Schools in Zip Code 48506

Zip code 48506 in Flint, Michigan is served by 8 schools—3 elementary, 3 middle, and 2 high schools—spanning the Kearsley Community School District, the Flint School District of the City of, and the Richfield Public School Academy district, with all schools facing high economic disadvantage (free/reduced lunch rates from 69.6% to 95.9%).

For parents, the standout option is Kearsley High School, which despite its 69.6% poverty rate, posts a strong 80.2% graduation rate (well above its district's 70.0%), exceeds state averages in science (50% vs. 34.9%) and social studies (59.9% vs. 42.1%), and reached the 76th percentile statewide in 2024-2025. Among middle schools, Armstrong Middle School is the most reliable choice, with 8th grade PSAT English Language Arts proficiency at 60.9% (close to the state's 64.8%) and a ranking that improved to 587th of 896 Michigan middle schools. In contrast, Richfield Public School Academy is a major concern—ranked in the 4th percentile statewide, with proficiency rates in single digits across most subjects and a 95.9% poverty rate, the highest in the area. The elementary picture is mixed: Leota Fiedler Elementary School and Kate Dowdall Elementary School outperform Potter School, where 3rd grade reading proficiency is just 8.8% versus the state's 38.2%.

The most pressing issue across all schools is chronic absenteeism, ranging from 31.3% at Kate Dowdall Elementary School to a staggering 77.5% at Potter School—nearly three times the state rate of 27.9%. Potter School also presents a spending paradox: it spends $25,569 per student (the highest in the zip code) yet has a 34:1 student-teacher ratio and some of the lowest test scores, suggesting funds aren't translating to classroom support. Meanwhile, Kearsley Virtual Academy shows a 29.1% graduation rate and 33.3% dropout rate, indicating virtual learning is failing this population. For families, the clearest takeaway is that Kearsley High School and Armstrong Middle School offer the best academic outcomes, while addressing absenteeism and early-grade gaps at Kate Dowdall Elementary School and Leota Fiedler Elementary School would benefit the entire community.