Schools in Zip Code 48134

Zip code 48134, covering Flat Rock and Brownstown, Michigan, is served by eight public schools—three elementary, one middle, and four high schools—split between the Woodhaven-Brownstown School District and the Flat Rock Community Schools district.

For parents, the most striking takeaway is the sharp divide between the two districts. Woodhaven High School is the clear academic standout, ranking in the top 30% of Michigan high schools with strong test scores, a 93.6% graduation rate, and a low 2.0% dropout rate. In contrast, Flat Rock Community High School has shown a remarkable turnaround, jumping from a 1-star rating to a 3-star rating in recent years, and now boasts an exceptional 97.1% graduation rate—the highest in the area. However, this high school success masks serious struggles in its feeder schools: John M Barnes Elementary School is the lowest-performing traditional school, with only 18.6% of 3rd graders proficient in math, and Thomas Simpson Middle School also lags state averages. This suggests Flat Rock’s high school may be exceptionally effective at helping students catch up, but the foundational gaps are concerning.

Chronic absenteeism is a community-wide problem—only Wegienka Elementary School falls below the state average of 27.9%. The crisis is most severe at Maple Grove Alternative High School, where 67.8% of students are chronically absent, contributing to a 32.1% graduation rate and a 76:1 student-teacher ratio. Notably, both alternative schools—Maple Grove and Flat Rock Academic Virtual Academy—receive the lowest per-student funding in the zip code despite serving the highest-need populations. Meanwhile, Ethel C Bobcean Elementary School and John M Barnes Elementary have elevated poverty rates (54.5% and 48.7% free/reduced lunch) that correlate with their below-average performance, highlighting the socioeconomic challenges facing many families in this area.