Best Middle Schools in Zip Code 48842

Middle Schools in zip code 48842 (Holt, MI) consist of two schools within the Holt Public Schools district, serving grades 5 through 8 and enrolling roughly 1,059 students combined.

These two schools form a clear feeder pattern, with Washington Woods Middle School covering grades 5-6 and Holt Junior High School covering grades 7-8. The most striking finding is the dramatic difference in performance between the two. Washington Woods, which spends more per student ($18,438 vs. $16,277) and has a better student-teacher ratio (14.3 vs. 16.8), is struggling significantly. Its 5th-grade math proficiency is a catastrophic 5.6% compared to the state average of 32.2%, and its science and social studies scores are similarly low. While 6th graders show improvement, they still lag state averages. In contrast, Holt Junior High shows a positive upward trend in its state ranking over the last three years, moving from the 42nd to the 51st percentile. Its 8th graders excel in PSAT English Language Arts with a 67.8% proficiency rate, beating the state average, but this strength is offset by a critically low 22.1% proficiency in PSAT math.

Both schools face significant challenges with student well-being. Chronic absenteeism is high at both schools, with Holt Junior High at 30.1% and Washington Woods at 26.4%, both above the state average. Economic disadvantage is also prevalent, with roughly 42-46% of students at each school eligible for free or reduced lunch. The data reveals a "roller coaster" pattern of academic performance across grade levels, suggesting inconsistent curriculum alignment. The most concerning takeaway is a systemic math crisis that begins in 5th grade and persists through 8th grade, despite Washington Woods having more resources. The high spending at Washington Woods is not translating into academic success, indicating that the issue may lie in curriculum effectiveness or instructional quality rather than a lack of funding.