Summary:
Zip code 48428, serving the rural community of Dryden, Michigan, is home to two schools within the Dryden Community Schools district, offering a continuous PK-12 pathway for 438 students across Dryden Elementary School (PK-6) and Dryden High School (7-12).
For parents, the most striking contrast is between the two buildings. Dryden Elementary School is on a steady upward trajectory, climbing from the 44th to the 61st percentile in state rankings over three years, with notable strengths in 3rd-grade math (58.5% proficient) and 5th-grade science (60% proficient). In contrast, Dryden High School shows dramatic year-to-year swings, dropping from the 63rd to the 35th percentile in a single year—likely a reflection of very small cohorts (roughly 30-40 students per grade). The high school does boast exceptional non-academic outcomes, with a 97.3% graduation rate and a 0.0% dropout rate, far exceeding state averages. However, a systemic math weakness emerges after 3rd grade; proficiency plummets from 58.5% to just 16% by 4th grade and never recovers, with only 13.5% of 7th graders and 15.6% of 11th graders proficient in math.
Other key takeaways include an 8th-grade cohort that stands out academically (73.5% proficient in ELA and 54.5% in science), while chronic absenteeism is notably lower at the high school (19.2%) than at the elementary (27.4%). The district spends slightly more per high school student ($15,236 vs. $14,474) despite larger class sizes, and a higher percentage of elementary students (53.1%) qualify for free/reduced lunch compared to high schoolers (41.6%). Overall, this small district excels at keeping students engaged through graduation, but parents should be aware of the significant math challenges that surface in upper grades and the volatility that comes with small class sizes.
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