Summary:
Zip code 48131, serving the Dundee, Michigan area, is home to two high schools under the Dundee Community Schools district, which collectively serve grades 5 through 12 and offer vastly different educational environments despite their shared administration.
Dundee Community High School is the district’s flagship institution, enrolling 493 students in grades 9-12. This school stands out with an exceptional 97.2% graduation rate and a remarkably low 1.8% dropout rate, both far better than state averages. Academically, it excels in reading and writing, with 61.9% of 11th graders proficient on the SAT, and social studies, where 54% meet standards—both well above Michigan’s averages. However, math and science remain weak points, with SAT math proficiency at just 22.2% and science at 34.1%, both trailing the state. The school’s state ranking has been volatile, swinging from 151st (2023-2024) to 386th (2024-2025) and back to 226th (2025-2026), likely due to its moderate size where individual cohorts can shift results. Chronic absenteeism is a relatively low 17.6%, and only about a quarter of students qualify for free or reduced lunch.
In stark contrast, Riverside Academy is a small alternative school with just 46 students spanning grades 5-12, and it faces severe challenges. Its graduation rate is only 77.2%, while the dropout rate is a staggering 18.1%—more than ten times higher than its district counterpart. Chronic absenteeism affects 44% of students, and 58.7% qualify for free or reduced lunch. No recent test score or ranking data exists for Riverside, likely due to extremely small testing cohorts. Despite receiving slightly more funding per student ($14,623 vs. $13,786), Riverside’s outcomes are dramatically worse, highlighting that student demographics and school model—not spending—drive performance. For families, this zip code presents a clear choice: the traditional high school offers strong literacy outcomes and college readiness, while the alternative academy serves a higher-needs population but struggles with retention and academic achievement.
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