Welcome to the Forest Area Community Schools’ website. We are located in beautiful northern Michigan, approximately 35 minutes southeast of Traverse City, MI. Forest Area’s mission is to provide a nurturing educational environment, which will help our students form positive attitudes toward learning, and help build effective life skills.  

Our district consists of two campuses located several minutes apart. These campuses received upgrades several years ago from a bond approved by our generous communities of Fife Lake and South Boardman. Upgrades include secure entryways and gymnasium floors at both campuses. The middle/high school campus also received a new commons area for large group activities and a community fitness center with two locker rooms. The fitness center is open to the public before and after school hours. Please be sure to check our website for specific hours. Our athletic complex also received a huge makeover which included a new press box, bleachers, baseball and softball backstops, a concession stand with bathrooms, and a new track with state of the art synthetic surface. Finally, we were able to use a portion of funding to update our transportation fleet. Thank you Fife Lake and South Boardman communities!

Fife Lake Elementary is located 108 Pierce Street in beautiful Fife Lake, MI. Our elementary school includes our preschool thru 3rd grade students. Mrs. Amberle Eaker is our Principal. Highlights of Fife Lake Elementary include:

• FREE breakfast and lunch
• FREE after school care with SEEDS
• Small class sizes. We currently average under 18 students per class.
• Full time Music and Physical Education classes
• A 90 minute language arts block
• K-3rd grade tier II and III reading interventions
• K-3rd grade math interventions
• Robust K – 5 math and reading curriculums
• One to one technology
• Full time elementary counselor supporting student social/emotional needs

Fife Lake Elementary was recognized as a 2014 Reward School from the Michigan Department of Education.  Test scores improved 40% in a three year period thus earning Reward School status for high progress. A gigantic thank you to the students and staff at Fife Lake Elementary for their hard work!  For more details please call (231) 879-3362.

Our middle and high school campus includes our 4th thru 12th grade students and is located at 7741 Shippy Road in Fife Lake, MI. The Principal of this campus is Mr. Mike Moran. Highlights of Forest Area Middle/High School include:

• FREE breakfast and lunch
• FREE after school care with SEEDS
• Small class sizes
• Participation in MHSAA athletics
• Early College opportunities
• Dual Enrollment with NMC and Baker College
• Numerous electives including Band, Choir, Drama, Industrial Arts, Journalism, Current Events, Yearbook, and Strength and Conditioning and many online learning opportunities.
• One to one technology
• A Teen Health Center on campus to support student medical and social/emotional needs

Last year, our graduating seniors received upwards of $200,000 in college scholarships. If you would like more information on our middle/high school, please call (231) 369-2884

Our entire staff works closely in collaborative teams called Professional Learning Communities (PLCs). During PLCs, teachers meet to have frequent, consistent, data-driven conversations about student achievement. Parents of students have been very supportive of our PLC initiative. Teachers and administrators meet on half days scheduled throughout the year. Students attend school for a morning session and are dismissed after lunchtime.  We appreciate the community support of PLCs to enhance staff effectiveness!