High Schools in Fowlerville Community Schools

Fowlerville Community Schools operates two high schools serving grades 6-12 in a rural Michigan district, offering a traditional comprehensive high school alongside a smaller alternative online academy.

Fowlerville High School is the district’s primary school with 774 students in grades 9-12 and stands out for exceptional student success. Its graduation rate of 96.5% far exceeds the district average of 88.0% and the state average of 84.0%, while its dropout rate of just 1.9% is remarkably low compared to the state’s 7.1%. Academically, the school shows clear strengths in Social Studies (49.1% proficient vs. 43.2% statewide) and 9th-grade English Language Arts (63.3% vs. 60.2%). However, math remains a significant weakness, with SAT math proficiency at only 19.3% compared to the state’s 26.5%, and similar gaps appear across PSAT scores for 9th and 10th graders. Science proficiency also trails the state (31.1% vs. 35.2%). Despite these academic gaps, the school’s state ranking has improved from the 47th to 54th percentile over three years, likely driven by its stellar graduation and dropout metrics. A hidden concern is chronic absenteeism at 40.3%, dramatically higher than the district (28.4%) and state (27.9%) averages, suggesting many students are disengaged even as they ultimately graduate.

In contrast, Fowlerville Online Learning Academy serves just 53 students in grades 6-12 as an alternative pathway for at-risk learners. Its free/reduced lunch rate of 50.94% is double that of Fowlerville High School (24.94%), and its outcomes reflect significant challenges: a 13.0% graduation rate and a 34.7% dropout rate. These figures are best understood as a reflection of serving students who have struggled in traditional settings, not as a measure of failure. The academy operates at roughly half the per-student cost ($7,290 vs. $14,296), making it a financially efficient option for the district to offer a second chance to students who need flexibility. Together, these two schools illustrate the district’s dual approach—excelling with its mainstream population while providing a safety net for those who need alternative support, even if the metrics for that safety net are inherently lower.