Summary:
Zip code 48083 in Troy, Michigan, is home to four elementary schools serving grades Pre-K through 5th, with enrollments between 391 and 411 students, and features a unique mix of schools from two different districts.
Three of the four schools belong to the highly-ranked Troy School District, which ranks in the 94th percentile statewide. Barnard Elementary School is the clear academic leader, ranking 125th out of 1,492 Michigan elementary schools (92nd percentile) with exceptional 4th-grade scores—80% proficiency in English Language Arts and 85.2% in Math. Wattles Elementary School is the consistent performer, ranking in the 86th percentile with the strongest 3rd-grade Math scores (76.5%) and the lowest chronic absenteeism rate (12.4%) in the area. Morse Elementary School ranks in the 67th percentile and remains above state averages, though it shows a declining trajectory in 5th-grade Math and Science scores. The fourth school, Susick Elementary School, belongs to Warren Consolidated Schools and ranks in the 35th percentile, falling below state averages in nearly every subject.
The most striking finding is the dramatic disparity between schools in the same zip code. Barnard (92nd percentile) and Susick (35th percentile) are separated by roughly two miles yet deliver vastly different outcomes. This divide tracks closely with poverty indicators: Barnard has a 17.75% free/reduced lunch rate while Susick's is 61.64%. Notably, Susick actually spends the most per student ($20,404) yet achieves the lowest results, while Barnard spends the least ($17,343) and achieves the highest—demonstrating that funding alone cannot overcome socioeconomic challenges. Chronic absenteeism follows a similar pattern, with Susick at 22.6% compared to Wattles at 12.4%. For parents, the Troy district schools offer strong, stable performance with rankings that have remained consistently high over three years, while Susick represents a starkly different educational experience despite its proximity.
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