Best High Schools in Zip Code 48653

Zip code 48653 is home to just one high school, Roscommon High School, part of the Roscommon Area Public Schools district, serving grades 7 through 12 with a total enrollment of 337 students in a rural, economically diverse community.

As the only high school in the area, Roscommon High School holds a mid-tier position statewide, ranking in the 58th percentile with a 3-star rating. Its biggest strength is student retention: the graduation rate of 91.8% far exceeds the Michigan average of 84.0%, while the dropout rate of just 2.0% is dramatically lower than the state’s 7.1%. Academically, the school shines in science, with 49.2% of 11th graders and 45.2% of 8th graders proficient on the M-Step, both beating state averages. English Language Arts performance is also solid, with 10th-grade PSAT proficiency at 61.2% versus the state’s 58%. However, mathematics is a clear weak spot—proficiency lags the state at every grade level, with 8th-grade PSAT math at just 17.6% compared to the state’s 33.2%, and 11th-grade SAT math at 23.8% versus 26.5%. Social studies also trails state averages.

Parents should note that over half the student body (50.45%) qualifies for free or reduced lunch, indicating significant economic need. Chronic absenteeism is a concern at 31.8%, higher than both the district (28.2%) and state (27.9%), yet this does not appear to translate into dropouts—a paradox suggesting students stay enrolled but may face barriers like transportation or health issues. The district spends a substantial $17,179 per student, though the student-teacher ratio of 17.3:1 is relatively high, implying much of the budget goes toward support services rather than smaller classes. Test scores also fluctuate notably year to year (e.g., 11th-grade science jumped from 40% to 49.2%), likely due to small cohort sizes, making it hard to gauge long-term trends. Overall, Roscommon High School offers strong graduation outcomes and science instruction, but families should be aware of math challenges and attendance issues.