Summary:
Zip code 49306, covering the Belmont, Michigan area, is home to just two schools—both elementary-level institutions—that together serve students from pre-kindergarten through 8th grade, with no secondary schools located within the zip code itself.
Families in this area have access to two exceptional but distinct educational options. Chandler Woods Charter Academy is the larger of the two, serving 741 students in grades PK-8, and stands as an academic powerhouse with a #2 district ranking statewide and a top-15 school ranking in Michigan. Its performance actually improves as students advance, with 6th-grade math proficiency reaching 91.1% and 8th-grade PSAT math scores hitting 82.1%—nearly 2.5 times the state average. Meanwhile, Belmont Elementary School, part of the highly regarded Rockford Public Schools district, serves 277 students in grades K-5 and ranks #60 among Michigan elementary schools. Belmont actually outperforms its own district in early grades, with 3rd-grade ELA proficiency at 76.2% versus the district's 67%.
Both schools dramatically exceed state averages, with proficiency rates roughly 1.5 to 3 times higher across every subject and grade level. However, they take different approaches: Belmont spends $3,378 more per student ($15,263 vs. $11,885) and maintains a lower student-teacher ratio (16.9:1 vs. 21.9:1), while Chandler Woods achieves superior rankings with more efficient resource use. Chronic absenteeism is remarkably low at both schools—10.3% at Chandler Woods and just 5.7% at Belmont, compared to the state's 27.9%—and both have improved their statewide rankings for three consecutive years. The main consideration for parents is the transition point: Belmont families must seek middle school options outside the zip code after 5th grade, while Chandler Woods carries students through 8th grade, potentially offering greater continuity during the critical middle school years.
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