Summary:
Zip code 48461 is home to a single elementary school, North Branch Elementary School, which serves grades Pre-Kindergarten through 4th grade within the North Branch Area Schools district, enrolling 964 students in a primarily rural area of Michigan.
As the only elementary school in this zip code, North Branch Elementary stands out for its strong academic performance. In the most recent testing year (2025-2026), the school significantly outperforms state averages in every subject and grade level tested. For example, 3rd-grade English Language Arts (ELA) proficiency is 64.5% compared to the state average of 38.2%, and 3rd-grade math proficiency is 65.1% versus the state's 42.9%. Similarly, 4th-grade math proficiency is 60.6% versus the state's 39.4%. This academic success has earned the school a 4-star rating and a state ranking of 198th out of 1,492 elementary schools in Michigan, placing it in the top 13% statewide. The school also maintains a lower chronic absenteeism rate (19.7%) than both the district (21.3%) and the state (27.9%), indicating strong student engagement. Per-student spending is $12,731, and the student-teacher ratio is 17.1.
One of the most notable findings is the school's ability to achieve high test scores despite having 42.95% of its students eligible for free/reduced lunch, suggesting effective support for economically disadvantaged learners. There was also dramatic year-over-year growth in 3rd-grade scores, with ELA proficiency jumping from 48.2% to 64.5% and math from 56.6% to 65.1%. However, 4th-grade ELA proficiency dipped slightly from 59.6% to 53.5%, an area to watch. Since North Branch Elementary is the only elementary school in the district serving these grades, its performance directly reflects the district's elementary education efforts, making it a solid choice for parents seeking a high-achieving school in the area.
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