Summary:
Zip code 49117 is home to just one high school, New Buffalo Senior High School, which serves grades 9 through 12 with a small student body of 172 in a rural lakeshore community.
This single school is a standout performer, backed by the New Buffalo Area Schools district, which holds a 5-star rating and ranks #8 out of 625 districts in Michigan—placing it in the top 1.3% statewide. Academically, New Buffalo Senior High School dramatically outperforms state averages in every subject and grade level tested. For example, 9th grade math proficiency sits at 73.5% versus the state’s 33.5%, and 11th grade SAT math proficiency is 56.5% compared to 26.5% statewide. The school also excels in ELA, with 9th grade PSAT scores at 93.9% proficiency, a 33.7-point advantage over Michigan’s average. The school’s state ranking has also improved sharply, jumping from #76 in 2024-2025 to #25 in 2025-2026, reflecting consistent year-over-year gains in science, social studies, and both SAT sections.
Parents should note the school’s strong graduation rate of 87.2%, which exceeds the state’s 84.0%, though its dropout rate of 10.6% is higher than the state’s 7.1%—a paradox likely influenced by the small student population. Chronic absenteeism is a concern at 21.0%, though it is better than the state’s 27.9%. The school invests heavily in its students, spending $39,644 per pupil—roughly double the national average—and maintains a favorable 10.6:1 student-teacher ratio, enabling individualized attention. With 43.6% of students qualifying for free or reduced lunch, the school serves an economically diverse population while still achieving top-tier results. Overall, this tiny rural school proves that size and location are no barriers to excellence, offering a high-quality, resource-rich education that outpaces nearly all peers in Michigan.
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