Best Public Schools in Zip Code 48170

The 48170 zip code, encompassing Plymouth and parts of Canton, Michigan, is served by 12 schools—including elementary, middle, and high school levels—that collectively educate roughly 5,800 students across the Plymouth-Canton Community Schools district, the Ivywood Classical Academy charter network, and the independent Plymouth Scholars Charter Academy district.

For parents, the standout choice is Plymouth Scholars Charter Academy, which ranks #4 in the state and posts proficiency rates roughly double the state average in nearly every subject—for example, 90% of 5th graders are proficient in ELA versus the state’s 44%. Among traditional public schools, East Middle School leads the pack at the 98th percentile statewide, with 8th grade math proficiency (74%) that is 29 points higher than Liberty Middle School (45%), despite both being in the same district. At the elementary level, Isbister Elementary and Smith Elementary are the strongest performers, while Bird Elementary and Farrand Elementary are solid but more average. The Ivywood Classical Academy Genoa Cr Site performs above state averages, but its sister campus, the Ivywood Classical Academy Ridge Rd Site, shows a 35% chronic absenteeism rate that raises concerns.

The biggest red flag is Starkweather Academy Fiegel, an alternative high school with a 60.6% graduation rate, 79.7% chronic absenteeism, and SAT proficiency scores far below state averages—despite spending the most per student ($24,461) in the area. In contrast, Pioneer Middle School and West Middle School both rank in the 91st–95th percentile, showing that strong outcomes are achievable across the district. Notably, money does not predict success: Plymouth Scholars spends the least ($11,510/student) yet achieves the best results, while higher-spending schools like Farrand Elementary lag behind. For families, this means school-by-school choices matter far more than district averages, and the area offers excellent options—especially at Plymouth Scholars and East Middle—but also stark disparities that warrant careful investigation.