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B−
Schools in Bear Lake Township · Bear Lake School District, Onekama Consolidated Schools

Bear Lake Township’s public schools outscore 54% of Michigan districts

The grade covers the two public school districts serving Bear Lake Township, from kindergarten through graduation, on state tests. In Bear Lake Township, 40% of tested students read at a proficient level, below the Michigan average (45%). Each state writes its own tests, so this is the one TownRatings grade compared within Michigan, not nationally.

K–12Where will my kid go?

From Michigan state tests taken in spring 2022, when 98% of students in the tested grades sat them, and the class of 2023’s four-year graduation rate, as reported to the U.S. Department of Education.

Reading proficiency
40%
▼ 6 pts vs MI 45%
2021–22
Math proficiency
32%
▼ 2 pts vs MI 34%
2021–22
Spent per student
$18.8K
▲ 13% vs MI $16.5K
FY2024 · Onekama Consolidated Schools
Students per teacher
15.6
MI 16.5 · smaller classes
Schools in town
3
280 students on the public path
In brief

Bear Lake Township’s schools, in brief

Against towns with similar incomes

Among the 1204 Michigan towns with household incomes within a quarter of Bear Lake Township’s, its schools beat 40%, lower than their 54% against all the state’s districts. The grade ↓

Results trail the state

In spring 2022, 40% of tested students were proficient in reading and 32% in math, against 45% and 34% statewide; 98% of students in the tested grades sat the tests. The grade ↓

Spending and class size

Bear Lake spends $15,725 per student and Onekama Consolidated Schools $18,754, against $16,528 across Michigan (FY2024). Neither counts toward the grade. Districts ↓

Choice beyond the district

Pleasantview Mennonite School (private) is in town. Every school ↓

Written from the figures on this page. Tests are from 2021–22, graduation from the class of 2023; each school’s own letter uses 2020–21 results.

The School Grade

What’s behind Bear Lake Township’s grade

B− Test scores

B−: better than 54% of Michigan school districts. Test scores are below the Michigan average; there is no graduation rate to add.

Michigan school districts we grade (815)Better than 54%
Lower resultsHigher results
Michigan towns with similar household incomes (1204)Better than 40%
Towns in Manistee County (14)Better than 64%
C+B+A fairly firm grade. Ordinary sampling error in 316 test results could put Bear Lake Township anywhere from C+ to B+. The tests are from spring 2022, when 98% of Bear Lake Township’s students in the tested grades sat them (316 in math, 316 in reading).

How TownRatings grades schools →

Where will my kid go?

Pick a grade. These are the public schools that serve Bear Lake Township, with each school’s own grade.

The path, start to finish
PK–6Bear Lake Elementary SchoolBear Lake School DistrictC
7–12Bear Lake High SchoolBear Lake School DistrictC

Bear Lake Township runs its own schools through grade 12 (Bear Lake School District). From grade K, students attend the Onekama Consolidated Schools, shared with Arcadia, Brown, Manistee, Onekama and Onekama. Parts of Bear Lake Township (13% of its land) are served by Kaleva Norman Dickson instead. To confirm the school for a specific address, ask the district.

Two districts serve Bear Lake Township

Spending and class size are shown but don’t count toward the grade. Each district’s own page has every school.

Bear Lake School DistrictGrades PK–12 · 2 schools · 280 students, down 9% since 2020–21 · 17.5 per teacher (MI 16.5)
$15,725MI $16,528 · FY2024
B−
Onekama Consolidated SchoolsGrades K–12 · 1 schools · 294 students, down 10% since 2020–21 · 14.1 per teacher (MI 16.5)
$18,754MI $16,528 · FY2024
B
Test scores · 2021–22

Well below the state in reading

Reading · PK–12, Bear Lake School District37%
State average 45.4% · 142 students tested
Math · PK–12, Bear Lake School District32%
State average 33.6% · 142 students tested
Reading · K–12, Onekama Consolidated Schools42%
State average 45.4% · 174 students tested
Math · K–12, Onekama Consolidated Schools32%
State average 33.6% · 174 students tested

Bear Lake Township vs. its neighbors

Schools grades for the Michigan towns that share Bear Lake Township’s borders.

Schools next door
TownSchoolsMain districts
Bear Lake TownshipB−Bear Lake PK–12 · Onekama Consolidated Schools K–12
Maple GroveCKaleva Norman Dickson
Brown—Kaleva Norman Dickson K–12 · Onekama Consolidated Schools K–12
Pleasanton—Bear Lake
OnekamaBOnekama Consolidated Schools

2 of the 4 neighbors share Onekama Consolidated Schools with Bear Lake Township for grades K–12, so their letters differ mainly through the lower grades.

Every school in Bear Lake Township

3 schools. Each public school’s letter compares its own 2020–21 reading and math results with Michigan’s other public schools (the newest school-level results we have).

District schools in Bear Lake Townshipby address
Bear Lake Elementary School
Elementary · Grades PK–6 · Bear Lake
C
147 students15:1Rate it →
Bear Lake High School
High · Grades 7–12 · Bear Lake
C
133 students22:1Rate it →
Private schoolstuition; no state tests, so no grade
Pleasantview Mennonite School
Elementary · Grades 1–8 · Kaleva
Private · Religious
18 students6:1Rate it →

Questions about Bear Lake Township’s schools

Are Bear Lake Township’s schools good?

They sit near the middle of Michigan: the public schools Bear Lake Township children attend outscore 54% of Michigan’s school districts on tests and graduation, a B− Schools grade. Among towns with similar incomes they beat 40%. Tests are from 2021–22, graduation from the class of 2023.

What school district is Bear Lake Township in?

Two districts: Bear Lake School District runs grades PK–12, and Onekama Consolidated Schools runs grades K–12, shared with Arcadia, Brown, Manistee, Onekama and Onekama.

How much does Bear Lake Township spend per student?

$15,725 in Bear Lake School District and $18,754 in Onekama Consolidated Schools (FY2024), against $16,528 across Michigan. Spending doesn’t count toward the grade.

Are there private schools in Bear Lake Township?

Yes: Pleasantview Mennonite School (religious, grades 1–8, 18 students).

Parents talk

What Bear Lake Township families are saying about school.

Town Square →
Start the conversation

Looking for colleges? Colleges near Bear Lake Township → They have their own page.

School data: state test results (2021–22, with participation) and four-year graduation rates (class of 2023) reported to the U.S. Department of Education (EDFacts via ED Data Express); each school’s own letter uses its 2020–21 results (EDFacts via the Urban Institute); schools and enrollment from NCES (2024–25; private schools 2023–24); spending from the Census Bureau’s school finance survey (FY2024). The School Grade is our own summary, graded within Michigan. Stars are from neighbors.