Summary:
Zip code 49719 is home to a single school, Cedarville School, part of the Les Cheneaux Community Schools district, serving 219 students from Pre-Kindergarten through 12th grade in a small, rural community setting.
For parents, the most striking takeaway is that Cedarville School delivers exceptional academic results in elementary and middle school, despite its "alternative" designation. In nearly every tested subject, students outperform state averages by wide margins. For example, 4th-grade math proficiency is 72.2% versus the state's 39.4%, and 8th-grade science proficiency hits 72.2% compared to 39.2% statewide. Social studies is another standout, with 8th graders scoring 77.8% proficiency versus 50.3% for the state. Even PSAT math scores in 8th and 10th grades exceed state averages by more than 26 percentage points. With a favorable 14.2:1 student-teacher ratio and chronic absenteeism well below the state average (18.6% vs. 27.9%), younger students clearly thrive in this personalized environment.
However, the school faces a significant challenge at the high school level. While academic proficiency is strong for those who stay enrolled, the graduation rate is just 70% compared to the state's 84%, and the dropout rate of 15% is more than double the state average of 7.1%. This suggests that retention, not academic ability, is the primary issue. The school spends a substantial $21,516 per student—likely reflecting the high costs of running a full PK-12 program for only 219 students—yet this investment hasn't yet translated into higher graduation rates. Parents should note that small cohort sizes can cause year-to-year test score volatility, but the consistent pattern of outperforming state averages in math, science, and social studies indicates strong instructional foundations. The key area for improvement is clearly high school engagement and completion initiatives.
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