Summary:
Zip code 49845 is home to a single elementary school, Bark River-Harris Elementary School, which serves students from Pre-Kindergarten through 6th grade within the Bark River-Harris School District.
For parents considering this area, Bark River-Harris Elementary School stands out as a strong academic choice, particularly for older elementary students. The school consistently earns a 4-star rating and ranks in the top 27% of Michigan elementary schools. Its most impressive strength is in the upper grades: 5th and 6th graders dramatically outperform state averages across all subjects. For example, 5th-grade math proficiency is 53.4% compared to the state's 32.2%, and 5th-grade science proficiency reaches 60.3% versus the state's 40.0%. This pattern suggests that the school's instructional approach becomes highly effective as students progress, preparing them exceptionally well for middle school.
However, there is a notable challenge in the lower grades. While 3rd and 4th graders perform near state averages, the school saw a significant year-over-year decline in 3rd-grade scores, with ELA proficiency dropping from 51.7% to 36.7% and math falling from 60.3% to 41.7%. This could indicate a cohort difference or an area needing attention. On a positive note, the school boasts an excellent chronic absenteeism rate of just 10.8%, far better than the state's 27.9%, which supports consistent learning. With 410 students, a 15.1:1 student-teacher ratio, and per-student spending of $13,982, the school is well-resourced. Nearly half of students (47.56%) qualify for free/reduced lunch, reflecting moderate economic diversity. Overall, this is a solid, high-performing school where students tend to thrive academically by the time they reach 5th and 6th grade.
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