Summary:
Zip code 48080 is served by a single high school, South Lake High School, part of the South Lake Schools district, which enrolls 426 students in grades 9 through 12 in a community where over half of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch.
Because there is only one high school in this zip code, all comparisons are made against Michigan state averages. The most encouraging statistic is the graduation rate: 89.8% of students graduate, which is nearly six points higher than the state average of 84.0%, and the dropout rate of 5.0% is lower than the state's 7.1%. However, this success in graduating does not translate to academic proficiency. The school ranks in the bottom 15-18% of Michigan high schools, and test scores lag far behind state averages in every subject. For example, only 7.8% of 11th graders are proficient in math on the SAT, compared to 26.5% statewide, and just 11.8% are proficient in science versus 35.2% statewide. The gaps are consistent across all grade levels, ranging from roughly 19 to 29 percentage points behind the state.
Two significant concerns stand out. First, mathematics is a critical weakness, with proficiency rates between 7.8% and 8.4% across grades 9-11—less than one-third of the state average. Second, chronic absenteeism affects 34.4% of students, well above the state's 27.9%, which likely contributes to the low test performance. The school spends a substantial $19,092 per student, yet this high investment has not produced commensurate academic results. For parents, this means the school excels at keeping students on track to earn a diploma, but families should be aware that the majority of students are not meeting state proficiency benchmarks in core subjects, particularly math and science, and may need additional academic support outside of school.
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