Summary:
Zip code 48768 in Vassar, MI is served by two high schools within the Vassar Public Schools district, which together cover grades 6 through 12 and represent a stark contrast in size and mission.
Vassar Senior High School is the primary traditional high school with 427 students, and it performs close to state averages in most areas. Its graduation rate of 83.5% nearly matches the state’s 84%, and its dropout rate of 9.5% is only slightly above the state norm. However, the school struggles significantly in mathematics—only 12.5% of 11th graders are proficient in SAT math versus 26.5% statewide, and PSAT math scores across grades 8-10 are roughly half the state average. Chronic absenteeism is also a concern at 33.8%, above the state’s 27.9%. On a positive note, 11th grade social studies proficiency (44.7%) actually exceeds the state average, and the school’s state ranking has been volatile, swinging from the 40th to 66th to 36th percentile over three years, suggesting inconsistent performance.
By contrast, Clarence Fischer Center is a tiny alternative school with just 15 students serving a highly at-risk population. Its outcomes are alarming: a 12.5% graduation rate and a 62.5% dropout rate—nearly nine times the state average. Chronic absenteeism is 40%, and 80% of students qualify for free/reduced lunch. Despite serving students with far greater needs, this school receives $2,641 less per student ($13,560) than Vassar Senior High ($16,201), raising questions about funding equity. No test score data is reported for this school, making academic quality difficult to assess. For parents, the choice is clear: Vassar Senior High offers a typical, moderately performing education with math challenges, while Clarence Fischer Center appears to be a last-resort option with extremely poor outcomes.
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