Schools in Zip Code 49274

Schools in zip code 49274 (Reading, Michigan) serve approximately 690 students across two campuses in the Reading Community Schools district, which includes Reynolds Elementary School (grades PK-6) and Reading High School (grades 7-12).

For parents comparing the two schools, Reading High School stands out as the stronger performer, with an 87.7% graduation rate that beats the state average, a dropout rate of just 4.0% (nearly half the state's 7.1%), and chronic absenteeism at 15.6% — dramatically lower than Michigan's 27.9%. The high school also shows solid ELA results, with 8th graders hitting 62.2% proficiency on the PSAT and 10th graders exceeding the state average. However, math is a clear weakness, with only 10.8% of 11th graders proficient on the SAT math section. Reynolds Elementary School shows a more mixed picture, with 3rd grade math proficiency at 41.8% but a steep decline to just 14.6% by 5th grade. The elementary school's ELA scores are closer to state averages, and its 3rd grade ELA improved significantly year-over-year, though scores remain volatile across grades.

The most striking finding is the "math cliff" — proficiency drops from 41.8% in 3rd grade to 10.8% in 11th grade, suggesting a systemic issue with math instruction in the middle grades. Meanwhile, ELA performance stays relatively strong, and social studies scores improved substantially year-over-year at both 8th and 11th grades. Both schools excel at keeping students engaged, with chronic absenteeism well below state levels, which likely supports the district's strong graduation rate. The high school spends $2,809 more per student than the elementary school, a common pattern given its specialized facilities. For parents, this district offers a supportive environment with good attendance and graduation outcomes, but math achievement — especially at the secondary level — is the area most needing attention.