Summary:
Zip code 49845, serving the Harris, Michigan area, is home to two public schools within the Bark River-Harris School District, covering grades PK-12 with a combined enrollment of roughly 720 students.
For parents, the standout choice in this area is clearly Bark River-Harris Elementary School, which holds a 4-star rating and ranks in the 73rd percentile statewide. This school consistently outperforms state averages, particularly in upper elementary grades—5th graders hit 62.1% proficiency in ELA and 53.4% in math, far exceeding state norms. Chronic absenteeism is low at 10.8%, and the school’s spending per pupil ($13,982) appears highly efficient given these results. In contrast, Bark River-Harris JrSr High School is a school in transition. It jumped from a 2-star to a 3-star rating in one year, climbing from the 39th to the 70th percentile. While 8th and 9th grade PSAT ELA scores are outstanding (80.5% and 83.7% proficiency), the high school has a persistent math weakness—only 22.2% of 11th graders are proficient in SAT math, below the state average. The high school also struggles with chronic absenteeism at 23.6%, nearly matching the state’s problematic average, despite a solid 88.1% graduation rate.
The most striking takeaway is the academic drop-off between elementary and secondary levels. The elementary school excels in math, but that advantage fades by middle school, suggesting a need for targeted math intervention in grades 7-8. The high school’s one-year turnaround is encouraging, with 11th-grade science jumping from 29.8% to 40.7% proficiency, but the attendance issue remains a hidden challenge that could undermine future gains. Both schools spend similarly per pupil (around $14,000), yet the elementary school delivers far stronger results, indicating the high school may need to reallocate resources toward math instruction and student engagement strategies to close the gap.
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