Schools in Zip Code 48240

Zip code 48240 in Redford, MI, is served by 10 schools—including elementary, middle, high, and alternative programs—that collectively educate about 3,052 students, nearly all of whom come from economically disadvantaged households, with free/reduced lunch rates above 55% and several schools exceeding 90%.

For parents, the most important takeaway is that no school in this area performs at or above state averages, but there are meaningful differences between them. David Ellis Academy West stands out as the strongest option: despite serving a 90% poverty population, it posts the lowest chronic absenteeism rate (33.8%) and the best test scores in the zip code—its 4th-grade ELA proficiency (42.3%) nearly matches the state average. In contrast, Keeler School is a stark warning: it spends an extraordinary $72,213 per student yet reports a 0% graduation rate and a 75% dropout rate. Among traditional high schools, Redford Union High School is the most reliable, with a 78.3% graduation rate and a 10.1% dropout rate—both better than the alternative and virtual options like Redford Union Virtual Learning (48.7% graduation) and Veritas (14.8% dropout).

The biggest systemic issue is chronic absenteeism, which is severe across the board: rates range from 33.8% at David Ellis to a staggering 76.8% at Discovery Creative Pathways Redford, with Redford Union Junior High at 60.2%. This likely drives the uniformly low proficiency rates, which are often half the state average or worse. The Redford Union Schools District No. 1 anchors the area with a 1-star rating (11th percentile), and most charter alternatives—including Redford Service Learning Academy Campus, Fostering Leadership Academy, and Beech Elementary—do not outperform the district. The clear lesson is that higher spending does not equal better outcomes, and the most effective local model appears to be David Ellis Academy West, which achieves relative success through engagement rather than expenditure.