Best High Schools in Zip Code 48326

Zip code 48326 in Auburn Hills, Michigan, is served by two high schools within the Avondale School District: a large comprehensive high school and a very small alternative program for 12th graders.

Avondale High School is the clear academic anchor of the area, enrolling 911 students in grades 9-12 and serving over 99% of the high school population in the zip code. The school posts a strong 90.9% graduation rate, which is dramatically higher than the district's overall 70.4% rate and above the state average of 84.0%. Its dropout rate of 3.7% is roughly half the state average. However, the school shows a consistent weakness in mathematics, with only 19% of 11th graders proficient in SAT math and similar low proficiency rates (19-22.5%) across all grade levels—trailing state averages by 7-13 percentage points. English Language Arts performance is comparatively stronger, with 9th and 10th grade PSAT ELA proficiency rates (53.8% and 56.7%) approaching or exceeding state averages. Chronic absenteeism affects 22.4% of students, better than the state's 27.9% but still concerning. The school serves a moderately diverse socioeconomic population, with 39.85% of students qualifying for free/reduced lunch.

By contrast, Avondale Learning Center is a specialized alternative program serving just 8 twelfth-grade students with an exceptionally low 2.5:1 student-teacher ratio. Its per-student spending of $5,230 is only one-third of the main high school's $15,627, suggesting it operates as a lean credit-recovery or independent-study pathway rather than a full-service school. The Learning Center does not report test scores or free/reduced lunch data, indicating it likely doesn't participate in standard state assessments. The stark contrast between these two schools—one large and traditional, the other tiny and flexible—means families in this zip code have very different educational options depending on student needs. The district itself holds a 2-star rating and ranks in the 38th percentile statewide, with Avondale High School consistently outperforming district averages across all tested subjects by 2-4 percentage points.