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Schools in West Branch · West Branch-Rose City Area Schools

West Branch’s public schools outscore 65% of Michigan districts

The grade covers the public school district serving West Branch, from kindergarten through graduation, on state tests and graduation. 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 100% 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
47%
▲ 2 pts vs MI 45%
2021–22
Math proficiency
31%
▼ 3 pts vs MI 34%
2021–22
Graduate on time
85–89%
▲ 3–7 pts vs MI 82%
class of 2023
Spent per student
$14.9K
▼ 10% vs MI $16.5K
FY2024
Students per teacher
15.7
MI 16.5 · smaller classes
Schools in town
2
1,741 students on the public path
In brief

West Branch’s schools, in brief

Better than its incomes would predict

Among the 281 Michigan towns with household incomes within a quarter of West Branch’s, its schools beat 77%, higher than their 65% against all the state’s districts. The grade ↓

Above the state in reading, below in math

Reading proficiency is 47% and math 31% in spring 2022, against 45% and 34% statewide; 85–89% of the class of 2023 graduated in four years, against 82%. Test scores ↓

Spending and class size

The district spends $14,869 per student, against $16,528 across Michigan (FY2024). Spending doesn’t count toward the grade. Districts ↓

One elementary school, then one middle and one high school

From grade 5 the district’s path is Surline Middle School, then Ogemaw Heights High School. See the path ↓

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 West Branch’s grade

B Test scoresB Graduation

B+: better than 65% of Michigan school districts. Graduation is above the Michigan average; test scores are below it.

Michigan school districts we grade (815)Better than 65%
Lower resultsHigher results
Michigan towns with similar household incomes (281)Better than 77%
BB+A fairly firm grade. Ordinary sampling error in 1,005 test results and a graduating class of 131 could put West Branch anywhere from B to B+. The tests are from spring 2022, when 100% of West Branch’s students in the tested grades sat them (1,005 in math, 1,005 in reading).

How TownRatings grades schools →

Where will my kid go?

Pick a grade. These are the public schools that serve West Branch, with each school’s own grade.

The path, start to finish
PK–4Surline Elementary SchoolWest Branch-Rose City Area SchoolsB−
5–8Surline Middle SchoolWest Branch-Rose City Area SchoolsC+
9–12Ogemaw Heights High SchoolWest Branch-Rose City Area SchoolsB

West Branch’s public schools are run by West Branch-Rose City Area Schools. To confirm the school for a specific address, ask the district.

The district

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

West Branch-Rose City Area SchoolsGrades PK–12 · 4 schools · 1,844 students, down 4% since 2020–21 · 15.7 per teacher (MI 16.5)
$14,869MI $16,528 · FY2024
B+
Test scores · 2021–22

Above the state in reading

Reading47%
State average 45.4% · 1005 students tested
Math31%
State average 33.6% · 1005 students tested

West Branch vs. its neighbors

Schools grades for the Michigan towns that share West Branch’s borders.

Schools next door
TownSchoolsMain districts
West BranchB+West Branch-Rose City Area Schools
West Branch Township—West Branch-Rose City Area Schools
OgemawB+West Branch-Rose City Area Schools

All 2 neighbors share West Branch-Rose City Area Schools with West Branch, so their letters differ mainly through other districts.

Every school in West Branch

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 West Branchby address
Surline Elementary School
Elementary · Grades PK–4
B−
569 students13:1Rate it →
Surline Middle School
Middle · Grades 5–8
C+
580 students16:1Rate it →
Also serving West Branchin other towns
Ogemaw Heights High School
High · Grades 9–12
B
592 students20:1Rate it →

Questions about West Branch’s schools

Are West Branch’s schools good?

By Michigan’s own tests, yes: the public schools West Branch children attend outscore 65% of Michigan’s school districts on tests and graduation, a B+ Schools grade. Among towns with similar incomes they beat 77%. Tests are from 2021–22, graduation from the class of 2023.

What school district is West Branch in?

West Branch-Rose City Area Schools, which runs grades PK–12 and enrolls 1,844 students in 4 schools (2024–25).

Where do West Branch kids go to high school?

Ogemaw Heights High School, with 592 students; its own test results earn a B.

What is West Branch’s graduation rate?

85–89% of the class of 2023 in West Branch-Rose City Area Schools graduated in four years, against 82% across Michigan.

How much does West Branch spend per student?

$14,869 in West Branch-Rose City Area Schools (FY2024), against $16,528 across Michigan. Spending doesn’t count toward the grade.

Parents talk

What West Branch families are saying about school.

Town Square →
Start the conversation

Looking for colleges? Colleges near West Branch → 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.