Summary:
The Bark River-Harris School District in Michigan serves approximately 721 students across two schools—Bark River-Harris Elementary School (grades PK-6) and Bark River-Harris Jr/Sr High School (grades 7-12)—in a rural setting with a district-wide 4-star rating and an 81st-percentile state ranking.
The elementary school is the district's academic standout, earning a consistent 4-star rating and posting exceptional results in upper elementary grades. In 5th grade, math proficiency reaches 53.4% versus the state's 32.2%, science hits 60.3% versus 40.0%, and ELA reaches 62.1% versus 43.8%—all 18-21 points above state averages. The high school, meanwhile, is a dramatic turnaround story, jumping from the 39th to the 70th percentile in a single year. Its 8th grade science (56.1%) and social studies (63.4%) proficiency rates exceed state averages by 13-17 points, and its 9th grade PSAT ELA score of 83.7% towers over the state's 60.2%. However, the two schools diverge sharply in math: while elementary math is strong, SAT math proficiency at the high school sits at just 22.2%, below the state's 26.5%, revealing a secondary-level weakness that doesn't exist in earlier grades.
Chronic absenteeism tells a similar tale of two schools—the elementary rate is a remarkably low 10.8%, but the high school's 23.6% is more than double that and likely contributes to its math gaps. The district graduates 88.1% of students (above the state's 84.0%) and keeps dropout rates low at 4.7%. With per-student spending near the Michigan average ($13,700-$14,000) and class sizes of 15-16 students, the district achieves above-average results efficiently. Parents should note the strong elementary foundation, the high school's recent improvement, and the persistent math challenge at secondary levels—an area that may need extra support at home.
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