Below Average
#2867 of 3,192 schools in MI
Forest Area Middle School
Middle School · Forest Area Community Schools · Fife Lake, MI
A Forest Area Community Schools middle school where students score 15 points below what's typical for similar communities.
7741 SHIPPY RD SOUTHWEST, Fife Lake, MI 49633
- Math 16% vs MI 33% (2022)
- Reading 24% vs MI 45% (2022)
- 15.8:1 student-teacher ratio
Academics
Full Profile · 3/3 metricsView breakdown
View breakdown
View breakdown
Students at Forest Area Middle School score 20% proficient, which is below what's typical for similar communities (expected: 34%).
2022 EdFacts proficiency
Most recent published year. School vs. MI average.
Trend
↓ DecliningProficiency has fallen 12 points since 2019, to 20% in 2022, across a 14-year record (2009–2022).
Show all 14 years
Multi-year averages used by the rating model: math 26% (multi-year average, 2009-2022) · reading/ELA 40% (multi-year average, 2009-2022)
* COVID-affected year — test participation was uneven nationwide. This data is weighted at 50% in the Growth score calculation.
Based on 38 test records from MI state assessments and EdFacts (NCES).
Equity & diversity
Shown separately, not included in the overall scoreFree/reduced lunch
64.7%
Students qualifying for federal meal assistance
How we rate schools
A clear 1–10 score built from public data — growth, academics, and learning environment. No hidden criteria, no pay-to-play.
See how we rateThe neighborhood
Where Forest Area Middle School sits, and what the surrounding area looks like.
Nearby same-level schools are colored by their score. Pins are locations, not attendance boundaries.
Getting around & local context
- Walk 4Car-Dependent
- Bike 21Somewhat Bikeable
- County Safety: Elevated1,330/100K
Powered by
FBI Uniform Crime Reporting · 2024 · county context, not school-level safety or attendance eligibility. Source details
Source period: 2024. A newer release may be available.
Area profileU.S. Census ACS 5-year estimates (ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates)
Median income
$69,567
Median home value
$174,000
Median rent
$1,110/mo
College educated
21.9%
Homeownership
90.4%
Poverty rate
14.6%
ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates for the ZCTA associated with school ZIP 49633; this is area context, not an attendance boundary.
Compare nearby
Nearby same-level schools
0 from verified nearby records
No verified same-level alternatives
The available nearby set has no same-level school with a verified grade span.
Forest Area Community Schools
- Schools in district
- 3
- Rank in district
- #3 of 3
- District spending per student
- $15,200NCES F-33 · FY 2023 · This annual source is three years behind the current year.
- District child poverty rate
- 15.1%Census SAIPE · 2024
Forest Area Middle School is listed in Forest Area Community Schools; a district label does not verify attendance for an address.
About Forest Area Middle School
Forest Area Middle School is a public middle school in Fife Lake, MI, part of Forest Area Community Schools, serving approximately 190 students in grades 4th-8th with a 15.8:1 student-teacher ratio. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 4.1 out of 10 and ranks #2,867 of 3,192 schools in MI. State assessment records show 26% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022) and 40% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022).
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about Forest Area Middle School
What grades does Forest Area Middle School serve?
Forest Area Middle School serves students in grades 4th through 8th.
How many students attend Forest Area Middle School?
Forest Area Middle School has an enrollment of approximately 190 students.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Forest Area Middle School?
The student-teacher ratio at Forest Area Middle School is 15.8:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.
How does Forest Area Middle School rank in MI?
Forest Area Middle School ranks #2,867 of 3,192 schools in MI.
What is Forest Area Middle School's MySchoolScout rating?
Forest Area Middle School has a current MySchoolScout rating of 4.1 out of 10. This score combines the level-appropriate components shown in the rating breakdown; equity data is shown separately for context.
What are the test scores at Forest Area Middle School?
Based on loaded state assessment records, Forest Area Middle School has 26% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022) and 40% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022).
Is Forest Area Middle School a charter school?
No, Forest Area Middle School is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.
Is Forest Area Middle School a Title I school?
No, Forest Area Middle School is not currently a Title I school.
What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Forest Area Middle School?
64.7% of students at Forest Area Middle School qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. This is a commonly used indicator of economic need and provides important context when interpreting test scores.
School factsNCES Common Core of Data (CCD) (SY 2023–24)
- Grades
- 4th – 8th
- Enrollment
- 190
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 15.8:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 12
- Type
- regular
- Setting
- Distant Rural
- County
- Kalkaska County
- Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
- 45.8%
- Phone
- (231) 369-2884
- Area population (ZIP 49633)
- 3,325
- Area average commute
- 38.6 min
- Area median age
- 51
About this school's data
Every number on this page comes from a published source with a stated period. Where a source is partial, aging, or describes a surrounding area rather than the school, that limitation is named below.
- School directory (enrollment, grades, staff, contact)
- NCES Common Core of Data (CCD) · SY 2023–24 · Medium confidence
- Source period: SY 2023–24. A newer release may be available.
- MySchoolScout rating and rank
- MySchoolScout ranking model · Low confidence
- Vintage not available. Do not use this measure alone.
- Derived as a weighted blend of the component scores shown in Academics from state assessment, EdFacts growth, and NCES resource records.
- Math proficiency
- State department of education · 2022 EdFacts · Low confidence
- Older source: 2022 EdFacts. Use as historical context.
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Derived from source records rather than read directly from one field.
- Reading/ELA proficiency
- State department of education · 2022 EdFacts · Low confidence
- Older source: 2022 EdFacts. Use as historical context.
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Derived from source records rather than read directly from one field.
- Student progress (growth)
- NCES EdFacts · Mixed source periods · Low confidence
- Vintage not available. Do not use this measure alone.
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Derived as the fitted year-over-year slope of proficiency from multi-year assessment records.
- Neighborhood (income, housing, education)
- U.S. Census ACS 5-year estimates · ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates · Low confidence
- Older source: ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates. Use as historical context.
- Reported for the ZCTA for ZIP 49633; this does not measure the attendance area.
Evidence periods: Rating mixed/unknown input periods; assessments multi-year average, 2009-2022; directory SY 2023–24
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