Kenowa Hills Public Schools

Kenowa Hills Public Schools is a mid-sized Michigan district serving roughly 2,900 students across six schools—three elementary schools (Kenowa Hills Central Elementary School, Zinser Elementary School, and Alpine Elementary School), one middle school, and two high schools (Kenowa Hills High School and Kenowa Hills Pathways High School). The district holds a 3-star rating, ranking in the 54th percentile statewide, with free/reduced lunch rates ranging from 34% to 67% across schools.

The clear academic standout is Zinser Elementary School, which earned a 4-star rating and outperformed both district and state averages in every tested subject—a feat no other school matched. Its 5th grade ELA proficiency hit 60% versus the district’s 45.4%, and its chronic absenteeism rate (10.4%) is the lowest in the district. In contrast, Alpine Elementary School struggles with a 2-star rating, the highest free/reduced lunch rate (67.2%), and chronic absenteeism at 28.1%—nearly triple Zinser’s rate. At the secondary level, Kenowa Hills High School posted a dramatic turnaround, jumping from the 40th to the 74th percentile with a 95.1% graduation rate, well above the state’s 84%. However, Kenowa Hills Middle School shows a troubling trend: its chronic absenteeism rate (34.5%) exceeds the state average by 6.6 points, and 6th grade ELA proficiency lags the state by 7.4 points.

One of the district’s brightest spots is 9th grade PSAT math, where students hit 50% proficiency—16.5 points above the state—but that advantage fades by 10th grade, with math proficiency dropping 20 points. Kenowa Hills Pathways High School serves a different purpose: despite low test scores, its 88.6% graduation rate and 2.2% dropout rate beat state averages, though its 24.3:1 student-teacher ratio seems high for an alternative program. For parents, the key takeaway is that Zinser proves strong outcomes are possible, while Alpine and the middle school need targeted support around attendance and instruction.