Best Middle Schools in Zip Code 48060

The two middle schools serving zip code 48060 in Port Huron, Michigan—Central Middle School and Holland Woods Middle School—are both part of the Port Huron Area School District and serve roughly 1,000 students in grades 6-8, with both schools facing significant economic challenges and chronic absenteeism rates above 45%.

When comparing the two schools, Holland Woods Middle School is the stronger academic performer despite serving a student population with a higher percentage of economic disadvantage (78.7% free/reduced lunch vs. 63.4% at Central). Holland Woods outperforms Central in nearly every subject and grade level—for example, 6th grade math proficiency is 19.5% at Holland Woods versus 14.1% at Central, and 8th grade PSAT ELA proficiency is 53.7% versus 45.0%. This academic edge likely stems from greater resource investment: Holland Woods spends $18,799 per student compared to $15,108 at Central and maintains a more favorable 14.0:1 student-teacher ratio versus 16.3:1. However, Holland Woods has shown recent volatility, dropping from the 38th percentile statewide in 2024-2025 to the 28th percentile in 2025-2026, while Central Middle School has remained stagnant around the 20th percentile for three consecutive years.

Both schools trail Michigan state averages by 10-20 percentage points across all subjects, with math being a particular weakness—8th grade PSAT math proficiency is just 15.3% at Central and 21.3% at Holland Woods, compared to the state's 33.2%. Chronic absenteeism is a crisis-level concern at both schools (45.3% at Central and 46.7% at Holland Woods versus the state's 27.9%), which likely contributes to the achievement gaps. On a positive note, both schools show relative strength in 8th grade Social Studies, where the gap to state averages narrows considerably. For parents, Holland Woods appears to offer better academic outcomes and more individualized attention, though both schools face systemic challenges that will require significant intervention around attendance and math instruction to improve student success.