Summary:
Zip code 48124 in Dearborn, Michigan, is served by 11 schools spanning Pre-K through 12th grade, with the vast majority belonging to the Dearborn City School District, which ranks in the 57th percentile statewide, alongside one charter school, West Village Academy.
For families, the standout choice is Duvall Elementary School, which leads the area with a 4-star rating and 89th percentile rank. It posts proficiency rates roughly double the district average in science and social studies, while also having the lowest chronic absenteeism (18.1%) and the lowest free/reduced lunch rate (55.46%) among district schools. At the secondary level, Dearborn High School is the stronger academic option, with a 96.2% graduation rate and SAT reading proficiency above the state average, outperforming Edsel Ford High School in nearly every metric—though Edsel Ford edges it out slightly in graduation rate (97.9%). Among middle schools, Stout Middle School (68th percentile) clearly outpaces Smith Middle School (55th percentile), despite serving a higher-poverty population. The most concerning option is West Village Academy, a charter with a 0-star district rating, catastrophic 61.9% chronic absenteeism, and proficiency rates 20-30 points below state averages.
Several patterns stand out. Chronic absenteeism is a widespread issue, with 8 of 11 schools exceeding the state average of 27.9%, and it correlates strongly with weaker outcomes. Math proficiency also declines sharply from elementary (40-70%) to high school (16-36%). There is a notable spending paradox: Whitmore-Bolles Elementary School spends the most per student ($30,836) yet achieves only mid-pack results, while Duvall excels on a more modest budget. Encouragingly, Whitmore-Bolles has shown a remarkable turnaround, jumping from the 30th to 58th percentile in two years, while Stout Middle has steadily improved. Dearborn Public Schools Virtual K12 offers flexibility with a decent graduation rate (85.4%) but weak test scores. Overall, families have one exceptional elementary option, several solid mid-tier schools, and two high schools with distinct strengths—Dearborn High for rigor, Edsel Ford for retention.
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