Summary:
Zip code 49706 is home to just one school, Alanson Public School, a small public alternative school serving grades PK through 12 within the Alanson Public Schools district, located in a rural area of northern Michigan.
For parents considering this area, Alanson Public School stands out for its exceptional student outcomes despite serving a high-poverty population, with 77.58% of students eligible for free or reduced lunch. The school boasts a remarkable 95.2% graduation rate compared to the state average of 84.0%, and an impressive 0.0% dropout rate versus the state's 7.1%. Chronic absenteeism is also notably lower at 19.6% compared to the state's 27.9%. With a favorable student-teacher ratio of 11.6:1 and per-student spending of $17,781, the school appears well-resourced to support its 223 students across all grade levels.
Academically, the school shows a distinct pattern of strengths and challenges. It excels in Science and Social Studies, particularly in 8th grade where proficiency rates reach 62.5% in both subjects, far exceeding state averages. Eighth-grade PSAT English Language Arts proficiency is also a standout at 81.25%, well above the state's 64.8%. However, performance in ELA and Math on state assessments is inconsistent, often falling below state averages in elementary grades—for instance, 4th-grade ELA proficiency is just 21.43% versus the state's 41.3%. There is also a notable drop-off from 8th to 9th grade in ELA proficiency, falling from 81.25% to 53.85%. Interestingly, the 7th grade shows an unusual spike in performance, with proficiency rates of 68.8% in ELA and 56.3% in Math, dramatically exceeding state averages. While the school's high investment doesn't guarantee uniform success across all subjects, its ability to guide students to graduation at such high rates suggests an effective, supportive environment for many learners.
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