Best Middle Schools in Zip Code 48125

Zip code 48125, covering Dearborn Heights, Michigan, is home to just one middle school—Oakley W Best Middle School—which serves grades 6 through 8 within the Dearborn Heights School District #7.

For parents considering this area, Oakley W Best is the only option for middle school, so its performance defines the entire educational experience here. The school serves a predominantly low-income population, with about 77% of students qualifying for free or reduced lunch, and it spends a substantial $19,447 per student—well above typical Michigan levels. Academically, the school trails state averages in most subjects, with the largest gaps in math (roughly 12–18 points below state proficiency) and smaller gaps in English language arts. For example, only 14.2% of 6th graders and 21.6% of 7th graders are proficient in math, compared to state rates near 32–33%. However, there is a bright spot: 8th-grade social studies proficiency (49.4%) nearly matches the state average (50.3%), a remarkable achievement given the school’s other results. The school also shows relative strength in 8th-grade PSAT English, where 51.2% of students meet proficiency, though that still lags the state’s 64.8%.

The most encouraging trend is momentum. Oakley W Best has improved its state ranking for three consecutive years, climbing from the 16th percentile in 2023-24 to the 33rd percentile in 2025-26, and earning a 2-star rating. Still, a critical concern is chronic absenteeism: 45.5% of students are chronically absent, far above the state’s 27.9% average. This likely hampers achievement despite the school’s high spending. Year-to-year scores also swing noticeably—7th-grade English jumped nearly 11 points in one year, while 6th-grade English dipped—suggesting small cohorts make single-year results less reliable. For parents, the key takeaway is that this school faces real challenges tied to poverty and attendance, but it is on an upward path, with social studies and improving literacy as strengths, while math remains the biggest area needing support.