Best Elementary Schools in Zip Code 48604

Zip code 48604 in Saginaw, Michigan is served by three elementary schools—North Saginaw Charter Academy, Carrollton Elementary School, and Zilwaukee School—which together span pre-kindergarten through 8th grade and enroll roughly 1,500 students, nearly all of whom come from low-income households.

For parents comparing options, North Saginaw Charter Academy stands out as the strongest academic choice. Despite having the highest poverty rate (95.4% free/reduced lunch) and the lowest per-student spending ($12,579), it posts the best state ranking (25th percentile) and leads in ELA proficiency at nearly every grade level—for example, 30.7% of 3rd graders and 35.4% of 4th graders meet state standards, compared to just 13.7% and 33.0% at Carrollton Elementary School. Zilwaukee School, the smallest with only 194 students, shows the most volatile results due to tiny cohorts, though it spends the most per pupil ($21,965) and has the lowest student-teacher ratio (14.9:1). Carrollton Elementary School falls in the middle on spending ($19,349) but ranks lowest academically (15th percentile) and shows declining math and science scores.

A critical concern across all three schools is chronic absenteeism, which ranges from 33.8% at Carrollton Elementary School to 50.6% at North Saginaw Charter Academy—far above the 27.9% state average. This likely explains why even the best local scores trail state benchmarks. Science and social studies are especially weak, with 5th grade proficiency below 18% in both subjects at most schools. Notably, all three schools show a "4th grade bump" in reading, suggesting a developmental or curriculum milestone. North Saginaw Charter Academy also serves grades 7-8, where its 8th graders achieve 53.7% proficiency in PSAT ELA but only 25.4% in math, revealing a widening gap. Parents should weigh academic performance, class sizes, and attendance challenges when choosing among these schools, each operating under a different district—North Saginaw Charter Academy, Carrollton Public Schools, and Saginaw School District of the City of.