Summary:
Zip code 48116, covering the Brighton, Michigan area, is home to three middle schools serving grades 5 through 8 and enrolling nearly 2,000 students across two very different districts.
Families in this area have a clear choice between the high-achieving Brighton Area Schools pathway and the smaller, independent Charyl Stockwell Academy. The Brighton pathway consists of Maltby Intermediate School (grades 5-6) feeding into Scranton Middle School (grades 7-8). These two schools deliver elite academic results, with proficiency rates running 25 to 35 percentage points above state averages in nearly every subject. Scranton, ranked 29th in the state, posts an exceptional 86.4% proficiency on the 8th grade PSAT English Language Arts exam, while Maltby maintains consistent scores above 66% across all grades and subjects. Both schools benefit from very low poverty rates (under 10% free/reduced lunch) and per-student funding around $14,000-$15,000.
In contrast, Charyl Stockwell Academy Middle School offers a more intimate setting with a 15:1 student-teacher ratio and greater socioeconomic diversity (18.4% free/reduced lunch), but spends just $8,370 per student—only 56% of Brighton's funding. While CSA achieves respectable ELA scores (50-59% proficiency) and strong 8th grade social studies results (73.2%), it struggles significantly in mathematics. Its 6th grade math proficiency (27.7%) falls below the state average, and its 8th grade PSAT math score (41.8%) trails Scranton's by 24 points. CSA also faces a chronic absenteeism rate of 27.3%, notably higher than the Brighton schools' 17-18%. For parents prioritizing top-tier academics, especially in math, the Brighton schools are the clear standout; those seeking a smaller, more diverse community may find CSA appealing but should investigate its math curriculum and attendance challenges.
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