Best Public Schools in Zip Code 49319

Zip code 49319 in Cedar Springs, Michigan, is served by 7 schools—3 elementary schools, 1 middle school, 2 high schools, and 1 alternative PK-12 charter—that collectively educate roughly 3,303 students, with the majority belonging to the highly-rated Cedar Springs Public Schools district.

For parents, the standout option is clearly Cedar Springs High School, which earns a 4-star rating and boasts a 93% graduation rate—far exceeding the state average of 84%—along with exceptionally low dropout rates and strong proficiency gains in nearly every subject, particularly 10th-grade ELA (70.8%) and 10th-grade PSAT Math (50%, a full 18.5 points above the state). The district’s feeder pattern is also a strength: Beach Elementary School and Cedar View Elementary School keep chronic absenteeism remarkably low (13.1% and 11.3%, respectively), while Cedar Springs Middle School has shown dramatic improvement, jumping from a 3-star to a 4-star rating in two years and excelling in 8th-grade Social Studies (60.7% proficiency). Science is a district-wide highlight, with every tested school outperforming state averages. However, Cedar Trails Elementary School spends a striking $21,383 per student—55% more than the middle school—reflecting the intensive resources for its PK-1st grade population, though it still posts solid results.

The most significant concerns center on alternative settings. New Beginnings Alternative High School faces severe challenges with a 45.9% graduation rate, 64% chronic absenteeism, and an 18.9% dropout rate—all dramatically worse than district peers—despite spending $17,533 per student. Similarly, Creative Technologies Academy, the independent charter, shows a paradox: it outperforms the state in secondary grades (76.9% 9th-grade PSAT ELA) but struggles in elementary ELA (26.1% 3rd-grade proficiency). While the district’s traditional schools consistently beat state averages, the 47-point graduation gap between the high school and New Beginnings highlights equity issues that parents of at-risk students should investigate carefully.