Summary:
Zip code 48185 in Westland, Michigan, is served by 8 schools spanning elementary through high school, including traditional public schools, charter schools, and an alternative academy across three distinct districts: Wayne-Westland Community School District, Livonia Public Schools School District, and two charter/alternative institutions.
Families in this area face a stark choice between two very different public school systems. The Livonia Public Schools options are the clear academic leaders. Hayes Elementary School stands out with a 73rd percentile ranking and 62.8% ELA proficiency, while Cooper Upper Elementary School earns a 4-star rating with strong math scores. Johnson Upper Elementary School also performs well, benefiting from the lowest student-teacher ratio in the area at 13.7:1. By contrast, all three Wayne-Westland Community School District schools—John Glenn High School, Wildwood Elementary School, and Thomas A Edison Elementary School—rank in the bottom 11th percentile statewide, with proficiency gaps of 20-30 percentage points compared to their Livonia neighbors.
Two charter schools offer alternative options with surprising results. Universal Learning Academy achieves a 93.4% graduation rate despite serving the highest poverty population in the area (90.9% free/reduced lunch), proving that high-poverty schools can succeed. American Montessori Academy Upper Elementary shows a dramatic 71.4% reading proficiency but only 10.7% math proficiency—a striking gap parents should investigate. The most pressing concern is chronic absenteeism at John Glenn High School, where 44.5% of students miss significant school time, nearly double the state average. Notably, spending doesn't predict success here: Wildwood Elementary School spends the most per student ($19,751) yet ranks in the bottom quarter, while Hayes Elementary School spends $4,500 less and excels. For parents, school choice within this zip code can mean a 30-40 percentage point difference in proficiency—making district selection the single most important factor.
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