Douglas R Welch High School

Q: Is Douglas R Welch High School a good school?

Douglas R Welch High School ranks 539 th of 743 Michigan high schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 1 star out of 5.

Summary:

Douglas R Welch High School is a small public virtual high school in Ionia, Michigan, serving grades 9-12 with just 83 students. Unfortunately, this school stands out for its consistently poor performance, with low graduation rates, high dropout rates, and extremely high chronic absenteeism compared to nearby schools.

Over the past 5 years, Douglas R Welch High School has had graduation rates ranging from just 12.5% to 36.8%, which is significantly lower than the 94.1% graduation rate at Ionia High School. The school also has very high dropout rates, reaching as high as 50%, compared to just 1.1% at Ionia High. Additionally, Douglas R Welch has struggled with chronic absenteeism, with rates reaching 83.3% in 2021-2022, more than double the 36.2% rate at Ionia High.

These academic challenges are compounded by the school's high poverty rates, with 63.64% to 78.31% of students eligible for free or reduced-price lunch over the past 3 years, much higher than the 51.18% at Ionia High School. Douglas R Welch High School has consistently been ranked in the bottom 25% of Michigan high schools for the past 10 years, performing significantly worse than nearby schools like PewamoWestphalia MiddleHigh School and Belding High School. These persistent issues suggest the school may be facing significant challenges in supporting its students and helping them succeed.

Detail:

Public, Virtual 9-12

250 E Tuttle Rd
Ionia, MI 48846-8605

(616) 527-3530

District: Ionia Public Schools

SchoolDigger Rank:
539^th of 743 Michigan High Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures: $9,596

Student/teacher ratio: 27.0

Number of students: 77

Racial breakdown:

White:

80.5%

Hispanic:

14.3%

Two or more races:

3.9%

Free/discounted lunch recipients: 83.1%

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Performance Trends

Compare Details Douglas R Welch High School ranks worse than 72.5% of high schools in Michigan. (See more...)

Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 26.25. (See more...)

The four-year cohort graduation rate measures the percentage of students at Douglas R Welch High School who earn a standard high school diploma within four years of starting ninth grade.

The high school dropout rate measures the percentage of students who do not complete their high school education.

Chronic absenteeism in a school refers to a situation where students repeatedly miss school, with the threshold often defined as missing 10% or more of school days for any reason, excused or unexcused.

Student Body

Compare Details Racial makeup is: White (80.5%), Hispanic (14.3%), two or more races (3.9%). (See more...)

Compare Details 83.1% of students are receiving a free or discounted lunch. (See more...)

Teachers

Compare Details The student/teacher ratio at Douglas R Welch High School is 27. (See more...)

Compare Douglas R Welch High School employs 2.8 full-time teachers.

Finance

Compare Details The average total spent per student at Douglas R Welch High School is $9,596.

Schooldigger 2024 Rankings:

Douglas R Welch High School:

SchoolDigger ranks Douglas R Welch High School 539^th of 743 Michigan public high schools. (See Douglas R Welch High School in the ranking list.)

High School Test Score Ratings by Student Subgroup:

Low Socio Economic Status students:

White students:

Ionia Public Schools:

SchoolDigger ranks Ionia Public Schools 402^nd of 610 Michigan school districts. (See district ranking list.)

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Rank History for Douglas R Welch High School

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Rank History for all students at Douglas R Welch High School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	MI State Percentile
2007	20.23	613^th	767	20.1%
2009	9.66	674^th	754	10.6%
2010	25.87	580^th	765	24.2%
2011	4.87	750^th	784	4.3%
2012	7.39	748^th	773	3.2%
2013	15.12	655^th	805	18.6%
2014	8.31	729^th	799	8.8%
2015	10.52	764^th	832	8.2%
2016	13.50	681^st	852	20.1%
2017	10.73	656^th	835	21.4%
2018	27.21	570^th	824	30.8%
2024	26.25	539^th	743	27.5%

See the entire list of Michigan High School Rankings!

Rank History for Low Socio Economic Status students at Douglas R Welch High School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	MI State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2018	19.78	581^st	755	23.0%
2024	45.63	322^nd	654	50.8%

See the entire list of Best Michigan High Schools for Low Socio Economic Status Students!

Rank History for Male students at Douglas R Welch High School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	MI State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2018	15.40	571^st	707	19.2%

See the entire list of Best Michigan High Schools for Male Students!

Rank History for White students at Douglas R Welch High School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	MI State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2018	11.28	609^th	708	14.0%
2024	29.54	450^th	638	29.5%

See the entire list of Best Michigan High Schools for White Students!

Data source: test scores: Michigan Department of Education, rankings: SchoolDigger.com

As you review the school rankings data, please be aware that some of the information from certain demographics is missing. The reason for this omission is that the data has been redacted from the source data itself due to low population samples in these specific demographic groups.

Redacting data from low population samples is a necessary step to ensure the reliability and accuracy of the results, as small sample sizes may not be representative of the broader population. Additionally, this measure helps protect the privacy of individuals belonging to these demographic groups.

Data source: Michigan Department of Education

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Enrollment information for Douglas R Welch High School

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Year	White	African American	Asian	Hispanic	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Not Specified	Total
2002	77	2	2	6	4	n/a	n/a	0	91
2003	77	2	2	6	4	n/a	n/a	0	91
2004	84	2	0	9	2	n/a	n/a	0	97
2005	80	3	0	8	1	n/a	n/a	0	92
2006	59	5	0	4	1	n/a	n/a	0	69
2007	49	1	0	9	0	n/a	n/a	1	60
2008	57	3	n/a	6	n/a	n/a	n/a	1	67
2009	66	1	0	6	0	n/a	n/a	2	75
2010	63	3	0	4	0	n/a	n/a	1	71
2011	85	2	0	8	1	0	1	0	97
2012	74	1	1	7	0	0	0	0	83
2013	82	0	1	13	0	0	3	0	99
2014	95	0	1	6	1	0	4	0	107
2015	83	0	0	9	1	0	5	0	98
2016	62	0	0	11	1	0	3	0	77
2017	98	0	0	16	2	0	3	0	119
2018	92	0	0	18	1	0	4	0	115
2019	89	1	0	10	1	0	7	0	108
2020	64	0	0	7	0	0	5	0	76
2021	46	0	0	5	0	0	4	0	55
2022	74	0	0	8	0	0	0	0	82
2023	64	1	0	14	1	0	3	0	83
2024	62	1	0	11	0	0	3	0	77

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Enrollment/Ethnicity

For more information about how the Department of Education defines ethnicity, see Defining Race and Ethnicity Data, National Center for Education Statistics

Students eligible for free or discounted lunch at Douglas R Welch High School

Compare

Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
2002	91	5.0	18.2	40.7
2003	91	5.0	18.2	40.7
2004	97	5.0	19.4	51.5
2005	92	5.0	18.4	48.9
2006	69	5.0	13.8	87
2007	60	4.0	15.0	66.1
2008	67	4.0	16.8	62.1
2009	75	5.4	13.9	79.5
2010	71	3.6	19.7	82.9
2011	97	4.1	23.3	82.5
2012	83	4.3	19.3	74.7
2013	99	4.3	22.7	71.7
2014	107	4.5	23.7	56.1
2015	98	6.0	16.3	70.4
2016	77	4.0	19.2	71.4
2017	119	5.0	23.8	58.8
2018	115	5.2	22.1	64.3
2019	108	5.3	20.3	64.8
2020	76	2.9	26.2	67.1
2021	55	2.1	26.1	63.6
2022	82	1.4	56.5	68.3
2023	83	2.3	36.0	78.3
2024	77	2.8	27.0	83.1

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Students eligible for discounted/free lunch:

The National School Lunch Program (NSLP) provides low-cost or free meals to students in U.S. public and nonprofit private schools based on household income. Those with incomes below 130% of the poverty line receive free lunch, while those between 130% and 185% qualify for reduced-price lunch. The percentage of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch serves as a marker for poverty, as it reflects the socioeconomic status of families in a given school or district. A higher FRPL rate typically indicates a higher concentration of low-income families, suggesting that the school or district may face additional challenges in providing adequate resources and support for student success.

Student/Teacher Ratio Douglas R Welch High School

Compare

Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
2002	91	5.0	18.2	40.7
2003	91	5.0	18.2	40.7
2004	97	5.0	19.4	51.5
2005	92	5.0	18.4	48.9
2006	69	5.0	13.8	87
2007	60	4.0	15.0	66.1
2008	67	4.0	16.8	62.1
2009	75	5.4	13.9	79.5
2010	71	3.6	19.7	82.9
2011	97	4.1	23.3	82.5
2012	83	4.3	19.3	74.7
2013	99	4.3	22.7	71.7
2014	107	4.5	23.7	56.1
2015	98	6.0	16.3	70.4
2016	77	4.0	19.2	71.4
2017	119	5.0	23.8	58.8
2018	115	5.2	22.1	64.3
2019	108	5.3	20.3	64.8
2020	76	2.9	26.2	67.1
2021	55	2.1	26.1	63.6
2022	82	1.4	56.5	68.3
2023	83	2.3	36.0	78.3
2024	77	2.8	27.0	83.1

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Student-Teacher Ratio

Student/teacher ratio is calculated by dividing the total number of students by the total number of full-time equivalent teachers. Please note that a smaller student/teacher ratio does not necessarily translate to smaller class size. In some instances, schools hire teachers part time, and some teachers are hired for specialized instruction with very small class sizes. These and other factors contribute to the student/teacher ratio. Note: For private schools, Student/teacher ratio may not include Pre-Kindergarten.

Finances

Per Pupil Expenditures for Douglas R Welch High School

Year	Expenditures from Federal Funds	Expenditures from State and Local Funds	Total Expenditures Per Pupil (All Funds)
2019	$507 (5.3%)	$9,093 (94.7%)	$9,600
2020	$577 (5.8%)	$9,332 (94.2%)	$9,910
2021	$929 (10.0%)	$8,386 (90.0%)	$9,316
2022	$1,098 (13.0%)	$7,322 (87.0%)	$8,420
2023	$1,265 (13.2%)	$8,331 (86.8%)	$9,596

Data source: Michigan Department of Education

Pre and Post Pandemic Data

Impact of COVID-19 on Douglas R Welch High School

The coronavirus has had a profound impact on education in America. Learning shifted online overnight, attendance numbers dwindled, and enrollment decreased. SchoolDigger.com is making it easier for you to better assess how COVID-19 has impacted your school. Through the collection of pre-pandemic (2019) and current data, SchoolDigger.com is sharing test scores, enrollment numbers and school demographics from schools across the country – and we make it easy to see how impacted schools compare locally and statewide.

Student Body

	Number of students Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	Number of students Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
Total Students	108	83	23.1%
African American	1	1
American Indian	1	1
Asian	0	0
Hispanic	10	14	40%
Pacific Islander	0	0
White	89	64	28.1%
Two or More Races	7	3	57.1%
% Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	64.8%	78.3%	13.5%

Schools Near Douglas R Welch High School

Choose columns to see: Summary School Students/Teachers Ranking Test Scores Finance All

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2024)				Ranking (2023)				PSAT English Language Arts (2024)	PSAT Mathematics (2024)	SAT Evidence-Based Reading and Writing (2024)	SAT Mathematics (2024)	M-Step English Language Arts (2024)		M-Step Math (2024)		M-Step Science (2024)		M-Step Social Studies (2024)		Per Pupil Expenditures (2023)
Name	Type	Grades	Address	City	Zip	County	District	Is Charter	Is Magnet	Is Virtual	Is Title I	Phone	Enrollment	Full-time Teachers	Student/ Teacher Ratio	Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	White	Black	Hispanic	Asian	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Average Standard Score (2024)	Statewide Rank (2024)	State Percentile (2024)	SchoolDigger Rating (2024)	Average Standard Score (2023)	Statewide Rank (2023)	State Percentile (2023)	Rank Change from Previous Year	PSAT English Language Arts 8th Grade	PSAT Mathematics 8th Grade	SAT Evidence-Based Reading and Writing 11th Grade	SAT Mathematics 11th Grade	M-Step English Language Arts 6th Grade	M-Step English Language Arts 7th Grade	M-Step Math 6th Grade	M-Step Math 7th Grade	M-Step Science 8th Grade	M-Step Science 11th Grade	M-Step Social Studies 8th Grade	M-Step Social Studies 11th Grade	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
Ionia County Career Center	Public	9-12	250 E Tuttle Rd	Ionia	48846	Ionia County	Ionia Independent School District (Isd)	No	No	No	No	(616) 489-2152	0	10	.0		0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()								(n/a)
Douglas R Welch High School	Public, Virtual	9-12	250 E Tuttle Rd	Ionia	48846	Ionia County	Ionia Public Schools	No	No	Yes	No	(616) 527-3530	77	3	27.0	83.1%	62 (80.5%)	1 (1.3%)	11 (14.3%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	3 (3.9%)	26.3	539^th of 743 public high schools	27.5%					(n/a)										25.0		25.0	$9,596	$1,265	$8,331
Ionia High School	Public	9-12	250 E Tuttle Rd	Ionia	48846	Ionia County	Ionia Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(616) 527-0600	801	39	20.3	54.4%	656 (81.9%)	11 (1.4%)	105 (13.1%)	4 (0.5%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.1%)	24 (3.0%)	49.5	341^st of 743 public high schools	54.1%		45.7	385^th of 735 public high schools	47.6%	44			48.3	14.4						45.2		37.3	$12,029	$1,413	$10,616
Bellamy Creek Correctional Facility	Public	9-12	1727 W Bluewater Hwy	Ionia	48846	Ionia County	Michigan Department of Corrections	No	No	No	No	(616) 527-2510	9	0		55.6%	1 (11.1%)	7 (77.8%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (11.1%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)								(n/a)
Ionia Maximum Correctional Facility	Public	9-12	1576 W Bluewater Hwy	Ionia	48846	Ionia County	Michigan Department of Corrections	No	No	No	No	(616) 527-6331	3	0			0 (0.0%)	3 (100.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)								(n/a)
Handlon Correctional Facility	Public	9-12	1728 W Bluewater Hwy	Ionia	48846	Ionia County	Michigan Department of Corrections	No	No	No	No	(616) 527-3100	3	0			0 (0.0%)	3 (100.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)								(n/a)
Saranac JrSr High School	Public, Magnet	7-12	150 Pleasant St	Saranac	48881	Ionia County	Saranac Community Schools	No	Yes	No	No	(616) 642-1100	388	20	19.4	32.2%	352 (90.7%)	5 (1.3%)	21 (5.4%)	1 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	9 (2.3%)	62.8	237^th of 743 public high schools	68.1%		79.4	125^th of 735 public high schools	83.0%	112	77.8	46.0	54.7	21.9		42.9		41.1	50.8	43.8	38.1	50.0	$12,104	$847	$11,257
Portland High School	Public	9-12	1100 Ionia Rd	Portland	48875	Ionia County	Portland Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(517) 647-2981	688	35	19.9	26.2%	627 (91.1%)	2 (0.3%)	30 (4.4%)	4 (0.6%)	2 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	23 (3.3%)	38.6	437^th of 743 public high schools	41.2%		35.9	468^th of 735 public high schools	36.3%	31			47.9	23.6						24.5		30.1	$12,543	$854	$11,689
PewamoWestphalia MiddleHigh School	Public	6-12	5101 S Clintonia Rd	Westphalia	48894	Clinton County	Pewamo-Westphalia Community Schools	No	No	No	No	(989) 587-5100	477	25	19.4	11.7%	450 (94.3%)	1 (0.2%)	18 (3.8%)	2 (0.4%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	6 (1.3%)	91.6	53^rd of 743 public high schools	92.9%		94.1	28^th of 735 public high schools	96.2%	25	95.5	62.1	72.6	44.0	60.0	57.5	35.0	53.8	60.6	59.5	54.5	65.5	$13,726	$1,109	$12,616
Belding High School	Public	9-12	850 Hall St	Belding	48809	Ionia County	Belding Area School District	No	No	No	No	(616) 794-4900	508	25	20.3	54.5%	435 (85.6%)	5 (1.0%)	50 (9.8%)	4 (0.8%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	14 (2.8%)	25.9	546^th of 743 public high schools	26.5%		19.5	597^th of 735 public high schools	18.8%	51			34.7	10.5						29.8		25.8	$13,106	$1,382	$11,724

Frequently Asked Questions about Douglas R Welch High School

What district is Douglas R Welch High School in?

Ionia Public Schools

Is Douglas R Welch High School a good school?

Douglas R Welch High School ranks 539^th of 743 Michigan high schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 1 star out of 5.

What is the racial makeup of Douglas R Welch High School?

Students at Douglas R Welch High School are 81% White, 14% Hispanic, 4% Two or more races, 1% African American.

How many students attend Douglas R Welch High School?

In the 2023-24 school year, 77 students attended Douglas R Welch High School.

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SchoolDigger data sources: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education, the U.S. Census Bureau and the Michigan Department of Education.

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMERS: Not all boundaries are included. We make every effort to ensure that boundaries are up-to-date. But it's important to note that these are approximations and are for general informational purposes only. To verify legal descriptions of boundaries or school locations, contact your local tax assessor's office and/or school district.