Best Public Schools in Zip Code 48917

Zip code 48917 in Lansing, Michigan is home to Waverly Senior High School, Insight School of Michigan, Windemere Park Charter Academy, Delta Center Elementary School, Waverly Middle School, East Intermediate School, Winans Elementary School, Elmwood Elementary School, and Meryl S Colt Early Childhood Education Center, serving roughly 4,800 students across elementary, middle, and high school levels in a mix of traditional public, charter, and virtual settings.

For parents, the standout choice in this area is Delta Center Elementary School, part of Grand Ledge Public Schools. It has the lowest chronic absenteeism (13.5%), the lowest free/reduced lunch rate (33%), and test scores that beat state averages in 3rd grade reading and math. In contrast, most schools belong to Waverly Community Schools, which ranks in the bottom 20% of Michigan districts. Within that district, Winans Elementary School struggles most, with only 5.1% of 4th graders proficient in math. A notable exception is Windemere Park Charter Academy, a high-poverty charter that still outperforms state averages in 7th grade reading and 6th grade math, showing that demographics don't dictate results.

The biggest concern is Insight School of Michigan, a virtual school with a 45.4% graduation rate, 73.2% chronic absenteeism, and math proficiency near zero. Even traditional schools here face attendance issues—Waverly Middle School and Meryl S Colt Early Childhood Education Center both exceed 40% chronic absenteeism. Math proficiency declines sharply through the Waverly pipeline, from 25% in 3rd grade to under 9% in 8th grade. However, Elmwood Elementary School shows improvement in 4th grade math and reading, and Meryl S Colt Early Childhood Education Center invests heavily in early learning with a low 8.2:1 student-teacher ratio, offering hope for younger students despite the systemic challenges.