Inland Lakes Schools

Inland Lakes Schools is a small, rural district in Indian River, Michigan, serving about 664 students in two schools: Inland Lakes Secondary School (grades 6-12) and Inland Lakes Elementary School (grades K-5). Both schools share a campus and serve a largely economically disadvantaged population, with roughly two-thirds of students qualifying for free or reduced lunch.

Despite similar funding and resources, the two schools show very different strengths. Inland Lakes Elementary School shines in 5th grade science, where 48.9% of students are proficient—well above the state average of 40%—and also posted a dramatic 13-point jump in 5th grade math proficiency. However, the elementary school struggles with a 24.3% chronic absenteeism rate and a puzzling collapse in 5th grade social studies, which fell to just 6.4% proficiency. Meanwhile, Inland Lakes Secondary School excels at keeping students engaged: its chronic absenteeism rate is remarkably low at 15.5%, and it graduates 88.8% of students—well above the state average—with a dropout rate less than half the state's. The secondary school also posts strong 8th grade PSAT ELA scores (66% proficiency, above the state's 64.8%) and has improved its state ranking three years straight, from the 25th to the 38th percentile.

Math remains the district's biggest challenge, with proficiency gaps widening as students advance—from 23.4% in 6th grade down to just 13.6% on the 11th grade SAT math, compared to state averages of 31.9% and 26.5%, respectively. Science is a hidden strength across both schools, with notable gains in 8th and 11th grade. Parents should note that while test scores often lag state averages, the district's strong graduation rate and low dropout rate suggest a supportive environment that keeps students on track. The elementary school's higher poverty rate may contribute to its higher absenteeism, but the secondary school's success in this area offers a model worth replicating.