Summary:
Zip code 48611 is served by a single high school, Bay City Western High School, which enrolls roughly 1,000 students in grades 9-12 and is part of the Bay City School District.
For parents considering this area, Bay City Western High School stands out as a strong academic anchor within its district, outperforming district averages in nearly every category. The school boasts an impressive 96.6% graduation rate—more than 15 points higher than the district average and nearly 13 points above the state—with a correspondingly low dropout rate of just 1.5%. Academically, the school shines in English Language Arts: 9th-grade PSAT proficiency reaches 72.1% and SAT Evidence-Based Reading and Writing proficiency is 60.8%, both well above state benchmarks. However, math is a clear weakness, with only 21.5% of students proficient on the SAT Math section, below the state average of 26.5%. Science and social studies performance are mixed, hovering near or slightly below state averages. Chronic absenteeism sits at 22.5%, which is concerning but notably better than the district's 32.8% and the state's 27.9%.
One of the most striking takeaways is the contrast between the school's ELA success and its math struggles, suggesting a highly effective English department but a need for intervention in mathematics. Additionally, Bay City Western High School appears to be bucking district-wide trends, creating a more positive learning environment than the Bay City School District average. The school spends a substantial $14,761 per student, yet maintains a high student-teacher ratio of 23.5:1, which may indicate funds are directed toward resources beyond classroom instruction. Encouragingly, the school's state ranking jumped from the 45th percentile to the 68th percentile in the most recent year, earning a 3-star rating—a sign of positive momentum for families looking at this area.
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