Fairview School

Fairview School is a small, rural public school in Fairview, MI, serving 309 students from pre-kindergarten through 12th grade as the sole school in the Fairview Area School District, where about three-quarters of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch.

Fairview stands out for its exceptional performance in science and social studies. In 2024-2025, 59.3% of 11th graders were proficient in both subjects, far exceeding state averages of 34.9% and 42.1%, respectively. This strength shows up earlier too—5th and 8th graders also beat state averages in science by wide margins. The school also boasts a chronic absenteeism rate of just 14.1%, roughly half the state average of 27.9%, suggesting students are engaged and showing up consistently. However, the picture is more mixed in English Language Arts and math. While some grades outperform the state—like 5th graders hitting 54.2% in ELA versus 44.4% statewide—others struggle, such as 3rd graders at 16% proficiency compared to 38.9% statewide. Math scores also tend to lag in middle grades, though there are bright spots like 5th-grade math at 59.1% versus 32.2% statewide.

Graduation and dropout rates at Fairview are volatile, swinging from a 72.2% graduation rate in 2022-2023 to 86.3% in 2024-2025, with dropout rates spiking to 27.7% one year before dropping to 5.2% the next—likely a reflection of the school's small size, where a handful of students can shift percentages dramatically. Compared to nearby Atlanta Community Schools, Fairview generally outperforms in academics despite spending less per student ($13,978 versus $16,193). Fairview also has a dramatically lower chronic absenteeism rate than Atlanta's 38.4%. While Fairview's graduation rate (86.3%) trails Atlanta's (91.3%), its strong science and social studies results, combined with excellent attendance, suggest a school with real strengths to build on—even as it works to stabilize outcomes in core subjects and student retention.