Schools in Zip Code 48915

Zip code 48915 in Lansing, Michigan, is served by two schools within the Lansing Public School District: JW Sexton High School (grades 9-12) and Willow School (grades PK-5), together enrolling 859 students. Both schools serve predominantly low-income families, with roughly 90% of students qualifying for free or reduced lunch, and both face significant academic challenges compared to state averages.

Despite these hurdles, there are notable bright spots. JW Sexton High School posts an impressive 91% graduation rate and a 3.2% dropout rate—both far better than state averages—suggesting strong student persistence. However, its 11th-grade test scores are low, with only 8.7% proficient in SAT Math and 21.4% in Reading/Writing. Willow School excels in 5th-grade Science, where 28.3% of students are proficient, outperforming the district average by 11 points, and also beats the district in 5th-grade ELA (26.1% vs. 20.3%). Willow also showed dramatic year-over-year improvement in 3rd-grade ELA, jumping from 10.4% to 19.1% proficiency.

The most pressing issue is chronic absenteeism: over 63% of students at both schools are chronically absent, more than double the state rate of 27.9%, which likely drives the low proficiency scores. Additionally, per-student spending is high ($24,562 at JW Sexton, $20,784 at Willow), yet outcomes lag, raising questions about resource effectiveness. The absence of a middle school in the zip code means students must transition elsewhere between 5th and 9th grades, potentially disrupting academic progress. While both schools outperform their district in several 2025-2026 metrics, the systemic challenges across Lansing Public School District remain substantial, making attendance and early intervention critical priorities for families.