Summary:
Zip code 49657 is home to just one middle school, McBain Middle School, which serves grades 6 through 8 within the McBain Rural Agricultural Schools district, a rural area with a moderate-sized student body of 267.
For parents, the most important takeaway is that McBain Middle School is a solid, above-average performer compared to the rest of Michigan. The district itself ranks in the 76th percentile statewide with a 4-star rating, and the school has consistently scored above the state median over the past three years. One of its biggest strengths is attendance: the chronic absenteeism rate is just 9.5%, which is dramatically lower than the state average of 27.9%, suggesting students are engaged and regularly in class. Academically, the school shines in 8th grade, where students exceed state averages in Science (42.4% vs. 39.2%), Social Studies (54.3% vs. 50.3%), and PSAT Math (37% vs. 33.2%). However, there is a notable split between grade levels. While 7th graders outperform the state in both ELA (44.9% vs. 38.4%) and Math (35.9% vs. 33.3%), 6th graders lag behind significantly in both subjects (30.1% vs. 37.5% in ELA and 22.6% vs. 31.9% in Math). This suggests a possible transition challenge for incoming students or a particularly strong 7th-grade cohort.
Another point of concern is the year-over-year decline in 6th-grade scores, with math proficiency dropping from 37.8% to 22.6% and ELA from 40.5% to 30.1%. Despite nearly half of the students (48.31%) qualifying for free or reduced lunch, the school still manages to beat state averages in several key areas, indicating effective support for its students. The student-teacher ratio of 18.7 is on the higher side, which could mean larger class sizes, but per-student spending of $13,088 is reasonable. Overall, McBain Middle School offers a strong, well-rounded education with excellent attendance, though parents of incoming 6th graders may want to monitor their child’s transition closely.
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