Bendle Public Schools

The Bendle Public Schools district in Michigan consists of 4 schools serving grades 3-12, including 2 elementary schools, 1 middle school, and 1 high school. The district faces significant academic challenges, with all schools performing well below state averages on standardized tests and receiving low ratings from SchoolDigger.

The Bendle High School stands out as the largest school in the district with 317 students, but it has struggled the most academically. The school has a low 4-year graduation rate of 70.2% and a high dropout rate of 16.6%. Academic performance is also concerning, with only 15.9% of 11th-grade students proficient in M-Step Science and 32.4% proficient in SAT Evidence-Based Reading and Writing. In contrast, the West Bendle Elementary School serves grades 3-5 and has also performed poorly, with only 23.1% of 5th-grade students proficient in M-Step English Language Arts and 6.3% proficient in M-Step Math.

Across the district, there are significant equity concerns, with all schools serving a predominantly low-income and minority student population. Chronic absenteeism is a major issue, ranging from 41.1% to 53.3% across the schools. Addressing these challenges, including the low academic performance, high chronic absenteeism, and equity concerns, should be the top priorities for the Bendle Public Schools district and the local community.