Best Elementary Schools in Zip Code 48328

Zip code 48328 in Waterford, Michigan is served by three elementary schools—Donelson Hills Elementary School, Momentum Academy, and Waterford Montessori Academy—which together educate roughly 799 students across grades K-8, offering families a mix of traditional public schooling, a charter academy, and a Montessori charter program.

For parents comparing options, Waterford Montessori Academy stands out academically, especially in upper grades where 7th grade ELA proficiency reaches 64.7% (26 points above the state average) and 8th grade PSAT ELA hits 85.3%. However, its overall ranking dropped sharply from the 71st to 35th percentile in one year, driven by a 43-point collapse in 3rd grade ELA scores—likely a reflection of its small 188-student cohort. Donelson Hills Elementary School serves as the middle performer with a 2-star rating, but shows a troubling weakness in 5th grade math (12.5% proficiency vs. 32.2% state) and science (24% vs. 40% state). Momentum Academy is the most concerning option, holding a 1-star rating with a chronic absenteeism rate of 48.4%—nearly double the state average—which severely undermines its already low test scores.

Economic factors heavily differentiate these schools: Waterford Montessori Academy serves just 38.83% economically disadvantaged students, while Donelson Hills Elementary School (79.85%) and Momentum Academy (87.67%) serve predominantly low-income families. Notably, Waterford School District spends $16,769 per student at Donelson Hills—nearly double the $8,668 at Waterford Montessori—yet achieves lower results, suggesting spending alone doesn't drive outcomes. All three schools exhibit significant year-to-year test volatility, so parents should weigh multi-year trends over single-year snapshots when evaluating these options.