Summary:
The 12 schools serving the 48910 zip code in the Lansing, Michigan area span elementary through high school and include a mix of traditional public schools, charter academies, and alternative programs, all serving a predominantly economically disadvantaged population where free/reduced lunch rates range from roughly 65% to 93%.
For parents, the standout success story is Cavanaugh School, which has climbed from the 17th to the 73rd percentile statewide over the past 15 years. Despite 81% of its students qualifying for free/reduced lunch, Cavanaugh's 3rd grade ELA and math proficiency rates (56.1% each) beat state averages by 13-18 points and outperform the Lansing Public School District by more than 30 points. Everett High School also shines with a 95% graduation rate—11 points above the state—despite 89% economic disadvantage. Among alternatives, Capital Area K12 Online achieves a perfect 100% graduation rate, while LifeTech Academy posts strong test scores in lower grades (5th grade ELA at 60.5% vs. 43.8% statewide) even though its graduation rate lags at 48%.
The biggest red flag is chronic absenteeism, which runs 34.5% to 78.5% across schools—far above the 27.9% state average. Beekman Center (78.5%) and Lansing Learning Hub (74.3%) are the most affected. A troubling "middle school slide" emerges at Mt Hope School, where 4th grade ELA proficiency is just 6.25% and 6th grade math hits 4.12%—roughly 28 points below state averages. By 11th grade, Everett High School SAT math proficiency drops to 8.1%. Notably, spending doesn't predict success: Cavanaugh spends $23,372 per student while Cole Academy and LifeTech achieve respectable results at roughly $10,600 per student. Holly Park Academy and Cole Academy have the lowest absenteeism (around 35%) and tend to perform relatively better, suggesting attendance may be the most impactful lever for improvement in this area.
Thank you for your feedback!