Best Middle Schools in Zip Code 48124

Middle Schools in zip code 48124, serving the Dearborn, MI area, consist of two public institutions, Stout Middle School and Smith Middle School, both part of the Dearborn City School District and catering to students in grades 6 through 8.

For parents, the key takeaway is that Stout Middle School is the stronger academic performer, despite serving a student body with a higher percentage of economic need. Stout outranks Smith, sitting in the 68th percentile statewide compared to Smith's 55th percentile. This advantage is clear in core subjects, especially in 7th-grade math where Stout's proficiency rate (44.4%) is 15 points higher than Smith's (29.4%), and in 8th-grade science where Stout leads by over 10 points. Interestingly, Smith shows a competitive edge in 6th grade, outperforming Stout in both ELA and math, but Stout pulls ahead significantly in the 7th and 8th grades. While Stout spends slightly more per student ($22,556 vs. $21,248), the student-teacher ratios are nearly identical, suggesting that Stout's success may stem from effective programs and curriculum alignment rather than just funding.

The most pressing issue for both schools is chronic absenteeism, with over a third of students at each school (34.9% at Stout and 35.1% at Smith) missing significant school time—a rate far exceeding the district and state averages. This is a systemic challenge that likely affects overall performance. Stout's higher achievement is particularly notable given its higher rate of economic disadvantage (84.1% free/reduced lunch eligibility) compared to Smith (68.76%), indicating that Stout may be successfully mitigating challenges associated with poverty. For parents, this data suggests that while both schools share similar demographics and face the same attendance hurdle, Stout Middle School currently offers a more consistent and higher-achieving academic environment, especially for students in the upper middle school grades.