Summary:
Zip code 49424 in Holland, Michigan, is served by two public middle schools—Harbor Lights Middle School and Macatawa Bay Middle School—both part of the West Ottawa Public School District, which holds a 3-star rating and ranks in the 60th percentile statewide. Together, these schools educate roughly 1,535 students in grades 6-8, with Harbor Lights being the larger campus at 903 students compared to Macatawa Bay’s 632.
When comparing the two, Harbor Lights is the stronger academic performer. In the 2025-2026 school year, it beat Macatawa Bay in most subjects, including 6th-grade ELA (34.6% vs. 22.8%), 7th-grade ELA (36.4% vs. 32.7%), 8th-grade science (40.3% vs. 35.1%), and 8th-grade PSAT ELA (65.7% vs. 56.9%). Harbor Lights also improved its state ranking to the 59th percentile, while Macatawa Bay slipped to the 49th percentile and now holds a 2-star rating. Interestingly, Macatawa Bay actually spends more per student ($16,814 vs. $15,165) and has a better student-teacher ratio (14.9:1 vs. 17.8:1), yet these extra resources have not translated into higher test scores. A key factor may be socioeconomic: 62.66% of Macatawa Bay students qualify for free/reduced lunch versus 52.82% at Harbor Lights.
Both schools share serious challenges. Chronic absenteeism is nearly identical—28.8% at Harbor Lights and 28.9% at Macatawa Bay—both above the state average of 27.9%, meaning about 1 in 3.5 students is chronically absent. Math proficiency is a district-wide weakness, with scores hovering in the mid-20s to low-30s across grades and tests, rarely exceeding state averages. There is also notable year-to-year volatility, such as Macatawa Bay’s 6th-grade ELA scores dropping 19.5 points from 2024-2025 to 2025-2026. On a positive note, 8th-grade PSAT ELA is a relative strength, with Harbor Lights exceeding the state average. For parents, Harbor Lights currently offers better academic outcomes, but both schools face systemic issues around attendance and math that need district attention.
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