Summary:
Zip code 48415 in Birch Run, Michigan, is served by four schools within the Birch Run Area Schools district, enrolling roughly 1,800 students across elementary through high school grades in a predominantly lower-income community.
For families, the standout academic performer is Birch Run High School, which excels in 11th-grade science (53.7% proficient vs. 35.2% statewide) and social studies (53.7% vs. 43.2%), while posting a strong 87% graduation rate and a remarkably low 1.5% dropout rate. However, its ranking has been volatile, swinging from the 80th percentile in 2023-2024 down to the 44th percentile in 2024-2025 before recovering to the 67th percentile in 2025-2026. Marshall Greene Middle School shows the most consistent improvement, climbing from the 49th to 64th percentile over three years, with particular strengths in 5th-grade science (46% vs. 40% state) and 8th-grade social studies. In contrast, North Elementary School trails state averages in all tested subjects for grades 3-4, and Birch Run Progressive High School, an alternative program serving just 38 students, struggles with a 64.2% graduation rate and an extreme 50.6:1 student-teacher ratio.
Key concerns include a district-wide math weakness—SAT math proficiency at Birch Run High is just 22% vs. 26.5% statewide—and chronic absenteeism spikes at Marshall Greene (28.7%) and Birch Run High (26.6%), though North Elementary defies its high poverty rate with only 11.1% absenteeism. Resource disparities are stark: Birch Run Progressive receives just $7,588 per student compared to $15,232 at Birch Run High, despite serving the highest-need population. The district's 3-star rating masks these contrasts, with literacy and science emerging as relative strengths while math and alternative-school support require urgent attention.
Thank you for your feedback!