Best Elementary Schools in Zip Code 48444

Zip code 48444 in Imlay City, Michigan, is served by two elementary schools within the Imlay City Community Schools district, which together educate 785 students in grades Pre-K through 5th.

These two schools form a natural feeder pattern, with Weston Elementary School covering the early grades (PK–2nd) and Borland Elementary School serving upper elementary (3rd–5th). The most striking difference between the two is in attendance: Weston has a chronic absenteeism rate of 34.2%, dramatically higher than Borland's 22.0% and above both district and state averages. This is particularly concerning because students arriving at Borland in 3rd grade may already be behind due to missed instructional time. Interestingly, Weston spends significantly more per student ($16,772 vs. $13,904) and maintains a much lower student-teacher ratio (14.6:1 vs. 20.2:1), yet these additional resources haven't translated into better attendance outcomes. Both schools serve predominantly low-income populations, with 62.47% of Weston students and 58.84% of Borland students qualifying for free/reduced lunch.

Since state testing begins in 3rd grade, only Borland Elementary School has test score data available. The school shows genuine pockets of excellence, particularly in 4th grade math where 51.9% of students are proficient—a remarkable 12.5 points above the state average and a 7.2-point improvement over the previous year. Borland's 3rd and 4th grade students also meet or exceed state averages in ELA. However, there's a consistent and troubling pattern of decline in 5th grade across all subjects. In 2025–26, 5th graders scored below state averages in ELA (37.1% vs. 43.8%), math (27.1% vs. 32.2%), science (31.8% vs. 40.0%), and social studies (21.1% vs. 27.5%). This 5th grade slump persisted across both years of data, suggesting a structural issue with curriculum alignment or instructional support at that grade level rather than a one-year cohort anomaly. Year-over-year scores also show notable volatility in 3rd grade, with ELA dropping 5.5 points and math dropping 6.4 points, which may reflect differences between student cohorts.