Genesee High School

Genesee High School is a small, rural public school in Genesee, MI, serving 367 students in grades 6 through 12 as the sole school in the Genesee School District, where about 70% of students qualify for free or reduced lunch.

Genesee High School has shown a remarkable recent turnaround. After ranking in the 5th percentile statewide in 2022-2023, the school has climbed to the 40th percentile for 2025-2026—a dramatic improvement that stands out among nearby schools. In fact, its current ranking is higher than several neighboring schools like Bentley Senior High School (26th percentile), EA Johnson Memorial High School (17th), and Beecher High School (14th). The school is particularly effective at supporting its low-income students, who rank in the 52nd percentile statewide—better than the school's overall performance. Genesee also shines in specific subjects: its 11th graders scored 53.2% proficiency on SAT reading and writing (above the state average of 52.1%) and 40.4% in social studies, far outpacing nearby schools like Hamady Community High School, which scored just 19% in both areas.

However, significant challenges remain. Mathematics is a critical weakness, with only 14.9% of 11th graders proficient in SAT math compared to the state average of 26.5%. The graduation rate has also fallen from 92.5% to 80.3% over the past two years, while the dropout rate jumped to 13.1%. Chronic absenteeism affects 39.3% of students—well above the state average of 27.9%—and likely contributes to academic struggles. Additionally, the school's student-teacher ratio of 21.3 is the highest among comparable local high schools, despite spending $14,296 per student. While Genesee has proven it can improve, sustained focus on math intervention and student engagement will be essential to maintain its positive momentum.