Summary:
Zip code 48460 is home to the New Lothrop Area Public Schools district, which serves the community of New Lothrop, MI, through two schools: New Lothrop Elementary School (grades PK-6) and New Lothrop High School (grades 7-12), with a combined enrollment of 903 students.
Both schools share a strong 4-star district rating, but they shine in different areas. New Lothrop Elementary School is a powerhouse in foundational math, with proficiency rates in grades 3-6 running 15 to 30 percentage points above state averages—for example, 5th-grade math hits 62.4% versus the state's 32.2%. This strong start feeds into the high school, where 7th and 8th-grade math scores also beat state averages. However, New Lothrop High School is the standout for overall student outcomes, boasting a remarkable 98.8% graduation rate and a 1.1% dropout rate, compared to state averages of 84.0% and 7.1%. The high school also excels in 8th-grade science (58.1% proficient vs. 39.2% statewide) and 11th-grade SAT Evidence-Based Reading and Writing (72.7% vs. 52.1% statewide).
Chronic absenteeism is exceptionally low at both schools (7.4% elementary, 10.8% high school) versus the 27.9% state average, indicating high engagement. A notable finding is the spending gap: the high school spends $16,500 per student, while the elementary school spends just $9,825—a 68% difference that raises questions about resource allocation, especially given the elementary school's strong results. The district's relative weaknesses appear in 11th-grade social studies (36.4% vs. 43.2% state) and SAT math (27.3% vs. 26.5% state), suggesting that while literacy and science thrive, advanced math and social studies may need renewed focus in the upper grades.
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