Bloomingdale Middle and High School

Bloomingdale Middle and High School serves 516 students in grades 6-12 in the small, rural community of Bloomingdale, MI, within the Bloomingdale Public School District, where about 65% of students qualify for free or reduced lunch.

For parents, the most important takeaway is that academic performance here trails state averages significantly across nearly every subject and grade level. For example, only about 23% of 6th graders and 19% of 7th graders are proficient in English Language Arts, compared to roughly 38% statewide. The math scores are especially concerning—just 4.6% of 10th graders scored proficient on the PSAT math exam, versus a 31.5% state average. The school also struggles with a graduation rate of 71.4% (state: 84%) and a dropout rate of 12% (state: 7.1%). Chronic absenteeism affects more than one in three students (36.9%), which is a major barrier to learning. While the school has earned a 1-star rating and ranks in the 25th percentile of Michigan high schools, there are some signs of modest improvement over the past few years. One clear bright spot is the English Language Learner program, which ranks in the 75th percentile statewide—a model that suggests the school can achieve strong results for specific groups.

Comparing Bloomingdale to nearby schools provides useful context. Just 3.8 miles away, Gobles High School serves a similar student population but achieves a much higher graduation rate (83% vs. 71.4%), lower chronic absenteeism (23.3% vs. 36.9%), and significantly better test scores. Paw Paw High School, about 12.5 miles away, has a 94.4% graduation rate, though it serves a more affluent community. Notably, Bloomingdale spends $18,397 per student—more than Paw Paw ($15,148) and Lawrence ($16,134)—yet outcomes lag behind, raising questions about how effectively resources are being used. While the school faces real challenges tied to poverty and attendance, the comparison to Gobles shows that similar communities can achieve better results, suggesting room for improvement.