High Schools in Plainwell Community Schools

Plainwell Community Schools operates two high schools serving grades 9-12 in Plainwell, Michigan, with a combined enrollment of 914 students and a district ranking in the 58th percentile statewide. The district presents a dramatic contrast between its two campuses: Plainwell High School, a comprehensive school with 828 students, and Renaissance High School, an alternative program with just 86 students.

Plainwell High School is the clear academic standout, ranking 191st out of 800 Michigan high schools (76th percentile) with a 4-star rating. It boasts a 94.2% graduation rate—well above the state average of 84.0%—and a dropout rate of just 2.4%. The school excels in science (54.1% proficiency vs. 35.2% statewide) and SAT math (39.1% vs. 26.5% statewide), though it shows only marginal advantages in social studies and early ELA. However, test scores declined across all subjects from 2024-2025 to 2025-2026, with the largest drops in science (-6.9 points) and social studies (-5.6 points). By contrast, Renaissance High School struggles significantly, with a 17.6% graduation rate, a 19.6% dropout rate, and 48.5% chronic absenteeism—more than double the district rate. Renaissance also serves a far more economically disadvantaged population, with 58.14% of students eligible for free/reduced lunch compared to 27.05% at Plainwell High School.

The resource allocation raises equity concerns: Renaissance High School spends less per student ($11,949 vs. $13,099) and has a higher student-teacher ratio (34.4:1 vs. 20.9:1) despite serving students with greater needs. The district's combined graduation rate of 78.8% masks this stark divide—Plainwell High School outperforms the state by 15.4 points while Renaissance falls 66.4 points below it. For parents, Plainwell High School offers strong academics and high graduation rates, though recent score declines warrant monitoring. Renaissance High School, however, appears to need significant intervention, with chronic absenteeism affecting nearly half its students and no state ranking data since 2018-2019, suggesting it may not meet minimum participation thresholds.