Summary:
Zip code 49083 in Richland, Michigan, is served by two elementary schools within the Gull Lake Community Schools district, together educating roughly 1,110 students in a feeder pattern spanning kindergarten through fifth grade.
For parents, the standout performer is Thomas M Ryan Intermediate School (grades 3-5), which consistently earns 4-star ratings and ranks in the 71st-73rd percentile statewide. Its 5th graders shine in English Language Arts with 64% proficiency—well above the state's 43.8%—and post an impressive 42.4% proficiency in social studies, nearly 15 points above the state average. Math proficiency (39.6%) lags behind ELA, but still tops state levels. Meanwhile, Richland Elementary School (grades K-2) lacks recent test data since state assessments begin in 3rd grade, but its most recent ranking (2008-2009) showed a 3-star rating. The most pressing concern is Richland Elementary's chronic absenteeism rate of 31.6%—2.5 times higher than Thomas M Ryan's 12.6% and above both district (17.8%) and state (27.9%) averages. This disparity suggests attendance challenges concentrate in the youngest grades, potentially undermining the strong foundation these students need before transitioning to the intermediate school.
Both schools share similar socioeconomic profiles (about 34.5% free/reduced lunch) and outperform state averages across nearly all subjects. Richland Elementary spends more per student ($15,186 vs. $13,255) and maintains smaller class sizes (12.8:1 vs. 16.1:1), reflecting the greater needs of younger learners. However, parents should note the "fifth grade surge" in ELA—a nearly 20-point jump from 4th to 5th grade—and some year-over-year volatility in 4th grade scores. Overall, this district delivers consistent, above-average instruction, but addressing early-grade absenteeism at Richland Elementary could yield significant long-term benefits for student achievement.
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