Big Bay De Noc School

Big Bay De Noc School is a small, rural public school in Cooks, MI, serving 192 students from Pre-K through 12th grade as a single-school district (Big Bay De Noc School District). With a favorable 14:1 student-to-teacher ratio and over half of students qualifying for free or reduced-price lunch, this geographically isolated school offers a personalized setting, though its nearest comparable school, TriTownship School, is nearly 20 miles away.

The school’s standout strength is middle school science. In 2025-2026, 68.8% of 8th graders were proficient in science—nearly 30 points above the state average and 16 points higher than TriTownship. This isn’t a fluke; the school also exceeded state averages in 8th-grade science in 2023-2024. However, performance in English Language Arts (ELA) and math is less consistent, with proficiency rates swinging dramatically from year to year. For example, 6th-grade math proficiency dropped from 46% to under 18% in just one year. These fluctuations are likely due to very small class sizes, where a handful of students can skew results. While some grades show strong peaks, overall ELA and math scores often fall below state averages, suggesting foundational skills may need more attention.

Attendance and graduation rates tell a mixed story. Chronic absenteeism has improved steadily from a high of 45% in 2021-2022 to 28.1% now—still high and nearly matching the state average, but notably worse than TriTownship’s 17%. Graduation rates have been volatile, ranging from a perfect 100% in recent years to 84.6% currently, with a recent spike in dropouts to 7.6%. The school’s small size means targeted interventions could have a big impact, but it also makes data highly sensitive to individual student performance. For parents, this school offers clear strengths in science but highlights the need to monitor attendance and core subject support closely.