Best Public Schools in Benzonia, MI

The city of Benzonia, Michigan, is served by the Benzie County Central Schools district, which includes four schools—one elementary, one middle, and two high schools—educating roughly 825 students across a predominantly low-income, rural area.

For parents, the standout option is Benzie Central Senior High School, which is the district’s strongest performer. It boasts an 84.9% graduation rate (near the state average), and in 2024-25 it achieved science proficiency of 53.6%—nearly 19 points above the state—plus a 70th-percentile statewide ranking. However, its performance is inconsistent, dropping to the 422nd spot in 2025-26. In contrast, Benzie Academy, an alternative high school, is in crisis: it has a 50% graduation rate, a 26.3% dropout rate (nearly 4x the state), and an alarming 80.9:1 student-teacher ratio, with per-student spending of just $5,299—less than a third of what the senior high receives. The middle school and Homestead Hills Elementary School fall in between, with the elementary school showing near-average early math skills but weak overall results.

District-wide, chronic absenteeism is a major red flag, affecting 44.6% of senior high students and 42.8% of middle schoolers—far above the 27.9% state average—though the elementary school is actually below that average. Math proficiency also collapses in middle school, dropping from 41% in 3rd grade to just 12% by 6th grade. Social studies is a universal weak point, with only 17% of 11th graders proficient versus 43.2% statewide. Notably, spending doesn’t align with outcomes: the senior high spends the most and performs best, but the elementary school spends nearly as much with weaker results. The district’s 1-star rating masks real potential, as the senior high’s strong science scores prove that students can excel with effective instruction. The most urgent fixes should target Benzie Academy’s under-resourcing, the middle school math decline, and chronic absenteeism in secondary grades.