Summary:
Reese Public Schools is a small, unified Michigan district serving roughly 743 students in grades PK-12 across three schools: Reese Elementary School, Reese Middle School, and Reese High School.
The clear standout is Reese Elementary School, which earns a 4-star rating and ranks in the 70th percentile statewide. Its 3rd graders post remarkable results, beating state averages by 31 points in ELA and 26 points in math. However, this academic strength does not carry into Reese Middle School, which holds just a 2-star rating and ranks in the 44th percentile. By 7th grade, students fall roughly 8-10 points below state averages in both ELA and math, and 8th grade science proficiency sits 13 points below the state. The middle school also has the district's highest student-teacher ratio at 21.2:1, which may be a contributing factor. Reese High School performs better, with a 3-star rating and a graduation rate of 88.1%—above the state's 84%. Its students excel in English, with 10th graders scoring nearly 10 points above the state average on PSAT ELA, but math is a serious concern: only 15% of 9th graders are proficient in PSAT math, a staggering 18.5 points below the state average.
District-wide, science proficiency is a consistent weakness at every level, from 5th grade (28%) through 11th grade (33.8%). On a positive note, chronic absenteeism is remarkably low at 17.5% versus the state's 27.9%, despite 40-58% of students qualifying for free/reduced lunch. The district also shows significant year-to-year score swings due to small class sizes, making trend analysis tricky. For parents, the picture is clear: Reese Elementary provides an excellent foundation, but the transition to Reese Middle School marks a sharp decline in achievement, particularly in math and science, which continues into Reese High School.
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