Best High Schools in Zip Code 48867

Zip code 48867, serving the Owosso, Michigan area, is home to two high schools—Owosso High School and Lincoln Alternative High School—both part of the Owosso Public Schools district, which ranks in the 34th percentile statewide.

For parents, the most important takeaway is the stark contrast between these two schools. Owosso High School is the district’s main comprehensive school with 805 students and is the clear standout for stability and success. It holds a 2-star rating, has a graduation rate of 92.5%—well above the state’s 84.0%—and a dropout rate of just 1.0%. Its academic proficiency, while below state averages (14.1% in SAT Math vs. 26.5% statewide), is still far stronger than its alternative counterpart. In contrast, Lincoln Alternative High School serves 131 students with much higher needs: 74.8% are economically disadvantaged, and 52.5% are chronically absent. Its graduation rate is a troubling 48.2%, and its dropout rate of 17.8% is more than double the state average. The school holds a 0-star rating and ranked in the bottom 5% of Michigan high schools in its last recorded year.

Perhaps the most surprising finding is the resource allocation. Lincoln Alternative High School, which serves the most vulnerable students, actually has a higher student-teacher ratio (26:1) and lower per-student spending ($13,290) than Owosso High School ($15,401 per student, 17.3:1 ratio). This suggests the students who need the most individualized attention are getting the least. Chronic absenteeism is a district-wide concern—Owosso High’s rate of 30.5% already exceeds the state average—but it is especially acute at Lincoln, where nearly one in two students is chronically absent. While Owosso High demonstrates the district can produce strong outcomes, the alternative school’s struggles point to systemic challenges in how alternative education is funded and supported.