Summary:
Zip code 48616, serving the Chesaning, Michigan area, is home to two high schools within the Chesaning Union Schools district, which collectively serve students in grades 9 through 12.
Chesaning Union High School is the district's primary comprehensive high school, enrolling 381 students, and it stands out as the top academic performer in the area. Its graduation rate is a strong 91.9%, far exceeding the state average of 84.0%, while its dropout rate of 2.3% is dramatically lower than the state's 7.1%. The school's academic prowess is especially evident in math, where 41.5% of 11th graders are proficient on the SAT, compared to just 26.5% statewide. However, its state ranking has been volatile, swinging from 40th in 2023-2024 to 236th in 2024-2025, before recovering to 136th in 2025-2026, suggesting that single-year rankings should be viewed with caution. Chronic absenteeism affects 27.0% of students, a figure that, while near the state average, remains a concern for a school performing this well.
In stark contrast, Chesaning Union Schools Alternative Education serves a much smaller, highly at-risk population of just 19 students. This school faces severe challenges, with a graduation rate of only 45.4% and an identical dropout rate, both far worse than state averages. Chronic absenteeism is a critical issue, impacting 66.6% of its students, and 68.42% of the student body qualifies for free or reduced lunch. The school offers a much more individualized environment with a 6.1:1 student-teacher ratio, compared to 18.8:1 at the main high school, and spends slightly less per student ($13,795 vs. $15,054). This contrast highlights how one district must employ vastly different strategies to serve diverse student needs, with the alternative school focusing on intensive support for students who have not thrived in a traditional setting.
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