Best Public Schools in Bellevue, MI

Bellevue Community Schools serves the small, rural city of Bellevue, Michigan, with two public schools—Bellevue Elementary School (grades PK-6) and Bellevue JrSr High School (grades 7-12)—together enrolling about 507 students.

For parents, the most important takeaway is that the two schools are performing very differently. Bellevue JrSr High School is the stronger of the two, earning a 3-star rating in recent years and ranking in the 42nd percentile statewide. Its graduation rate (82.4%) is close to the state average, and its dropout rate (1.7%) is remarkably low—about four times better than the Michigan average. The high school also beats the state in 11th-grade science proficiency. However, it struggles in 8th-grade science and social studies, and SAT math scores lag behind state averages. In contrast, Bellevue Elementary School is the district’s main concern. It has historically earned just 1-star ratings, though it improved to a 2-star rating and the 39th percentile in the most recent data. Proficiency rates at the elementary level are well below state averages in most subjects—for example, only 20% of 5th graders are proficient in ELA compared to 43.8% statewide, and just 13.3% are proficient in math versus 32.2% statewide.

One of the most striking findings is the “feeder pattern” problem: students arriving at the high school from the elementary school often lack foundational skills, forcing the high school to play catch-up. Both schools also face high chronic absenteeism (about 25% of students), and a significant share of students are economically disadvantaged (58% at the elementary, 44% at the high school). Despite spending over $16,500 per student—relatively high for Michigan—the district’s student-teacher ratios are around 20:1, which suggests resources may not be going toward smaller classes. The high school’s exceptionally low dropout rate is a hidden success, showing that once students reach high school, they are well-supported to stay and graduate. Overall, the district’s biggest opportunity for improvement lies in early intervention and foundational skill-building at the elementary level.