Schools in Zip Code 48202

Zip code 48202 in Detroit, MI, is served by 10 schools—including elementary, middle, high, and alternative programs—that collectively educate about 4,261 students, with the vast majority coming from economically disadvantaged households (free/reduced lunch rates between 64.7% and 82.4%).

For parents, the standout option is Frederick Douglass Academy for Young Men, which posts a perfect 100% graduation rate and 0% dropout rate despite being the smallest school in the area (68 students). It also leads the zip code in Social Studies proficiency (52.6%, above the state average) and spends a remarkable $43,070 per student—more than triple what University Preparatory Academy (PSAD) campuses spend—thanks to a 6.1:1 student-teacher ratio. However, its 67.1% chronic absenteeism rate is the highest in the area, suggesting that while attending students thrive, many others are disengaged. Among district schools, Golightly Education Center is the clear bright spot, beating Detroit Public Schools Community District averages by 2-3x in subjects like 7th grade ELA (48.6% vs. 19.9%) and 4th grade math (36.6% vs. 15.3%).

The most pressing concern across the zip code is math proficiency, which lags far behind ELA at nearly every school. For example, University Preparatory Middle School shows just 4.92% proficiency in 8th grade PSAT math (state average: 33.2%), while University Preparatory Art Design High School posts only 3.64% in 10th grade math—yet its ELA proficiency reaches 33.6%. Chronic absenteeism is another systemic issue, with every school exceeding the state's 27.9% rate; rates range from 38% at University Preparatory High School to 58.1% at University Prep Middle School. Encouragingly, several schools are improving: University Prep Middle School jumped from the 5th to 12th percentile, and Frederick Douglass Academy rose from the 19th to 36th percentile in one year. Parents should weigh strong graduation outcomes against persistent math struggles and attendance challenges when choosing a school.