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Average

#1306 of 3,192 schools in MI

Top 41% in state

Plainwell High School

High School · Plainwell Community Schools · Plainwell, MI

A Plainwell Community Schools high school where students score 9 points below what's typical for similar communities.

684 STARR RD, Plainwell, MI 49080

  • Math 32% proficient (2021)
  • Reading 57% proficient (2021)
  • 87.0% 4-year graduation

Academics

Full Profile · 4/4 metrics
Student Progress8.4Excellent25%
Year-over-year improvement in student test scores.
View breakdown
Years of Data13
Annual Change-1.41 pts/yr
Data Period2009–2021
TrendDeclining
Academics6.3Average25%
Student proficiency on state tests, adjusted for community poverty levels.
View breakdown
Math Proficiency32% (2021 EdFacts)
Reading/ELA Proficiency57% (2021 EdFacts)
Overall Proficiency45% (2021 EdFacts, Math+ELA)
Expected (poverty-adj.)53% (model expectation from 2021 EdFacts)
vs. Expected-8.6 pts
Adjusted Percentile47th
College Readiness6.9Average30%
Graduation rates, AP course participation, and IB availability.
View breakdown
4-Year Graduation Rate87%
AP Participation18.9%
IB ProgramNo
Resources & Environment4.7Below Average20%
Student-teacher ratio, district spending per student, and attendance.
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio19.8:1
District spending per student$13,272
Chronic Absenteeism23.6%

Students at Plainwell High School score 44% proficient, which is below what's typical for similar communities (expected: 53%).

How we calculate scores →

2021 EdFacts proficiency

Most recent published year. School vs. MI average.

Math Proficiency32%(2021 EdFacts)
School
State
Not reported(2021 EdFacts)
ELA Proficiency57%(2021 EdFacts)
School
State
Not reported(2021 EdFacts)

Trend

↓ Declining

Proficiency has fallen 15 points since 2018, to 45% in 2021, across a 13-year record (2009–2021).

Show all 13 years
2009
Math
57%
ELA
67%
2010
Math
62%
ELA
73%
2011
Math
37%
ELA
67%
2012
Math
37%
ELA
67%
2013
Math
27%
ELA
67%
2014
Math
42%
ELA
59%
2015
Math
47%
ELA
72%
2016
Math
47%
ELA
72%
2017
Math
3%
ELA
3%
2018
Math
47%
ELA
72%
2019
Math
47%
ELA
72%
2020*
Math
32%
ELA
57%
2021*
Math
32%
ELA
57%

Multi-year averages used by the rating model: math 40% (multi-year average, 2009-2021) · reading/ELA 62% (multi-year average, 2009-2021)

* COVID-affected year — test participation was uneven nationwide. This data is weighted at 50% in the Growth score calculation.

Based on 26 test records from MI state assessments and EdFacts (NCES).

Equity & diversity

Shown separately, not included in the overall score

Free/reduced lunch

33.9%

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 rate

The neighborhood

Where Plainwell High 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 12Car-Dependent
  • Bike 29Somewhat Bikeable
  • City Safety: Elevated1,473/100K

Powered byWalk Score

FBI Uniform Crime Reporting · 2024 · city context (Plainwell), not school-level safety or attendance eligibility. Source details

Source period: 2024. Freshness not available.

Area profileU.S. Census ACS 5-year estimates (ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates)

Median income

$75,250

Median home value

$234,400

Median rent

$982/mo

College educated

28.5%

Homeownership

82.7%

Poverty rate

11.4%

ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates for the ZCTA associated with school ZIP 49080; this is area context, not an attendance boundary.

Programs & students

Programs & Offerings

AP/IB Programs2AP courses offered
18.9% participation·State avg: 2.5 AP courses·CRDC via Urban Institute · SY 2021–22
Athletics13sports offered
6 boys'·7 girls'·39 teams (incl. JV)·CRDC via Urban Institute · SY 2021–22
Advanced STEM Courses4of 5 advanced subjects offered
Algebra II, Advanced Math, Calculus, Chemistry, Physics·CRDC via Urban Institute · SY 2021–22

Compare nearby

Nearby same-level schools

3 from a 5-mile search; district fallback available

SchoolScoreGradesDistanceEnrollmentCompare
Renaissance High SchoolEnrollment path unverified5.19–121.4 mi92Compare →
Otsego High SchoolEnrollment path unverified6.89–123.2 mi741Compare →
Otsego West Campus High SchoolEnrollment path unverifiedNot rated6–123.2 mi25Compare →

Distance is proximity only; it is not attendance eligibility.

Enrollment path unverified: Potential public school; its attendance or application path has not been classified.

Plainwell Community Schools

Schools in district
6
Rank in district
#2 of 6
District spending per student
$13,272NCES F-33 · FY 2023 · This annual source is three years behind the current year.
District child poverty rate
6.8%Census SAIPE · 2024

Plainwell High School is listed in Plainwell Community Schools; a district label does not verify attendance for an address.

About Plainwell High School

Plainwell High School is a public high school in Plainwell, MI, part of Plainwell Community Schools, serving approximately 813 students in grades 9th-12th with a 19.8:1 student-teacher ratio. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 6.7 out of 10 and ranks #1,306 of 3,192 schools in MI. State assessment records show 40% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2021) and 62% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2021).

Frequently asked questions

Common questions about Plainwell High School

What grades does Plainwell High School serve?

Plainwell High School serves students in grades 9th through 12th.

How many students attend Plainwell High School?

Plainwell High School has an enrollment of approximately 813 students.

What is the student-teacher ratio at Plainwell High School?

The student-teacher ratio at Plainwell High School is 19.8:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.

How does Plainwell High School rank in MI?

Plainwell High School ranks #1,306 of 3,192 schools in MI.

What is Plainwell High School's MySchoolScout rating?

Plainwell High School has a current MySchoolScout rating of 6.7 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 Plainwell High School?

Based on loaded state assessment records, Plainwell High School has 40% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2021) and 62% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2021).

Is Plainwell High School a charter school?

No, Plainwell High School is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.

Is Plainwell High School a Title I school?

No, Plainwell High School is not currently a Title I school.

What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Plainwell High School?

33.9% of students at Plainwell High 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
9th – 12th
Enrollment
813
Student-Teacher Ratio
19.8:1
Teachers (FTE)
41
Type
regular
Setting
Fringe Town
County
Allegan County
Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
23.6%
4-Year Graduation
87.0%
Area population (ZIP 49080)
15,410
Area average commute
24.9 min
Area median age
43.7
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 · 2021 EdFacts · Low confidence
  • Older source: 2021 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 · 2021 EdFacts · Low confidence
  • Older source: 2021 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 49080; this does not measure the attendance area.
Programs (AP/IB, athletics, gifted)
CRDC via Urban Institute · SY 2021–22 · Medium confidence
  • Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
  • Source period: SY 2021–22. A newer release may be available.

Evidence periods: Rating mixed/unknown input periods; assessments multi-year average, 2009-2021; directory SY 2023–24

About our data · How we calculate scores

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