Summary:
Zip code 48073 in Royal Oak, MI, is home to four elementary schools within the highly-rated Royal Oak Schools district, serving grades PK-5 and K-5 with a combined enrollment of roughly 1,600 students.
For parents, the standout choice is Northwood Elementary School, which consistently ranks in the 95th percentile statewide and earns a 5-star rating. Northwood outperforms its peers by 10-20 percentage points in most subjects, with particularly strong 3rd grade math (77.3% proficient) and 5th grade ELA (76.5%). It also has the lowest chronic absenteeism (10.6%) and the lowest economic disadvantage rate (12.78% free/reduced lunch) in the group. In contrast, Alfred E Upton Elementary School is the lowest-ranked school (52nd percentile, 3 stars) and shows the most volatile scores, with dramatic drops in 2025-2026 across 3rd and 5th grade subjects. Upton also has the highest chronic absenteeism (18.8%) and the highest economic disadvantage rate (24.92%). Oak Ridge Elementary School (89th percentile) and Addams Elementary and ECC (81st percentile) sit comfortably in the middle, both earning 4-star ratings and performing above state averages.
A key takeaway is that spending does not drive results. Addams spends the most per student ($20,421) and has the best student-teacher ratio (11.5:1), yet it ranks below Northwood, which spends the least ($14,614) and has the highest ratio (17.6:1). Instead, a clear socioeconomic-academic divide exists: schools with lower free/reduced lunch percentages tend to perform better. The widest gaps appear in 5th grade science and social studies, where Northwood leads Upton by 34-39 percentage points. Despite these internal differences, all four schools beat Michigan state averages in most subjects, reflecting the district's overall strength. For families, Northwood is the clear academic leader, but every school in this zip code offers a solid, above-average education.
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