Summary:
Zip code 48604 in Saginaw, Michigan, is served by five schools—three elementary schools, one middle school, and one high school—that collectively educate approximately 2,310 students across three districts, with nearly all students facing significant economic disadvantage.
For parents exploring options in this area, North Saginaw Charter Academy stands out as the strongest academic performer despite having the lowest per-student spending ($12,579) and the highest rate of economic disadvantage (95.4% free/reduced lunch). This charter school outperforms its neighbors in most subjects and grade levels, with 8th-grade PSAT ELA scores (53.7%) approaching the state average. In contrast, Zilwaukee School spends the most per student ($21,965) yet ranks in the 16th percentile statewide, highlighting a spending-achievement paradox. Within the Carrollton Public Schools district, Carrollton High School maintains an impressive 89.5% graduation rate and a 2.3% dropout rate—both better than state averages—despite very low PSAT math scores (4.96% proficiency for 9th graders). Carrollton Middle School showed the most improvement, jumping 8 percentile points in state ranking, while Carrollton Elementary School has the lowest chronic absenteeism rate (33.8%) in the area.
The most pressing concern across all five schools is chronic absenteeism, which ranges from 33.8% to 50.6%—far exceeding the state average of 27.9%. Math proficiency is alarmingly low, with middle school scores between 5.9% and 7.8% proficiency, and year-over-year test scores fluctuate dramatically due to small class sizes. However, science and social studies scores are relatively stronger, with Carrollton Middle School achieving 49% proficiency in 8th-grade social studies, nearly matching the state average. Despite the challenges of serving a predominantly low-income community, these schools demonstrate resilience, with some achieving near-state-average results in specific subjects.
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