Summary:
Schools in zip code 49348 (Wayland, Michigan) serve approximately 2,397 students across six schools in the Wayland Union Schools district, including three elementary schools, one middle school, and two high schools.
For parents, the standout option is Wayland High School, which ranks in the 74th percentile statewide and boasts a 95.5% graduation rate—well above the state average of 84%. It outperforms state averages in nearly every subject, particularly in 9th grade PSAT ELA (70.6% vs. 60.2% state) and 10th grade PSAT Math (45.9% vs. 31.5% state). The traditional pathway through Bessie B Baker School (PK-1), RJ Steeby School (2-3), Pine Street Elementary (4-5), and Wayland Union Middle School generally produces results at or above state averages, with particular strengths in early elementary math. However, a significant math proficiency decline emerges as students progress—from 57.6% proficient in 4th grade math to just 28.4% in 8th grade PSAT Math. Additionally, RJ Steeby shows a notable early-elementary achievement gap, with 3rd grade scores roughly 11 points below district averages in both ELA and math.
The district's main concern is Career Connections Academy, a small alternative high school (37 students) with a 66.6% graduation rate, a 16.6% dropout rate, and 56.2% chronic absenteeism—more than double the district rate. This school also receives just $3,890 per student, only 18.8% of what Wayland High School spends ($20,708), despite serving the district's highest-poverty population. On a positive note, all traditional schools have chronic absenteeism rates below the state average (27.9%), and Wayland High School recently jumped from the 55th to 74th percentile statewide, driven by strong gains in science (+9.1 points). While the district excels in ELA across all grade levels, math performance in middle and high school hovers near or below state averages, making this a key area for parents to monitor.
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