Summary:
Zip code 49256 is home to just one elementary school, Morenci Elementary School, which serves grades PK through 5 within the Morenci Area Schools district, enrolling 227 students in a rural Michigan community.
For parents, the most important takeaway is that Morenci Elementary is a well-funded school with small class sizes, yet its academic results lag significantly behind state averages. The school spends a substantial $17,825 per student and maintains a favorable student-teacher ratio of 13.3, indicating that resources and staffing are not the issue. However, proficiency rates on state M-Step tests are consistently low: in 2025-2026, English Language Arts proficiency ranged from just 18.8% in 4th grade to 30% in 5th grade, compared to state averages of 38-44%. Math scores are even more concerning, with 3rd-grade proficiency at only 11.8% versus a state average of 42.9%. The school’s state ranking has also slipped from the 27th percentile in 2024-2025 to the 19th percentile in 2025-2026, meaning it is falling further behind other Michigan schools over time.
There are some bright spots worth noting. Chronic absenteeism at Morenci Elementary is just 18.6%, which is dramatically better than both the district rate (27.3%) and the state average (27.9%)—a strong sign that students are consistently showing up to class. The school also serves a high-poverty population, with 61.23% of students eligible for free or reduced lunch, a factor that often correlates with academic challenges. Performance varies widely by grade and subject, suggesting that some cohorts or teachers may be more effective than others. For example, 4th-grade math proficiency jumped from 20% to 28.1% between school years, while 3rd-grade math dropped from 18.2% to 11.8%. Overall, parents should understand that while this school offers strong attendance and ample resources, the academic outcomes indicate significant room for improvement in instruction and student support.
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