Summary:
Zip code 49837 is home to a single high school, Gladstone Area High School, which serves grades 9 through 12 within the Gladstone Area Schools district, enrolling 472 students in a small, close-knit Upper Peninsula community.
For parents, this school stands out as a high-performing institution with strong student engagement. It consistently ranks in the top 25% of Michigan high schools, peaking at 83rd in the state during the 2024-2025 school year. The graduation rate of 89.1% exceeds the state average of 84.0%, and the dropout rate of just 2.9% is less than half the state's 7.1%. Chronic absenteeism is also remarkably low at 12.8% compared to the state's 27.9%, indicating students are consistently showing up and staying on track. Academically, the school excels in English Language Arts, with 62.3% of 11th graders proficient in SAT reading and writing versus 52.1% statewide, and 9th graders posting an impressive 72.8% proficiency on the PSAT ELA. Math scores, while the school's relative weakness, still beat state averages (31.6% vs. 26.5% on the SAT).
The most notable finding is a sharp, one-year decline in 11th-grade M-Step science and social studies proficiency, dropping from 53.8% to 27.2% in science and from 71.7% to 48.2% in social studies between 2024-2025 and 2025-2026. This coincides with the school's state ranking falling to 197th, strongly suggesting a specific cohort effect rather than a systemic issue, as ELA and math remained stable. Interestingly, the school achieves these results while spending a relatively modest $13,042 per student and maintaining a 20.5:1 student-teacher ratio. With only 25% of students economically disadvantaged, the school demonstrates high efficiency, delivering above-average outcomes across most metrics and making it a solid choice for families prioritizing academics and a supportive environment.
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