Best Elementary Schools in Zip Code 48001

Zip code 48001 in Clay, Michigan, is served by two elementary schools within the Algonac Community School District, which together form a feeder pattern covering pre-kindergarten through sixth grade.

For parents exploring this area, the two schools play very different roles. Algonquin Elementary School (grades 2-6) is the larger of the two with 445 students and is the only one with standardized test data. It holds a 3-star rating but has seen its state percentile ranking slip from the 69th to the 52nd percentile over two years. Academically, Algonquin shows a clear split: its English Language Arts program is a relative strength in upper grades (5th and 6th graders outperform state averages), but mathematics proficiency declines sharply as students get older. For example, 5th-grade math proficiency fell to just 24.8% in 2025-2026, well below the state average of 32.2%. The same cohort of students dropped a staggering 21 points in math proficiency between 4th and 5th grade, suggesting skills are not building adequately over time. Meanwhile, Millside Elementary School (grades PK-1) has no test data but spends significantly more per student ($17,186 vs. $13,858 at Algonquin), reflecting the intensive resources needed for early childhood education.

Both schools serve predominantly low-income populations, with 56.63% of Algonquin students and 61.45% of Millside students qualifying for free or reduced lunch. A key concern is chronic absenteeism at Millside, where 30.4% of its youngest students are chronically absent—exceeding both the district (24.7%) and state (27.9%) averages. Given that early attendance patterns often predict future success, this may be contributing to the academic struggles seen later at Algonquin. Parents should also note that while Algonquin outperforms the state in 3rd-grade math and upper-grade ELA, its science and social studies scores have dropped below state averages. The district may need to examine why academic performance deteriorates as students advance, particularly in mathematics, and consider targeted interventions at both schools.