

2 of the 5 neighbors share Mancelona with Custer Township, so their letters differ mainly through other districts.

Every school in Custer Township

3 schools. Each public school’s letter compares its own 2020–21 reading and math results with Michigan’s other public schools (the newest school-level results we have).

Also serving Custer Townshipin other towns
Mancelona Elementary School
Elementary · Grades PK–4 · Mancelona
C
288 students16:1Rate it →
Mancelona Middle School
Middle · Grades 5–8 · Mancelona
B−
242 students16:1Rate it →
Mancelona High School
High · Grades 9–12 · Mancelona
C
243 students16:1Rate it →

Questions about Custer Township’s schools

Are Custer Township’s schools good?

They sit near the middle of Michigan: the public schools Custer Township children attend outscore 58% of Michigan’s school districts on tests and graduation, a B Schools grade. Among towns with similar incomes they beat 39%. Tests are from 2021–22, graduation from the class of 2023.

What school district is Custer Township in?

Mancelona Public Schools, which runs grades PK–12 and enrolls 773 students in 3 schools (2024–25). Small parts of Custer Township are served by Bellaire.

Where do Custer Township kids go to high school?

Mancelona High School in Mancelona, with 243 students; its own test results earn a C.

What is Custer Township’s graduation rate?

85–89% of the class of 2023 in Mancelona Public Schools graduated in four years, against 82% across Michigan.

How much does Custer Township spend per student?

$16,861 in Mancelona Public Schools (FY2024), against $16,528 across Michigan. Spending doesn’t count toward the grade.

Parents talk

What Custer Township families are saying about school.

Town Square →
Start the conversation

Looking for colleges? Colleges near Custer Township → They have their own page.

School data: state test results (2021–22, with participation) and four-year graduation rates (class of 2023) reported to the U.S. Department of Education (EDFacts via ED Data Express); each school’s own letter uses its 2020–21 results (EDFacts via the Urban Institute); schools and enrollment from NCES (2024–25; private schools 2023–24); spending from the Census Bureau’s school finance survey (FY2024). The School Grade is our own summary, graded within Michigan. Stars are from neighbors.