Summary:
Zip code 48460 is home to a single elementary school, New Lothrop Elementary School, which serves grades PK through 6 and is part of the highly rated New Lothrop Area Public Schools district.
For parents considering this area, New Lothrop Elementary stands out as a strong academic choice. The school consistently outperforms Michigan state averages in nearly every subject and grade level. Its biggest strength is mathematics, where proficiency rates are dramatically higher than the state—for example, 62.4% of 5th graders are proficient in math compared to just 32.2% statewide, and 4th grade math proficiency hits 61.4% versus 39.4% statewide. English Language Arts performance is also solid, with 4th and 5th grade proficiency rates of 55.7% and 51.8%, respectively, both well above state averages. The school holds a 4-star rating and ranks in the 77th percentile of Michigan elementary schools. One area to watch is 6th grade ELA, where proficiency (36.7%) dips slightly below the state average (37.5%), suggesting a possible transition challenge as students approach middle school coursework.
Beyond test scores, the school shows several positive indicators. Chronic absenteeism is remarkably low at just 7.4%, compared to a 27.9% state average, meaning students are consistently in class. With a student-teacher ratio of 16.3 and per-student spending of $9,825, the school achieves above-average results without exceptionally high funding, pointing to efficient resource use. About 37% of students qualify for free or reduced lunch, reflecting a moderately diverse socioeconomic mix. While test scores fluctuate somewhat year to year—likely due to small class sizes—the overall picture is of a well-run, high-performing school that provides a strong educational foundation for elementary-aged children in this rural Michigan community.
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