Summary:
Zip code 49615 in Bellaire, Michigan, is served by two small public schools within the Bellaire Public Schools district, which together educate roughly 259 students across grades PK-12 in a rural, close-knit community setting.
For parents, the standout is Bellaire MiddleHigh School, which delivers exceptional results in English language arts and boasts a 95.8% graduation rate—nearly 12 points above the state average. Its 6th-grade ELA proficiency (68.4%) and 9th-grade PSAT ELA scores (82.6%) far outpace Michigan averages, and the school has climbed to the 74th percentile statewide with a 4-star rating. In contrast, John R Rodger Elementary School is a steadier, more modest performer, ranking in the 52nd percentile. It exceeds state averages in 5th-grade science (50% vs. 40%) and social studies (38.1% vs. 29.8%), but its math scores trail the state at nearly every grade level. The most striking pattern is the divide between subjects: while the secondary school excels in ELA and science, math proficiency at both schools lags—7th-grade math at MiddleHigh sits at just 21.1% versus the state’s 33.3%, and elementary math scores are consistently below average.
Both schools share a favorable 12.2:1 student-teacher ratio and similar demographics, with about 52% of students qualifying for free or reduced lunch. Per-student spending is high ($24,581 at MiddleHigh, $22,336 at Rodger), yet results are uneven, suggesting resources aren’t fully translating into math gains. Chronic absenteeism (26-30%) is a concern, though MiddleHigh’s strong graduation rate implies effective support for students who attend regularly. Year-to-year scores fluctuate dramatically—likely due to small class sizes—so parents should view single-year data cautiously. Overall, this district offers a tight-knit environment with genuine strengths in literacy and college readiness, but families should be aware of the persistent math gap and ask how the schools plan to address it.
Thank you for your feedback!