Best High Schools in Zip Code 48134

Zip code 48134, covering portions of Flat Rock and Brownstown, Michigan, is home to four high schools serving grades 9-12 with a combined enrollment of roughly 2,313 students across two districts: Woodhaven-Brownstown School District and Flat Rock Community Schools.

Woodhaven High School is the clear academic leader in the area, serving 1,629 students and earning consistent 4-star ratings. It outperforms state averages in SAT reading and writing (57.2% vs. 52.1%), SAT math (30.8% vs. 26.5%), and social studies (55.5% vs. 43.2%), though its science proficiency (29.6%) falls below the state mark. Flat Rock Community High School tells a remarkable turnaround story, jumping from a 1-star rating to a 4-star rating in one year before settling at 3 stars. It now posts a 97.1% graduation rate—13 points above the state average—and excels in science (52.2% proficient, 17 points above state) and SAT reading (62.8%). However, its 9th-grade PSAT math proficiency is just 17.9% versus the 33.5% state average, signaling early math challenges. Both traditional schools serve nearly identical economically disadvantaged populations (36.3%), yet Woodhaven maintains a higher overall ranking, suggesting factors like district resources and school culture drive the gap.

The two non-traditional schools struggle significantly. Flat Rock Academic Virtual Academy graduates only 68.5% of students with a 48% chronic absenteeism rate, while Maple Grove Alternative High School has a 32.1% graduation rate, a 67.8% absenteeism rate, and an extraordinary 76:1 student-teacher ratio. Both serve higher poverty populations (60.8% and 57.9% free/reduced lunch) and spend less per student ($14,279 and $13,816) than the traditional schools. Even Woodhaven, despite its success, faces a 27.5% chronic absenteeism rate near the state average, while Flat Rock Community High School's rate is higher at 34.7%. For parents, the traditional schools offer solid options—Woodhaven for consistent, well-rounded performance and Flat Rock for strong graduation outcomes and science instruction—but the alternative and virtual options show concerning results that warrant careful consideration.