Best Elementary Schools in Zip Code 48128

Zip code 48128 in Dearborn, Michigan is home to four elementary schools serving grades PK-5 (with one extending to 8th grade) and a combined enrollment of 1,822 students, offering families a clear choice between three Dearborn City School District schools and one independent charter option.

For parents seeking top academic performance, Howard Elementary School is the standout choice, ranking in the 91st percentile statewide with a 5-star rating. Howard outperforms every other school in the area across ELA (71.5% proficiency), math (65.5%), and science (51.6%), while also boasting the lowest chronic absenteeism rate (11.1%) and most favorable student-teacher ratio (14.8:1). Notably, Howard achieves these results with the lowest per-student spending ($17,937) in the group. Charles A Lindbergh Elementary School is a close second, holding steady at the 85th-87th percentile with strong proficiency rates (62.1% ELA, 62.5% math) and the highest per-student spending ($20,988). Haigh Elementary School also performs well above state averages (61.0% ELA, 52.6% math) despite a higher poverty rate (60.9% free/reduced lunch) and some year-to-year volatility in science scores.

In stark contrast, The Dearborn Academy presents significant concerns, ranking in just the 13th percentile with a 1-star rating. The charter school faces compounding challenges: a 94.2% poverty rate, 33.1% chronic absenteeism (nearly triple Howard's rate), and proficiency rates of only 18.3% in ELA and 17.9% in math—roughly one-third of the district schools' performance. The gap is particularly alarming in math, where 7th-grade proficiency sits at just 11.7% versus the state's 33.3%, suggesting students leave this school severely underprepared for high school. While poverty is a factor, the magnitude of the achievement gap compared to Haigh (which has 60.9% poverty yet 3-4 times higher proficiency) indicates school-level factors play a substantial role. For families in 48128, the three district schools all dramatically exceed Michigan state averages, making them reliable choices, while The Dearborn Academy warrants careful consideration given its persistent academic struggles.