Best Public Schools in Zip Code 48166

Zip code 48166, serving the Newport, Michigan area, is home to three schools—two elementary schools and one high school—that collectively educate roughly 1,038 students across grades Pre-K through 12, though no middle schools are located within the zip code itself.

For parents exploring this area, the standout choice is Henry Niedermeier Elementary School, which consistently earns a 3-star rating and outperforms its peers despite serving the highest percentage of students eligible for free/reduced lunch (58.26%). Its math proficiency is particularly strong, with 3rd and 4th grade scores exceeding state averages, and it belongs to the higher-performing Airport Community Schools district (56th percentile statewide). In contrast, North Elementary School, part of Jefferson Schools (Monroe), shows a troubling pattern: while its 3rd grade ELA exceeds the state average, proficiency drops sharply by 5th grade—from 46.9% to 26.8% in reading and from 40.6% to just 14.4% in math. This school also exhibits extreme year-to-year swings, including a 27.8-point jump in 3rd grade ELA between 2024-2025 and 2025-2026, raising questions about instructional consistency.

At the secondary level, Jefferson High School posts a solid graduation rate (88.5%, above the state’s 84.0%) but struggles academically, especially in math—only 15.8% of students are proficient on the SAT, compared to 26.5% statewide. Its overall rating has been volatile, dropping from the 59th percentile in 2023-2024 to the 38th percentile by 2025-2026. Chronic absenteeism is a systemic concern across all three schools, ranging from 21.7% to 28.5%, with North Elementary exceeding the state average. Notably, the two districts serving this zip code differ by nearly 20 percentile points in statewide ranking, suggesting that district-level leadership and resources—not just student demographics—play a significant role in outcomes. Parents should also note the absence of local middle schools, which creates a structural transition gap between elementary and high school that may contribute to learning loss.