Summary:
Zip code 49064 is home to two very different high schools: Lawrence JrSr High School, a traditional 7-12 grade public school serving 179 students, and Communitybased Transition Center, a specialized 10-12 grade program for 53 students under the Van Buren Independent School District (Isd).
For families seeking a conventional high school experience, Lawrence JrSr High School is the clear choice. It has shown strong momentum, jumping from the 20th to the 44th percentile in state rankings over the past year, and boasts a 0% dropout rate with an 86.2% graduation rate—both better than state averages. However, academic proficiency lags, especially in math, where only 12.1% of 7th graders and 17.1% of 11th graders are proficient versus state averages of 33.3% and 26.5%. The school serves a high-poverty population (73.18% free/reduced lunch) yet maintains chronic absenteeism below the state average. In contrast, Communitybased Transition Center offers an entirely different model with a 5.3:1 student-teacher ratio and per-student spending of $141,325—nearly nine times higher than Lawrence's $16,134—reflecting intensive, individualized services for students with significant barriers to traditional schooling.
The key takeaway is that these schools serve fundamentally different purposes. Lawrence is a rising traditional school with strong engagement but persistent math challenges, while the Transition Center is a highly specialized program where traditional metrics like graduation rates (reported at 0% for 2022-2023) are misleading given its transition-focused mission. Parents should note that Lawrence's 10th-grade PSAT ELA scores (51.6%) approach the state average, suggesting literacy interventions are working, but math remains a critical area needing attention across all grade levels.
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