Mahadev Maitri Foundation
US Initiatives
Middle· 14 schools in district

Portage Central Middle School

8305 S WESTNEDGE AVE, PORTAGE, MI 49002Portage Public Schools →
Federal DataRegular SchoolGrades 06–08Non-Charter
740
Students
Total enrolled
$14,458
Per-Pupil Spend
Nat'l avg $14,347
~avg
19.3 : 1
Student:Teacher
Nat'l avg 15.4:1
↑ 25% vs nat'l
37/100
Opportunity Score
Neighborhood outcomes
↓ 25% vs nat'l
⇄ Compare with another school
Large public school
Serves 740 students in grades 06–08 in PORTAGE, Michigan.
Near-average funding
District spends $14,458 per pupil — close to the national average of $14,347.
Below-median opportunity
Children from this neighborhood historically reach the 37th income percentile as adults, per Harvard/Census Opportunity Atlas data.
About This School

Portage Central Middle School is a large middle in PORTAGE, Michigan, serving grades 06–08 with 740 students. The district invests $14,458 per student — close to the national average of $14,347, with a 19.3:1 student-teacher ratio near the national norm. With only 23% of students on free or reduced-price lunch, the school primarily serves an economically stable community. A neighborhood opportunity score of 37/100 — below the national median of 50 — is worth factoring into a fuller picture of long-term student outcomes.

Student Body & Demographics at Portage Central Middle School

740
Total Students
19.3 : 1
Student:Teacher
23%
Free Lunch
38
Teacher FTE
Grade Range
PK
K
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
Highlighted grades (06–08) are served by this school
Gender Distribution366 male · 374 female
49%
51%
Male 49%Female 51%
Free / Reduced Lunch Eligibility23%
National avg 52% · 171 students
Student Composition
80%
8%
Asian4%
White80%
Hispanic / Latino6%
Black2%
Multiracial8%
NCES Common Core of Data · Race/ethnicity self-reported · NCES ID: 262895006490

Academic Outcomes at Portage Central Middle School

Neighborhood Opportunity Score
37
/ 100
Below-median opportunity

Children from modest-income families in this neighborhood reach the 37th income percentile as adults. This school is in the 17th percentile nationally.

0 — Low50 — MedianHigh — 100
Opportunity Atlas (Chetty, Friedman et al., Harvard/Census) · Census tract · ZIP 49002

School Resources & Funding

Per-Pupil Expenditure$14,458Near avg
National avg $14,347
Per-Pupil Spending Comparison
This school
$14,458
State avg
$37,188
National avg
$14,347
How School Funding Is Typically Spent
44%
19%
12%
15%
Instruction$6,361
Student Support$2,747
Administration$1,735
Operations$2,169
Other$1,446
Estimated using national average spending distribution (NCES) · School-level breakdowns not publicly reported
Of the $14,458 spent per student, an estimated $6,405 (~44%) goes directly to classroom instruction.
Where Funding Comes From
57%
36%
State government
57.3%
Local (property tax)
36.4%
Federal programs
6.3%
NCES F-33 Finance Survey · District-level data applied to this school
Strengths & Considerations
Strengths
  • Traditional public school — open enrollment, no application process required
Worth Considering
  • Below-median neighborhood opportunity score (37/100) — national median is 50
Strengths and considerations are derived from federal data thresholds — not editorial judgements. See data sources below.
K–12 Pathway in District
Elementary
Moorsbridge Elementary School12th Street ElementaryLake Center Elementary SchoolAmberly Elementary School
+4 more
↓
Middle
Portage West Middle SchoolPortage North Middle School
↓
High School
Portage Central High SchoolPortage Northern High SchoolPortage Community High School
School Profile
TypeRegular School
LevelMiddle
Grades06 – 08
Location—
CountyKalamazoo County
CharterNo
VirtualNo
DistrictPortage Public Schools →
Phone: (269)323-5600
NCES ID: 262895006490
Who Is This School For?

Best suited for families in PORTAGE seeking a public middle school, especially those prioritizing a solid, no-frills public education. We always recommend an in-person visit and a conversation with current families before making any enrollment decision.

More in Portage Public Schools
High
Portage Central High School
1,420 students · 09–12
● 37 opp16% FRL
High
Portage Northern High School
1,252 students · 09–12
● 47 opp31% FRL
Mid
Portage West Middle School
679 students · 06–08
● 47 opp20% FRL
Elem
Moorsbridge Elementary School
608 students · PK–05
● 47 opp16% FRL
Elem
12th Street Elementary
574 students · PK–05
● 47 opp28% FRL
Mid
Portage North Middle School
552 students · 06–08
● 47 opp42% FRL
Elem
Lake Center Elementary School
529 students · PK–05
● 37 opp24% FRL
Elem
Amberly Elementary School
526 students · PK–05
● 47 opp34% FRL
District School Rankings
Location
8305 S WESTNEDGE AVE, PORTAGE, MI 49002
Data Sources & Transparency
Enrollment & Profile
NCES Common Core of Data. Grades, enrollment, demographics, school characteristics. Updated annually.
Funding & Spending
NCES F-33 Finance Survey. District-level spending data. School-level breakdowns are not publicly reported.
Graduation Rate
EDFacts Adjusted Cohort Graduation Rate (ACGR). High schools only. Small cohorts may be range-coded for privacy.
Opportunity Score
Opportunity Atlas (Chetty, Friedman et al., Harvard/Census Bureau). Census tract outcomes for children born in the 1980s.
Fact-Based Rankings
Best-school rankings are computed from federal metrics only — enrollment, per-pupil spending, student-teacher ratio, opportunity score, and graduation rate. No editorial opinion or paid placements.
Equity Data (Coming Soon)
AP access, counselor ratios, and chronic absenteeism from the CRDC will be added in a future update.

Questions to Ask on Your School Visit

Research shows the most important factors are invisible in the data. Here is what to ask when you visit.

Middle
1
How does the school support the transition from elementary?
Orientation programs, peer mentoring
2
What electives and clubs are available?
Arts, STEM, sports, extracurriculars
3
How are students grouped for core subjects?
Tracking policies can affect equity
4
What is the school's homework and study policy?
Look for balance and academic support
5
How is bullying and social pressure addressed?
Anti-bullying policies, counselor availability
6
What advanced or enrichment options exist?
Honors courses, gifted programs
7
What does the school do with student performance data?
How data is used to personalize instruction
8
How would you describe teacher retention here?
High turnover can disrupt continuity of learning
9
What's the culture around student diversity and inclusion?
How differences are celebrated and managed

Frequently Asked Questions

About this school and the data on this page

About This Data

All figures on this page come directly from US federal open datasets — NCES Common Core of Data, EDFacts, and the Opportunity Atlas — and we work hard to keep them accurate and up to date. That said, federal data is published on an annual cycle, so some figures may not yet reflect the very latest school-year changes or local updates. We recommend using this page as a helpful starting point and cross-checking with the school or district directly, or visiting the NCES Common Core of Data and ed.gov for the most authoritative figures before making any important decisions.