Bendle Public Schools

Bendle Public Schools is a small, high-poverty district in Burton, Michigan, serving about 981 students across four schools: two elementary schools (South Bendle Elementary for PK-2 and West Bendle Elementary for grades 3-5), Bendle Middle School (grades 6-8), and Bendle High School (grades 9-12). The district ranks in the bottom 15% of Michigan districts, but performance varies significantly from school to school.

West Bendle Elementary School is the clear standout, producing the district’s best academic results despite serving the highest percentage of low-income students (92% free/reduced lunch). Its 3rd-grade math proficiency (39.2%) nearly matches the state average, and it has the lowest chronic absenteeism rate in the district at 33.7%. West Bendle has also improved its state percentile ranking for three straight years. In contrast, Bendle Middle School is the most troubled spot, earning a 0-star rating with just 5.9% of 7th-graders proficient in math (state: 33.3%) and a 57.1% chronic absenteeism rate—more than double the state average. Bendle High School shows relative strength, with an 83.1% graduation rate near the state’s 84.0%, though its 11th-grade science proficiency (9.4%) lags far behind the state (35.2%). South Bendle Elementary School serves the youngest students but has a 43.9% chronic absenteeism rate, and its per-student spending ($16,103) is the lowest in the district.

The most striking pattern is a “middle school cliff”: while West Bendle’s 3rd-graders achieve near-state-level math scores, by 7th grade proficiency collapses to just 5.9%. Chronic absenteeism appears tightly linked to achievement—the middle school has both the worst attendance and lowest scores, while West Bendle has the best of both. Notably, West Bendle spends the most per student ($19,083) and achieves the best outcomes, while the middle school spends $17,385 with far worse results, suggesting school-level factors matter beyond poverty. Test scores also swing wildly year to year (e.g., 6th-grade ELA jumped from 7.1% to 16.2%), indicating small cohorts and inconsistent instruction. For parents, West Bendle Elementary offers the strongest foundation, but the district as a whole faces serious challenges in sustaining early gains through middle school.