Summary:
Bellevue Community Schools is a small, rural Michigan district with just two schools—Bellevue JrSr High School (grades 7-12, 281 students) and Bellevue Elementary School (grades PK-6, 226 students)—serving roughly 507 students total, with about half qualifying for free or reduced lunch.
The two schools are on very different trajectories. Bellevue Elementary School is the district’s rising star, jumping from the 21st to 39th percentile in just one year. Its 3rd graders beat the state average in math (45.2% vs. 42.9%), and 6th grade reading made a stunning leap from 13.9% to 41.7% proficiency—now 4 points above the state. However, 5th grade is a serious trouble spot: only 20% are proficient in reading and 13.3% in math, both roughly 20 points below state averages. Meanwhile, Bellevue JrSr High School has slipped from the 56th to 42nd percentile. Its standout is 11th-grade science, where 38.1% proficiency actually exceeds the state (35.2%). The high school also boasts an exceptionally low dropout rate of just 1.7% versus the state’s 7.1%, and its graduation rate (82.4%) is close to the state norm. But college readiness is a concern—only 16.3% of 11th graders are proficient in SAT math and 34.9% in reading/writing.
District-wide, chronic absenteeism affects 1 in 4 students, and per-student spending (~$16,750) is above the Michigan average, yet most test scores lag 10-20 points behind the state. The elementary school’s improvement suggests reforms are taking hold, but the high school hasn’t yet benefited. The dramatic year-to-year swings (like 6th grade reading jumping 28 points) reflect small class sizes where a few students can shift results dramatically. For parents, the picture is mixed: the elementary school is clearly improving, the high school excels at keeping kids in school and has a strong science program, but math and upper-elementary reading need urgent attention—especially that 5th-grade slump.
Thank you for your feedback!