Summary:
Barryton, Michigan, is served by a single public elementary school, Barryton Elementary School, which enrolls 204 students in grades Pre-K through 4th grade as part of the Chippewa Hills School District.
For parents, the most important takeaway is that Barryton Elementary is a small, high-needs school showing a positive long-term trend despite some volatile year-to-year test scores. The school has improved its state ranking for two consecutive years, moving from the 36th percentile in 2023-2024 to a projected 50th percentile in 2025-2026. However, this overall progress masks significant swings between grade-level cohorts. For example, the 2024-2025 3rd grade class posted strong scores (47.4% proficient in ELA and 57.9% in math), but the same group of students, now in 4th grade for 2025-2026, is projected to score 45% in both subjects. Meanwhile, the incoming 3rd grade class is projected to drop sharply to 35% in ELA and just 27.5% in math—a 30-point decline that falls well below district and state averages. This suggests performance is heavily dependent on the specific group of children in each grade rather than a consistent school-wide trend.
A critical concern is that Barryton Elementary spends a substantial $14,834 per student, yet its projected 2025-2026 proficiency rates in all four tested areas are significantly lower than the district average. This gap is likely tied to two challenges: a very high economic disadvantage rate (70.59% of students qualify for free/reduced lunch) and a chronic absenteeism rate of 29.8%, which exceeds both the district (28.7%) and state (27.9%) averages. With nearly one in three students chronically absent, foundational learning in 3rd and 4th grade is at risk. While the school's improving state ranking is encouraging, parents should be aware that the combination of high poverty, elevated absenteeism, and inconsistent grade-level performance means the school faces unique hurdles that per-student spending alone has not yet overcome.
Thank you for your feedback!