Summary:
Zip code 49738, serving the Grayling, Michigan area, is home to four schools within the Crawford AuSable Schools district, offering a full educational pathway from Pre-K through 12th grade, plus an online alternative, for roughly 1,640 students.
The standout in this district is Grayling High School, which consistently earns a 4-star rating and ranks in the top 20% of Michigan high schools. Its academic performance is exceptional, with SAT math proficiency (47.2%) nearly double the state average and a 95.8% graduation rate with zero dropouts. This success contrasts sharply with Grayling Middle School, which has seen its ranking plummet from the 80th to the 54th percentile over two years despite having the highest per-student spending ($26,635). A critical red flag is the "6th grade ELA cliff," where proficiency drops a staggering 20 points from 5th to 6th grade. Meanwhile, Grayling Elementary School trails state averages in core subjects, and Great Lakes Online Education, serving the highest-need population (76% free/reduced lunch), struggles with a 63.1% graduation rate and a 15.7% dropout rate, though it operates at a fraction of the cost per student.
For parents, the data paints a picture of a district with a stellar high school but a problematic pipeline feeding it. The most pressing issues are the middle school's declining performance and high spending, the elementary school's lagging test scores, and a notable chronic absenteeism rate of 33.6% at the high school. While the district's overall 3-star rating masks these inconsistencies, the clear takeaway is that students who reach Grayling High School are exceptionally well-served, but families should be aware of potential academic challenges in the earlier grades, particularly the transition into middle school.
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