Best Public Schools in Zip Code 49663

Schools in zip code 49663 serve the Manton, Michigan area through three campuses within the Manton Consolidated Schools district, covering kindergarten through 12th grade with a total enrollment of about 939 students.

For parents exploring this district, the standout is Manton Consolidated Middle School, which ranks in the 73rd percentile statewide—well ahead of its peers. This school posts exceptional results in 8th grade science (59.7% proficiency vs. 39.2% statewide) and social studies (61.3% vs. 50.3%), plus strong PSAT English scores. Manton Consolidated Elementary School also shows bright spots, particularly in 3rd grade math (63.3% proficiency, a 20-point edge over the state), though its 4th grade scores dropped sharply this year, pulling its overall ranking down to the 60th percentile. The clear concern is Manton Consolidated High School, which ranks in only the 42nd percentile. The drop from middle to high school is dramatic: 8th grade science proficiency of 59.7% collapses to 15.0% by 11th grade, and SAT math falls to just 8.2% proficiency—nearly 20 points below the state average. This "performance cliff" suggests the strong foundation built in earlier grades is not carrying through to high school.

Despite these academic struggles, the high school excels at keeping students on track, boasting a 92.9% graduation rate (nearly 9 points above the state) and a low 3.5% dropout rate. Chronic absenteeism runs below the state average across all three schools, and the district spends more per pupil at the elementary level ($16,396 vs. roughly $13,600-$14,000 at upper schools). Families should note that economic disadvantage decreases with grade level (57% free/reduced lunch at elementary vs. 38% at high school), and that the middle school's 7th grade year shows a temporary dip in both math and English. Overall, this district offers a strong start and excellent middle school science instruction, but parents of older students may want to investigate how the high school supports academic rigor alongside its commendable graduation outcomes.