High Schools in Cedar Springs Public Schools

The Cedar Springs Public Schools district in Michigan operates two high schools serving grades 9-12: Cedar Springs High School (CSHS), a large traditional school with 952 students, and New Beginnings Alternative High School (NBAHS), a small alternative program with just 50 students. The district overall ranks in the top 21% of Michigan districts with a 4-star rating.

These two schools serve very different purposes, and their metrics reflect that. Cedar Springs High School is the district's academic flagship, earning a 4-star rating and ranking in the top 20% of all Michigan high schools. Its graduation rate is an impressive 93%, compared to just 45.9% at New Beginnings Alternative High School, and its dropout rate is 3.1% versus 18.9% at the alternative school. CSHS also dramatically outperforms state averages on assessments—for example, 56.3% of its 11th graders are proficient in science versus 34.9% statewide. Chronic absenteeism at CSHS is 17.7%, far below the state's 27.9%, while NBAHS struggles with a 64% chronic absenteeism rate. The alternative school also serves a higher percentage of economically disadvantaged students (54% free/reduced lunch vs. 29.7% at CSHS) and spends more per student ($17,533 vs. $14,209), reflecting the intensive support services needed for its at-risk population.

For parents, the key takeaway is that Cedar Springs High School is a consistently high-performing, stable school—its state percentile ranking has held between 78th and 85th over three years—making it an excellent choice for students seeking a rigorous traditional education. New Beginnings Alternative High School, by contrast, is designed for students who have not succeeded in a traditional setting, offering a smaller, more supportive environment despite lower outcome metrics. Because CSHS enrolls 95% of the district's high school students, the district's strong overall performance is driven almost entirely by CSHS, so parents should look at each school individually rather than relying on district averages.