Summary:
Zip code 49252 is home to a single high school, Litchfield High School, which serves grades 6 through 12 within the Litchfield Community Schools district, a small, rural area with an enrollment of just 143 students.
For parents, the most pressing concern at Litchfield High School is student outcomes. The graduation rate stands at just 59%, a full 25 points below the state average of 84%, while the dropout rate of 22.7% is more than triple the state’s 7.1%. This suggests a serious challenge in keeping students on track to earn a diploma. Academically, the school consistently underperforms the state in every subject and grade level tested. For example, only 23.5% of 11th graders are proficient in SAT Evidence-Based Reading and Writing, compared to 52.1% statewide, and math proficiency rates hover between 9% and 19%, far below the state’s 32-34% range. The school’s state ranking has also dropped sharply, from the 40th percentile in 2022-2023 to the 19th percentile for 2025-2026, placing it in the bottom fifth of Michigan high schools.
Context matters here: 72% of students qualify for free or reduced lunch, indicating a predominantly low-income population. Despite spending a substantial $15,316 per student, the school’s results do not reflect that investment, suggesting that financial resources alone are not solving the underlying issues. Interestingly, chronic absenteeism at 25.6% is actually slightly better than the state average of 27.9%, meaning students are showing up to school but are not being adequately supported to succeed academically or graduate. This points to a need for targeted interventions—such as stronger counseling, academic support, and dropout prevention programs—rather than just more funding. Parents considering this school should weigh these outcome metrics heavily and ask the district what specific strategies are in place to reverse these trends.
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