Summary:
Zip code 49307 is home to a single middle school option, Big Rapids Middle School, which serves grades 5 through 8 and enrolls 644 students within the Big Rapids Public Schools district.
For parents, the most important takeaway is that this school shows a clear academic split: it excels in science and 8th-grade reading, but consistently struggles with math. In the most recent testing year, 5th and 8th graders scored roughly 8 to 9 points above the state average in science, and 8th graders posted an impressive 72.6% proficiency in PSAT English Language Arts—nearly 8 points above the state. However, math proficiency lags in every grade, with 7th graders falling 8.5 points behind the state average. The school’s overall state ranking improved dramatically, jumping from the 46th percentile in 2024-2025 to the 58th percentile in 2025-2026, earning a 3-star rating. This improvement is likely driven by exceptional year-over-year gains in 8th grade, where PSAT math scores rose by 11.2 points and social studies proficiency jumped by 9.5 points. That said, scores are volatile; 5th grade ELA and math both dropped by more than 12 points from the prior year, which may reflect different cohort strengths rather than a consistent trend.
Beyond test scores, parents should note that chronic absenteeism affects 27.1% of students—slightly below the state average but nearly 5 points higher than the district average. With 46.43% of students qualifying for free or reduced lunch, the school serves a moderately economically diverse population. The student-teacher ratio of 20.5:1 and per-student spending of $13,487 are reasonable, though the relatively high class sizes may limit individualized math support, which appears to be the school’s greatest academic need. Overall, Big Rapids Middle School offers strong science and 8th-grade literacy instruction, but families should be aware of the persistent math gap and consider supplemental support in that area.
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