Summary:
Zip code 48120 in Dearborn, Michigan, is served by two public schools within the Dearborn City School District: Salina Elementary P 3 (grades PK-3) and Salina Intermediate 4 8 (grades 4-8), with no high school located in the immediate area.
For parents, the most important takeaway is that Salina Elementary P 3 is the stronger of the two schools, particularly in early grades. Its 3rd graders exceed state averages in both math (53.3% vs. 42.7%) and ELA (41.7% vs. 38.9%), showing that young students here can perform at or above state levels despite 93-95% of the student body qualifying for free/reduced lunch. However, this early success does not carry through to Salina Intermediate 4 8, where proficiency drops sharply by 5th grade—math falls to 20.2% and ELA to 35.6%, both well below state averages. The intermediate school does show one notable bright spot: 8th graders scored 42.5% on PSAT math in 2024-2025, dramatically exceeding both district (32.9%) and state (30.4%) averages, though this strength did not persist into the following year.
The most concerning pattern is a severe underperformance in science and social studies at Salina Intermediate 4 8, with proficiency rates of just 10-15% in science versus roughly 40% statewide—a persistent gap across multiple years. Chronic absenteeism is also a red flag, especially at the elementary school where 34.5% of students are chronically absent, which likely undermines the foundational skill-building happening in grades PK-3. Despite spending over $20,000 per student and maintaining favorable 11-12:1 student-teacher ratios, outcomes remain mixed, suggesting resources alone aren't solving the challenges. The intermediate school's ranking has improved from the 26th percentile (2023-2024) to the 40th-43rd percentile range in recent years, but year-over-year volatility within grade levels points to instability in instruction or curriculum that parents should investigate further.
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