Schools in Zip Code 48629

ZIP code 48629, serving the Houghton Lake area in Michigan, includes three schools within the Houghton Lake Community Schools district, collectively educating 1,076 students from pre-kindergarten through 12th grade in a community facing significant socioeconomic challenges.

For parents, the standout option is Houghton Lake JrSr High School, which is the district's academic leader. It has earned a 3-star rating and ranks in the 55th percentile of Michigan high schools, a dramatic improvement from just a 1-star rating two years ago. Its 91.1% graduation rate far exceeds the state average of 84%, and its dropout rate is a mere 1.4%. The school also outperforms state averages on PSAT assessments for 9th and 10th graders. However, this success is tempered by a 50% chronic absenteeism rate and notable year-over-year declines in 11th-grade science, social studies, and SAT reading/writing scores. In contrast, Collins Elementary School presents a mixed picture: it excels in 6th-grade ELA (49.4% proficiency vs. 37.5% statewide) but struggles significantly in 5th-grade math, where only 7.5% of students are proficient compared to the 32.2% state average—a persistent "math cliff" that has remained low for two consecutive years.

The district's overall 2-star rating masks a stark divide. Houghton Lake Community Education, an alternative high school serving at-risk students, posts a 21.2% graduation rate and an 80.7% chronic absenteeism rate, which dramatically drags down district-wide metrics despite the main high school's strong performance. Chronic absenteeism is a systemic crisis across all three schools, ranging from 34.7% at Collins to 50% at the JrSr High, all well above the 27.9% state average. With 75-89% of students qualifying for free/reduced lunch, the district faces profound challenges, yet the JrSr High's strong graduation outcomes demonstrate that students who attend regularly can succeed.