Best High Schools in Zip Code 48328

Zip code 48328 in Waterford, MI, is served by two high schools within the Waterford School District: Waterford Mott High School and Waterford Durant High School, both covering grades 9-12 but representing vastly different educational paths.

Waterford Mott High School is the larger, traditional option with 963 students and clearly outperforms its counterpart. It holds a 2-star rating, ranks in the 32nd percentile statewide, and posts a graduation rate of 86%—slightly above the state average. However, academic proficiency is a major concern: only 7.7% of 11th graders are proficient in SAT math, and science and social studies scores also lag state averages. Chronic absenteeism affects 41.1% of students, well above the state norm. In contrast, Waterford Durant High School is a small alternative school with just 120 students, a 0-star rating, and a bottom-8th-percentile rank. Its graduation rate is a low 62.3%, and a staggering 77.7% of students are chronically absent—nearly triple the state average.

The most striking finding is the cost-versus-outcome paradox. Waterford Durant spends $29,153 per student—over $10,000 more than Waterford Mott—yet achieves far worse results, likely due to intensive interventions and a tiny 9.7:1 student-teacher ratio that isn't translating into success. Both schools face severe attendance challenges, with even Mott's rate 13 points above the state average. The math proficiency gap at Mott is a critical red flag, suggesting most graduates lack college-ready skills. Ultimately, this zip code presents two distinct realities: Mott serves a mainstream population with moderate challenges, while Durant serves a high-poverty, high-need alternative population, highlighting the immense difficulties alternative schools face in overcoming systemic barriers.