Best Public Schools in Zip Code 48342

The 48342 zip code area in Pontiac, Michigan is home to 5 schools serving grades K-12, including 3 elementary schools, 1 high school, and 1 alternative school. These schools face significant educational challenges, with low academic performance, high chronic absenteeism, and serving a student population with high levels of economic disadvantage.

Among the standout schools, Pontiac Academy for Excellence, an alternative public charter school, has a relatively high 4-year graduation rate of 82.8% but also a higher dropout rate of 7.6%. In contrast, Great Lakes Academy, a public magnet charter elementary school, has the highest 8th-grade PSAT/English Language Arts proficiency rate at 47.1%, significantly higher than the state average of 64.5%, though its overall state ranking is quite low.

The data reveals stark disparities in academic performance, with the schools in the 48342 zip code generally performing well below state averages in English Language Arts, Math, Science, and Social Studies. Additionally, all schools have very high chronic absenteeism rates, ranging from 29.5% to 29.5%, and extremely high percentages of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch, indicating significant economic disadvantage in the student population. The wide range in spending per student, from $10,766 to $28,399, also raises questions about the efficient allocation of resources and the impact of funding on student outcomes.