Summary:
Zip code 49048 in Kalamazoo, Michigan, is served by 8 schools spanning elementary through high school, including traditional public schools, a STEM academy, and specialized alternative programs across three districts: Comstock Public Schools, Kalamazoo Public Schools, and Kalamazoo Regional Educational Service Agency.
The standout school in this area is STEM Academy, which ranks in the 96th percentile statewide and earns a 5-star rating. Its academic results are dramatically higher than neighboring schools—for example, 5th grade ELA proficiency is 85.7% at STEM Academy versus just 14.4% at Comstock Elementary School. STEM Academy also has the lowest chronic absenteeism rate (12.1%) and the lowest poverty rate (26.2%) in the district. In contrast, Comstock High School has seen its state ranking plummet from the 48th to the 21st percentile over two years, with SAT math proficiency at just 7.9%. Comstock Middle School and Comstock Elementary School also struggle, with chronic absenteeism near or above 50% and test scores in the single digits at several grade levels. Northeastern Elementary School, despite having the highest poverty rate (93.9%), outperforms Comstock Elementary on most measures. Comstock Compass High School serves nearly as many students as the traditional high school, with a 46.9% graduation rate.
For parents, the most important takeaway is that school choice within this zip code matters enormously. STEM Academy demonstrates that high achievement is possible even within a district where most schools rank in the bottom 20th percentile. The specialized programs at Youth Center School and Valley Center School serve students with intensive needs, spending over $93,000 per student with very low student-teacher ratios. Chronic absenteeism is a district-wide crisis except at STEM Academy, and this appears closely tied to academic outcomes. The sharp decline at Comstock High School warrants immediate attention from families considering that school.
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