The top reported proficiency rate is 70% in Math. The lowest is 11% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on Weidman Elementary School
Weidman Elementary School sits in a small, rural unincorporated community in Isabella County, part of the Chippewa Hills School District. The school serves preschool through fourth grade, drawing from a area where homes are spread across open land and the built-up center clusters near Lake of the Hills and the Coldwater River. The wider ZIP code delivery area reaches into multiple townships, including the village of Lake Isabella and parts of Beal City, so families across a broad rural stretch may find themselves zoned here.
The student body is modest in size for a preK through fourth building, and a substantial share of students qualify for free or reduced-price meals. The enrollment is overwhelmingly white, with a small Hispanic presence and a handful of students identifying as two or more races. Data on special education and English learner populations was not available, so those breakdowns are absent here. The school lists prekindergarten among its grades, though no prekindergarten enrollment was reported, which may reflect how the district structures its early childhood offerings. A parent interested in that program would want to confirm availability directly with the school.
Academic results from the most recent state testing cycle are a genuine strength. In third grade math, a clear majority of tested students reached proficiency, and fourth grade math was close behind. English language arts showed a similar pattern, with fourth grade posting a solid share of proficient students and third grade landing somewhat lower but still above what many schools manage. Taken together, the school's overall proficiency across tested subjects and grades places it in the top quartile relative to districts in Isabella County, standing clearly above the county median. For a rural elementary serving a high-need population, these are strong numbers.
Science results appear in the data only for a much earlier testing year and show very low proficiency. That figure is dated and reflects a different testing period, so it should not be read as a current indicator. Michigan shifted its science testing schedule, and fourth grade science is no longer assessed at this school in the same way, which likely explains why no recent science results are present. A parent with questions about science instruction would do well to ask the school directly rather than rely on that older number.
Because Weidman Elementary stops at fourth grade, there is no graduation rate to report, and the comparison set for chronic absenteeism came back missing as well. Those gaps reflect the grade band, not a lack of transparency.
The housing picture around Weidman is one of relative affordability. Typical home values sit below the Michigan state benchmark and well below the national one, and the price-to-income ratio is favorable compared with much of the country. Rent data was not available for this area. The community itself has limited commercial activity. The one employer publicly identified is the veterinary practice of Jan Pol, known from the television program "The Incredible Dr. Pol." Most working residents likely commute, with Mount Pleasant, the county seat, roughly a short drive to the southeast. The area has seen modest population fluctuation over recent census cycles, and publicly reported estimates suggest light ongoing growth, though no major housing developments or commercial projects were noted.
Within the Chippewa Hills district, two lasting changes stand out. A new Barryton Elementary opened in the fall of 2021, replacing an older building for preK through fourth students in that part of the district, which speaks to a willingness to invest in facilities. The district also retired its Native American mascot and branding, a cultural shift that affects how schools across the district present themselves.
For a family weighing this school, the academic signal from state testing is positive, the community is quiet and rural, and housing costs are manageable. What is missing from the available data is detail on special populations, program offerings beyond the core grades, and any information on attendance patterns. Those are the conversations worth having with the school before making a decision.
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