Summary:
Zip code 48051 in Chesterfield, MI, is served by two public elementary schools—Joseph M Carkenord Elementary School and Francis A Higgins Elementary School—both part of the L'Anse Creuse Public Schools district, which holds a 3-star rating. These schools serve grades K-5 and share a similar socioeconomic profile, with about 41% of students at each school receiving free or reduced lunch.
For parents comparing the two, Francis A Higgins Elementary School is the stronger academic performer. It consistently outpaces Joseph M Carkenord Elementary School in math across all grade levels—for example, 49.3% vs. 31% proficiency in 4th grade—and also leads in 3rd-grade ELA. Higgins also has a lower chronic absenteeism rate (17.3% vs. 21.4%), spends more per student ($16,416 vs. $13,834), and maintains a better student-teacher ratio (15.4:1 vs. 18.9:1). Both schools outperform the district and state averages for chronic absenteeism, which is a notable positive. Carkenord is the larger school with 656 students compared to Higgins’s 425, and while its state ranking improved from the 47th to 55th percentile recently, it still trails Higgins, which ranks in the 56th percentile.
One interesting takeaway is the math gap: despite similar demographics, Higgins outperforms Carkenord by wide margins in every grade, suggesting different instructional approaches. However, both schools show strength in 5th-grade science, with Carkenord at 50% and Higgins at 38% proficiency, both above the state average. Carkenord is also showing positive momentum, with significant year-over-year gains in 3rd-grade ELA and math. For parents, Higgins offers more resources and consistent results, while Carkenord is a larger school that is improving but still faces challenges in math. Both are solid choices within a district that struggles with attendance overall, making these two schools stand out for their better engagement.
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