Summary:
Zip code 48085 is home to two highly-ranked middle schools—Larson Middle School and Smith Middle School—both serving grades 6-8 within the Troy School District, a top-5% district in Michigan.
Both schools are elite performers, ranking in the top 5% of all Michigan middle schools. Larson Middle School currently holds the higher state ranking (30th vs. 44th) and has shown dramatic improvement, jumping 33 positions in just two years. It excels particularly in English Language Arts and Social Studies, with 8th grade PSAT ELA proficiency at 88.8% and 8th grade Social Studies at 72.4%. Larson also achieves these results while spending about $3,200 less per student than Smith. However, Smith Middle School offers its own advantages: a better student-to-teacher ratio (17.3:1 vs. 19:1), significantly lower chronic absenteeism (9.2% vs. 11.1%), and relative strength in mathematics, where its 7th grade proficiency (69.5%) matches the district's best. Smith also demonstrates more consistent year-over-year performance, while Larson's scores have been more volatile.
Across every subject and grade level, both schools outperform state averages by 25-40 percentage points—6th grade math proficiency is roughly double the state rate. Both serve relatively affluent populations, with only 10-11% of students eligible for free/reduced lunch. One area for potential improvement at both schools is 8th grade PSAT Math, where proficiency (63-66%) lags significantly behind their exceptional ELA scores (82-89%). For families, the choice comes down to priorities: Larson offers superior ELA/social studies outcomes and a rapidly rising trajectory, while Smith provides a more intimate setting with lower absenteeism, stronger math performance, and more consistent results.
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