Pennfield Senior High School

Summary:

Pennfield Senior High School is a public high school located in Battle Creek, Michigan, serving grades 8-12 with a total enrollment of 653 students. The school is part of the Pennfield Schools district, which is ranked 451 out of 610 districts in Michigan and has a 1-star rating from SchoolDigger.

Pennfield Senior High School faces several challenges, including a significantly higher percentage of white students (79.63%) compared to nearby schools, consistently ranking in the bottom half of Michigan high schools, and experiencing a decline in its four-year graduation rate from 92.7% in 2019-2020 to 85.3% in 2022-2023. The school also has a high dropout rate, reaching 7.0% in 2022-2023, and a concerning chronic absenteeism rate of 37.2% in 2021-2022, well above the state average. Academically, Pennfield Senior High School consistently underperforms the state averages in various standardized tests, including M-Step, SAT, and PSAT, with proficiency rates well below the state levels.

In comparison, nearby high schools such as Lakeview High School, Bellevue JrSr High School, and Harper Creek High School have higher rankings, graduation rates, and test scores. The challenges faced by Pennfield Senior High School may be attributed to its high percentage of students from low socioeconomic backgrounds, with 52.83% of students qualifying for free or reduced-price lunch in 2022-2023. Addressing these issues and implementing targeted interventions could be crucial for improving the school's overall performance and outcomes for its students.


Detail:

Public 8-12

 8299 Pennfield Rd
       Battle Creek, MI  49017-8106


(269) 961-9770

District: Pennfield Schools

SchoolDigger Rank:
496th of 743 Michigan High Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures:  $12,500 Help


Feeder schools for Pennfield Senior High School:

Elementary:    North Pennfield Elementary
    Pennfield Dunlap Elementary
    Pennfield Purdy School
Middle:    Pennfield Middle School

Student/teacher ratio:  24.5 Help
Number of students:  778

Racial breakdown:

White:
79.3%
Two or more races:
9.1%
Hispanic:
6.0%
more

Free/discounted lunch recipients:  59% Help


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 Compare Pennfield Senior High School to nearby high schools!

Performance Trends
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Compare Details Pennfield Senior High School ranks worse than 67.7% of middle schools in Michigan. (See more...)
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Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 30.83. (See more...)
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Compare Details Pennfield Senior High School ranks worse than 66.8% of high schools in Michigan. (See more...)
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Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 31.96. (See more...)
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The four-year cohort graduation rate measures the percentage of students at Pennfield Senior High School who earn a standard high school diploma within four years of starting ninth grade.
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The high school dropout rate measures the percentage of students who do not complete their high school education.
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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
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Compare Details Racial makeup is: White (79.3%), two or more races (9.1%), Hispanic (6%). (See more...)
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Compare Details 59% of students are receiving a free or discounted lunch. (See more...)
Teachers
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Compare Details The student/teacher ratio at Pennfield Senior High School is 24.5. (See more...)
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Compare Pennfield Senior High School employs 31.6 full-time teachers.
Finance
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Compare Details The average total spent per student at Pennfield Senior High School is $12,500.
Schooldigger 2024 Rankings:

Pennfield Senior High School:

SchoolDigger ranks Pennfield Senior High School 607th of 897 Michigan public middle schools. (See Pennfield Senior High School in the ranking list.)

Middle School Test Score Ratings by Student Subgroup:


Low Socio Economic Status students:
Female students:
Male students:
White students:

SchoolDigger ranks Pennfield Senior High School 496th of 743 Michigan public high schools. (See Pennfield Senior High School in the ranking list.)

High School Test Score Ratings by Student Subgroup:


Low Socio Economic Status students:
Female students:
Male students:
White students:


Pennfield Schools:

SchoolDigger ranks Pennfield Schools 451st of 610 Michigan school districts. (See district ranking list.)


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Your rating for Pennfield Senior High School?

Rank History for Pennfield Senior High School

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Rank History for all middle school students at Pennfield Senior High School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Middle Schools MI State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2024 30.83 607th 897 32.3%
See the entire list of Michigan High School Rankings!

Rank History for middle school Low Socio Economic Status students at Pennfield Senior High School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Middle Schools MI State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2024 24.22 648th 836 22.5%
See the entire list of Best Michigan High Schools for Low Socio Economic Status Students!

Rank History for middle school Female students at Pennfield Senior High School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Middle Schools MI State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2024 20.68 628th 771 18.5%
See the entire list of Best Michigan High Schools for Female Students!

Rank History for middle school Male students at Pennfield Senior High School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Middle Schools MI State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2024 33.58 525th 786 33.2%
See the entire list of Best Michigan High Schools for Male Students!

Rank History for middle school White students at Pennfield Senior High School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Middle Schools MI State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2024 18.14 608th 701 13.3%
See the entire list of Best Michigan High Schools for White Students!

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

Rank History for Pennfield Senior High School

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Rank History for all high school students at Pennfield Senior High School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools MI State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2006 57.04 372nd 705 47.2%
2007 75.67 170th 767 77.8%
2008 73.28 223rd 750 70.3%
2009 74.35 209th 754 72.3%
2010 66.52 338th 765 55.8%
2011 71.90 253rd 784 67.7%
2012 62.04 317th 773 59.0%
2013 51.60 422nd 805 47.6%
2014 50.65 433rd 799 45.8%
2015 30.41 577th 832 30.6%
2016 47.24 436th 852 48.8%
2017 54.76 334th 835 60.0%
2018 42.54 475th 824 42.4%
2019 50.17 327th 666 50.9%
2021 21.27 472nd 561 15.9%
2022 27.10 447th 531 15.8%
2023 27.28 539th 735 26.7%
2024 31.96 496th 743 33.2%
See the entire list of Michigan High School Rankings!

Rank History for high school Special Education students at Pennfield Senior High School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools MI State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 25.56 235th 315 25.4%
See the entire list of Best Michigan High Schools for Special Education Students!

Rank History for high school Low Socio Economic Status students at Pennfield Senior High School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools MI State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 36.80 466th 755 38.3%
2019 50.97 253rd 532 52.4%
2023 24.59 490th 614 20.2%
2024 33.66 441st 654 32.6%
See the entire list of Best Michigan High Schools for Low Socio Economic Status Students!

Rank History for high school Female students at Pennfield Senior High School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools MI State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 37.98 451st 710 36.5%
2019 43.04 318th 554 42.6%
2021 14.74 426th 462 7.8%
2022 26.27 360th 416 13.5%
2023 28.13 443rd 611 27.5%
2024 32.09 412th 619 33.4%
See the entire list of Best Michigan High Schools for Female Students!

Rank History for high school Male students at Pennfield Senior High School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools MI State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 37.46 442nd 707 37.5%
2019 45.40 297th 543 45.3%
2021 22.22 382nd 472 19.1%
2022 19.48 391st 440 11.1%
2023 17.58 518th 611 15.2%
2024 29.21 458th 633 27.6%
See the entire list of Best Michigan High Schools for Male Students!

Rank History for high school Hispanic students at Pennfield Senior High School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools MI State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 12.07 180th 201 10.4%
See the entire list of Best Michigan High Schools for Hispanic Students!

Rank History for high school White students at Pennfield Senior High School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools MI State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 41.30 422nd 708 40.4%
2019 41.09 345th 582 40.7%
2021 17.32 452nd 516 12.4%
2022 19.63 436th 492 11.4%
2023 23.73 512th 647 20.9%
2024 21.75 518th 638 18.8%
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.

Pennfield Senior High School Test Scores
Tests: 
  
Grades: 
  
Years: 
  
Group by: 
District Scores:
State Scores:    
  
Subgroup: 




Data source: Michigan Department of Education

Review counts

All ratings (Avg rating: 3)
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100%

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Reviews:
by a citizen
Wednesday, August 13, 2014

Open Quote I am a former student of the Pennfield School District. Back when I went through there the stats were much higher. What has happened there that things have made such a down turn? Especially the past few years? Close Quote



Enrollment information for Pennfield Senior High School

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Year White African American Asian Hispanic American Indian Pacific Islander Two or More Races Not Specified Total
1988 529 16 7 4 1 n/a n/a -3 554
1989 504 16 7 2 3 n/a n/a 0 532
1990 507 11 4 6 2 n/a n/a -2 528
1991 467 13 5 5 1 n/a n/a 0 491
1992 466 9 5 6 1 n/a n/a 0 487
1993 498 15 3 5 1 n/a n/a 0 522
1994 512 20 3 6 1 n/a n/a 0 542
1995 508 21 3 7 4 n/a n/a 0 543
1996 508 21 3 7 4 n/a n/a 0 543
1997 518 26 4 10 6 n/a n/a 0 564
1998 509 18 3 7 3 n/a n/a 0 540
1999 516 25 4 9 1 n/a n/a 0 555
2000 533 22 1 9 2 n/a n/a 0 567
2001 519 19 2 8 1 n/a n/a 0 549
2002 572 21 5 7 4 n/a n/a 0 609
2003 572 21 5 7 4 n/a n/a 0 609
2004 576 35 6 5 5 n/a n/a 0 627
2005 565 43 7 8 6 n/a n/a 0 629
2006 566 60 6 9 6 n/a n/a 0 647
2007 584 42 11 13 4 n/a n/a 0 654
2008 599 35 9 19 4 n/a n/a 0 666
2009 614 55 10 16 3 n/a n/a 1 699
2010 638 49 8 19 2 n/a n/a 2 718
2011 622 36 2 25 2 0 5 0 692
2012 617 24 1 23 1 0 9 0 675
2013 599 26 3 23 1 0 8 0 660
2014 552 24 2 28 3 0 19 0 628
2015 563 34 3 21 6 0 24 0 651
2016 562 41 4 31 8 0 29 0 675
2017 565 40 4 39 8 1 34 0 691
2018 601 40 5 38 10 2 43 0 739
2019 582 34 3 44 10 2 36 0 711
2020 608 35 6 44 8 2 37 0 740
2021 561 36 3 37 8 1 38 0 684
2022 562 30 3 42 4 0 39 0 680
2023 520 34 6 36 2 1 54 0 653
2024 617 38 4 47 1 0 71 0 778

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 Pennfield Senior High School

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Year # Students Full-time Teachers Student/Teacher ratio % Free/Discounted Lunch
1988 554 n/a n/a n/a
1989 532 n/a n/a 2.3
1990 528 38.0 13.8 1.9
1991 491 n/a n/a n/a
1992 487 n/a n/a 5.1
1993 522 n/a 0.0 6.5
1994 542 27.3 19.9 7.7
1995 543 27.6 19.7 4.1
1996 543 27.6 19.7 4.1
1997 564 29.0 19.4 6.7
1998 540 30.0 18.0 7
1999 555 30.0 18.5 6.1
2000 567 30.0 18.9 11.1
2001 549 30.0 18.3 10.9
2002 609 30.4 20.0 13.8
2003 609 30.4 20.0 13.8
2004 627 31.4 20.0 15
2005 629 32.4 19.4 19.7
2006 647 32.4 20.0 21.5
2007 654 32.5 20.1 27.8
2008 666 32.6 20.4 29.9
2009 699 32.8 21.3 33.5
2010 718 31.7 22.6 35.3
2011 692 31.9 21.6 36.8
2012 675 30.1 22.3 41
2013 660 30.5 21.6 39.5
2014 628 29.3 21.4 37.3
2015 651 31.0 21.0 32.6
2016 675 31.0 21.7 36.1
2017 691 28.4 24.3 34.6
2018 739 32.4 22.7 42.6
2019 711 32.1 22.0 39.8
2020 740 31.2 23.7 42.8
2021 684 32.4 21.1 42
2022 680 30.6 22.2 48.2
2023 653 28.7 22.7 52.8
2024 778 31.6 24.5 59

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 Pennfield Senior High School

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Year # Students Full-time Teachers Student/Teacher ratio % Free/Discounted Lunch
1988 554 n/a n/a n/a
1989 532 n/a n/a 2.3
1990 528 38.0 13.8 1.9
1991 491 n/a n/a n/a
1992 487 n/a n/a 5.1
1993 522 n/a 0.0 6.5
1994 542 27.3 19.9 7.7
1995 543 27.6 19.7 4.1
1996 543 27.6 19.7 4.1
1997 564 29.0 19.4 6.7
1998 540 30.0 18.0 7
1999 555 30.0 18.5 6.1
2000 567 30.0 18.9 11.1
2001 549 30.0 18.3 10.9
2002 609 30.4 20.0 13.8
2003 609 30.4 20.0 13.8
2004 627 31.4 20.0 15
2005 629 32.4 19.4 19.7
2006 647 32.4 20.0 21.5
2007 654 32.5 20.1 27.8
2008 666 32.6 20.4 29.9
2009 699 32.8 21.3 33.5
2010 718 31.7 22.6 35.3
2011 692 31.9 21.6 36.8
2012 675 30.1 22.3 41
2013 660 30.5 21.6 39.5
2014 628 29.3 21.4 37.3
2015 651 31.0 21.0 32.6
2016 675 31.0 21.7 36.1
2017 691 28.4 24.3 34.6
2018 739 32.4 22.7 42.6
2019 711 32.1 22.0 39.8
2020 740 31.2 23.7 42.8
2021 684 32.4 21.1 42
2022 680 30.6 22.2 48.2
2023 653 28.7 22.7 52.8
2024 778 31.6 24.5 59

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 Pennfield Senior High School

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YearExpenditures from Federal FundsExpenditures from State and Local FundsTotal Expenditures Per Pupil (All Funds)
2019 $438 (4.6%) $8,985 (95.4%) $9,423
2020 $474 (5.2%) $8,700 (94.8%) $9,174
2021 $918 (8.6%) $9,807 (91.4%) $10,724
2022 $920 (8.1%) $10,422 (91.9%) $11,342
2023 $657 (5.3%) $11,843 (94.7%) $12,500

Data source: Michigan Department of Education
Pre and Post Pandemic Data

Impact of COVID-19 on Pennfield Senior 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.

Rankings

Rank
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)
Rank
Post pandemic (2022-2023)
Change (%)
Ranks 327th of 666 High schoolsRanks 539th of 735 High schools
 24.2%

Test Scores

% proficient
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)
% proficient
Post pandemic (2022-2023)
Change (%)
11th Grade Social Studies (Pennfield Senior High School)42.727.5
 15.2%
   11th Grade Social Studies (Pennfield Schools)42.727.5
 15.2%
   11th Grade Social Studies (Michigan)46.636.1
 10.5%
11th Grade Evidence-Based Reading and Writing (Pennfield Senior High School)57.637.2
 20.4%
   11th Grade Evidence-Based Reading and Writing (Pennfield Schools)57.637.2
 20.4%
   11th Grade Evidence-Based Reading and Writing (Michigan)55.352.2
 3.1%
11th Grade Mathematics (Pennfield Senior High School)3116.6
 14.4%
   11th Grade Mathematics (Pennfield Schools)3116.6
 14.4%
   11th Grade Mathematics (Michigan)36.329.9
 6.4%

Student Body

Number of students
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)
Number of students
Post pandemic (2022-2023)
Change (%)
Total Students711653
 8.2%
African American3434
American Indian102
 80%
Asian36
 100%
Hispanic4436
 18.2%
Pacific Islander21
 50%
White582520
 10.7%
Two or More Races3654
 50%
% Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients39.8%52.8%
 13%


Schools Near Pennfield Senior High School









Frequently Asked Questions about Pennfield Senior High School

In the 2023-24 school year, 778 students attended Pennfield Senior High School.

Students at Pennfield Senior High School are 79% White, 9% Two or more races, 6% Hispanic, 5% African American.

Pennfield Senior High School is fed by the following schools:

Elementary : North Pennfield Elementary
Elementary : Pennfield Dunlap Elementary
Elementary : Pennfield Purdy School
Middle : Pennfield Middle School

Pennfield Senior High School ranks 496th of 743 Michigan high schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.


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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.





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