Schools in Zip Code 49128

Zip code 49128, encompassing the Three Oaks, Michigan area, is served by two schools within the River Valley School District, which holds a 4-star rating and ranks in the 77th percentile statewide.

River Valley MiddleHigh School (grades 6-12) is the standout performer, having made a dramatic leap from a 2-star rating to a 4-star rating in a single year, jumping from the 48th to the 82nd percentile. Its 11th-grade students significantly outperform state averages in Social Studies (63.4% vs. 43.2%), Evidence-Based Reading and Writing (65.1% vs. 52.1%), and Science (46.3% vs. 35.2%). However, this success is tempered by a concerning 8.8% dropout rate, higher than the state's 7.1%, and a notable dip in middle school performance—7th-grade ELA proficiency sits at 30.3% and 8th-grade Math at 22.6%, both below state averages. In contrast, River Valley Elementary School (grades PK-5) has been consistently stable, holding a 3-star rating for three years. It performs at or above state averages in most subjects, with 5th-grade Social Studies proficiency a standout at 50% versus the state's 27.5%.

Both schools serve a student body where 55-62% qualify for free or reduced lunch. The district invests heavily in its students, spending over $23,000 per pupil at each school, with a favorable student-teacher ratio of 9.7:1 at the elementary and 13:1 at the secondary level. Chronic absenteeism is a concern at the secondary level (27.4%, near the state average), but the elementary school's rate is a much healthier 15.8%. The graduation rate of 85.2% is slightly above the state average. The key takeaway for parents is a district with a strong, well-funded elementary foundation and a high school that has recently shown remarkable improvement in preparing its students for college, though the middle school years and a high dropout rate represent areas of concern that families should monitor closely.