Schools in Zip Code 48357

ZIP code 48357 in Highland, Michigan, is served by three schools within the Huron Valley Schools district, educating roughly 1,933 students from kindergarten through 12th grade.

Milford High School is the clear academic leader in this area, consistently ranking in the 84th to 88th percentile statewide and earning a 4-star rating. Its 93.5% graduation rate far exceeds the state average, and students perform exceptionally well in science, social studies, and reading, with proficiency rates 14 to 19 points above state averages. However, math remains a relative weakness, with only 30.7% of 11th graders proficient on the SAT Math section. Among the elementary schools, Heritage Elementary School is the stronger performer, with notably low chronic absenteeism at 13.7% (half the state average) and solid 3rd-grade proficiency rates of 54.3% in ELA and 71.4% in math. In contrast, Highland Elementary School serves a significantly more economically disadvantaged population, with a 55.82% free/reduced lunch rate—more than double its sister school—and consequently struggles with higher absenteeism (29.3%) and lower test scores, despite receiving the highest per-student funding ($17,849) and maintaining the smallest class sizes.

The most striking finding is a systemic math decline between 3rd and 5th grade at both elementary schools. Heritage drops from 71.4% proficiency in 3rd-grade math to just 25.9% in 5th grade, while Highland falls from 55.6% to 20.0%—both ending below the state average. This pattern likely contributes to Milford High's comparatively weaker math scores and suggests a district-wide curriculum challenge in upper elementary mathematics. Additionally, Highland Elementary shows significant year-to-year score volatility due to its small student population, making single-year comparisons less reliable. For parents, this area offers a strong high school experience and a solid elementary option at Heritage, but families should be aware of the math proficiency decline that emerges in later elementary grades across the district.