Best Public Schools in Zip Code 49845

The 49845 zip code in Michigan is home to two schools: Bark River-Harris Elementary School and Bark River-Harris Jr-Sr High School, both part of the Bark River-Harris School District. While the elementary school is a standout performer, earning a 4-star rating and exceeding state proficiency averages, the high school lags behind, ranking in the bottom 39% of Michigan high schools with lower test scores and higher dropout rates.

Bark River-Harris Elementary School stands out as a top-performing school, with students scoring significantly above state averages on M-STEP assessments across multiple subjects. The school has a relatively low chronic absenteeism rate of 29.5% and receives higher per-student funding than the high school. In contrast, Bark River-Harris Jr-Sr High School struggles, with proficiency rates below state averages, particularly in Math and Science, as well as a high dropout rate of 7.6% and a 4-year graduation rate of 82.8%.

The data suggests a significant performance gap between the elementary and high school, which may be influenced by factors such as curriculum alignment, instructional quality, and resource allocation. The district should investigate the root causes of this disparity and implement strategies to address the areas of concern at the high school level, while also maintaining the elementary school's strong performance.