Summary:
Zip code 48103 in Ann Arbor, Michigan is served by two highly-rated middle schools—Slauson Middle School and Forsythe Middle School—both part of the Ann Arbor Public Schools district, which ranks in the 90th percentile statewide and holds a 5-star rating.
Both schools are exceptional, ranking in the top 6% of all Michigan middle schools. Slauson Middle School is the academic leader, ranking 38th out of 896 schools (96th percentile) for 2025-2026, and outperforms Forsythe Middle School in 13 of 16 subject/grade combinations. Slauson’s 7th grade ELA proficiency (70.7%) is nearly double the state average (38.4%), and its 8th grade PSAT math (62.4%) also nearly doubles the state rate (33.2%). Forsythe Middle School, while slightly behind, is a strong performer that improved its state ranking from 79th to 58th this year and actually surpasses Slauson in 8th grade PSAT ELA (85.3% vs. 83.6%). Both schools dramatically exceed state averages in every subject, with even the "weaker" scores at Forsythe (e.g., 6th grade math at 56.8%) beating the state by more than 20 points.
Key differences exist beyond test scores. Slauson has lower chronic absenteeism (29.8% vs. 31.5%) and a lower percentage of economically disadvantaged students (21.26% vs. 26.77% free/reduced lunch). However, both schools exceed the state average for chronic absenteeism (27.9%), which is a concern despite their academic excellence. Spending and resources are nearly identical—per-student spending differs by only $564, and student-teacher ratios are within 0.6 students—suggesting the performance gap is not due to funding but likely other factors. For families, both schools offer outstanding education, with Slauson holding a consistent edge in most subjects while Forsythe shows strong momentum and a notable strength in 8th grade PSAT ELA.
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