Summary:
Zip code 48657, serving the Sanford, Michigan area, is home to just one high school, Meridian Early College High School, which educates students in grades 9 through 12 as part of the Meridian Public Schools district.
For parents considering this school, the most important takeaway is that Meridian Early College High School presents a mixed academic profile with notable strengths in English and strong student persistence, but clear challenges in math and science. The school has shown improvement, moving from a 2-star to a 3-star rating and climbing from #412 to #386 in state rankings over the past two years. Its biggest academic asset is English Language Arts, where 9th and 10th graders significantly outperform state averages on the PSAT (68% and 69% proficient versus roughly 60% and 58% statewide). However, this strength does not carry over to other subjects. Only 16.7% of 11th graders are proficient in SAT math, compared to the 26.5% state average, and science proficiency is strikingly low at 17% versus 35.2% statewide. Social studies scores are also below average. This suggests the school may be prioritizing literacy at the expense of STEM and other core areas.
On a more positive note, the school excels at keeping students on track. The graduation rate is a strong 89.7%, well above the state's 84.0%, and the dropout rate is a low 5.6%. Chronic absenteeism, while better than the state average, still affects nearly one in five students. With 35.61% of students eligible for free or reduced lunch, the school serves a moderate level of economic need. The district spends a substantial $15,677 per student, though the student-to-teacher ratio of 18.1 is relatively high. Parents should also be aware of significant year-to-year score volatility, which is common with a small cohort of 396 students, meaning a single year's results may not fully represent the school's overall effectiveness.
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