Summary:
Zip code 48843 in Howell, Michigan, is served by 7 elementary-level schools (including one K-8 school) spanning grades K-5 or K-8, with six schools belonging to Howell Public Schools and one independent charter, Charyl Stockwell Academy.
For parents, the standout choice is Charyl Stockwell Academy, which leads the area academically (80th percentile statewide), has the lowest chronic absenteeism (25.7%), the lowest free/reduced lunch rate (15.09%), and the lowest per-student spending ($11,531)—proving efficiency and excellence can go hand-in-hand. Among traditional public schools, Challenger Elementary School shows the most dramatic improvement, jumping from the 53rd to 73rd percentile in two years, with strong 5th-grade scores (63.9% ELA, 52.8% math). Parker Middle School (K-8) posts the highest 5th-grade proficiency in the zip code (70% ELA, 65% math) but has the largest class sizes (21.9:1). Northwest Elementary School spends the most per student ($19,237) yet only ranks mid-pack, while Southwest Elementary School and Voyager Elementary School struggle with chronic absenteeism above 43%—nearly half their students missing significant school time.
The biggest red flag across the area is attendance: every school except Charyl Stockwell exceeds the state's chronic absenteeism average of 27.9%, with Three Fires Elementary at 37.2% and Southwest at 44.4%. This likely explains the volatile year-to-year test scores, such as Southwest's 3rd-grade ELA dropping from 49.5% to 28.4%. While socioeconomic factors correlate with performance (higher free/reduced lunch schools like Southwest and Three Fires generally lag), Challenger (29% FRL) outperforms expectations, showing that school culture matters. For parents, Charyl Stockwell Academy is the clear academic leader, Challenger is the rising star, and schools like Southwest and Voyager need urgent attendance interventions to unlock their potential.
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