Best Public Schools in Zip Code 49774

Zip code 49774 is home to a single school, Pickford Public Schools, a small PK-12 district in rural Michigan serving roughly 430 students with a 13:1 student-teacher ratio.

For parents, the most important takeaway is that Pickford Public Schools is a community anchor that does an exceptional job getting students to graduation. With a 91.8% graduation rate—nearly 8 points above the state average—and a lower dropout rate, the school clearly excels at keeping kids engaged and on track. This is especially notable given that 47.2% of students qualify for free or reduced lunch. The school also shows genuine academic bright spots, particularly in English Language Arts. Eighth graders posted an impressive 80% proficiency on the PSAT ELA, more than 15 points above the state, and 9th graders also exceeded state averages in both ELA and math. However, the picture is mixed. Math proficiency lags significantly across nearly every grade level, with deficits ranging from 9 to 19 points below state averages. Science scores also trail, especially at the 11th grade level, where proficiency was just 13.5%—a 21-point gap. Parents should also be aware of notable year-to-year volatility in scores, which is common in small rural districts where a handful of students can dramatically shift percentages.

Despite spending a robust $16,892 per student and maintaining a favorable 13:1 ratio, the persistent math struggles suggest resources may not be optimally targeted toward math intervention. Still, the school's lower chronic absenteeism rate (25.5% vs. 27.9% statewide) and strong graduation outcomes indicate that Pickford Public Schools provides a supportive, persistent environment that helps students succeed in the long run, even if standardized test scores don't always reflect that success.