Summary:
Zip code 48111, covering the Belleville, Michigan area, is served by four elementary schools—Keystone Academy, Tyler Road Elementary School, Edgemont Elementary School, and Savage Road Elementary School—which together educate roughly 1,800 students from Pre-K through 8th grade.
There is a stark divide in academic performance across these schools. Keystone Academy, an independent charter school, is the clear academic leader, ranking in the 84th percentile statewide and posting proficiency rates that exceed state averages by 20 to 30 points in many subjects. Within the Van Buren Public Schools district, Savage Road Elementary School is the standout, earning a 3-star rating and achieving 4th-grade math proficiency of 58.9%—more than double the district average. In contrast, Tyler Road Elementary School and Edgemont Elementary School consistently rank in the bottom 30% of Michigan schools with 1-star ratings, and their proficiency rates lag state averages by 12 to 22 points.
Perhaps the most surprising finding is the inverse relationship between spending and results. Edgemont Elementary School spends the most per student at $20,925 yet produces the lowest academic outcomes, while Keystone Academy achieves the best results with the lowest spending ($12,245 per student). Chronic absenteeism also tracks closely with performance: Savage Road Elementary School has the lowest rate at 15.3%, while Tyler Road Elementary School tops 32%. All four schools serve significant economically disadvantaged populations (42-56% free/reduced lunch eligibility), yet Keystone Academy and Savage Road Elementary School succeed despite this challenge, suggesting that school leadership, culture, and attendance initiatives matter more than funding levels or district affiliation when it comes to driving student achievement.
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