Summary:
Zip code 49657 is home to a single elementary school, McBain Elementary School, which serves grades PK through 5th and is part of the McBain Rural Agricultural Schools district.
For parents considering this area, McBain Elementary stands out as a consistently high-performing school that exceeds state averages in nearly every subject and grade level. In the most recent testing year, the school beat the state average in 7 out of 8 subject and grade combinations. The most impressive results are in 5th grade, where math proficiency reaches 53.2% compared to the state's 32.2%, and science proficiency hits 59.6% versus the state's 40%. The school also boasts an exceptionally low chronic absenteeism rate of just 7.4%, compared to the state average of 27.9%, which points to a highly engaged student body and strong family involvement. This is particularly notable given that just over half of the students (51.15%) qualify for free or reduced lunch, indicating the school supports a diverse range of economic backgrounds effectively.
The school is on a clear upward trajectory, with its state ranking improving for three consecutive years, moving from the 65th percentile to the 72nd percentile. Year-over-year test scores show significant gains, such as 3rd-grade English Language Arts jumping from 39% to 50.6% proficiency and 5th-grade math rising from 45.6% to 53.2%. The district itself is ranked 148th out of 625 in Michigan, placing it in the top 25% with a 4-star rating. While the school excels broadly, 5th-grade social studies is a relative weak point at 31.9% proficiency, though it still edges out the state average of 27.5%. With a student-teacher ratio of 18.8 and per-student spending of $13,752, McBain Elementary demonstrates that it uses its resources efficiently to deliver strong academic outcomes, making it a solid choice for families seeking a supportive and successful elementary education in a rural Michigan setting.
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