Best High Schools in Zip Code 48854

Zip code 48854 is home to Mason High School and three specialized Ingham Independent School District (Isd) programs, serving grades 9-12 across a mix of one large traditional high school and three very small alternative life-skills schools.

For families seeking a traditional high school experience, Mason High School is the clear choice and a standout performer. It ranks 97th out of 800 Michigan high schools (88th percentile) with a 4-star rating, and it has improved dramatically from a rank of 151 last year. Academically, it beats state averages in every subject by wide margins—most notably in science (+21 points) and social studies (+19 points). Its graduation rate is strong at 90.4%, and its dropout rate of 2.7% is less than half the state average. However, two areas warrant attention: only 35.5% of 11th graders are proficient in SAT math (compared to 68.2% in reading/writing), and chronic absenteeism runs at 30.1%, which is above the state average despite the school’s high achievement. The school serves a relatively affluent population, with just 20.4% of students receiving free/reduced lunch, and it operates under the well-regarded Mason Public Schools (Ingham) district, which ranks in the 78th percentile statewide.

The three SAIL schools—SAIL Skills for Adult Independent Living, SAIL Lansing, and SAIL Waverly—serve a fundamentally different purpose. These are intensive special education programs for students with significant disabilities, focusing on independent living skills rather than academics. With enrollments of just 9 to 13 students and student-teacher ratios between 6:1 and 9:1, they offer highly individualized support. Their free/reduced lunch rates (33-38%) are higher than Mason’s, reflecting a more economically diverse student body. Standard test scores and graduation data are largely unavailable for these programs, which is typical given their specialized nature. In short, this zip code offers two very different educational paths: a high-achieving, college-prep high school and three small, nurturing life-skills programs for students with unique needs.