Summary:
Zip code 49431, serving the Ludington, Michigan area, is home to five public schools spanning elementary through high school, including traditional district schools, an early college program, and an alternative school, with a total enrollment of roughly 2,200 students.
For parents, the standout option is Ludington High School, which ranks in the 87th percentile statewide and posts a 90.1% graduation rate, well above the state average. It also leads the area in SAT scores, with 63.8% proficiency in reading and writing and 37.7% in math, and it shows a remarkable 17-point advantage over the state in social studies. The Academy of Science Math and Technology Early College High School achieves a perfect 100% graduation rate with just 45 students, though its 40.2% chronic absenteeism rate is a concern. At the other end of the spectrum, Developmental Classrooms WSESD serves students with the most intensive needs, spending over $151,000 per student with a 5.8:1 student-teacher ratio, but reports a 0% graduation rate. The Ludington Area School District overall earns a 4-star rating and ranks 131st out of 625 Michigan districts, placing it in the upper quartile.
A key trend is the dramatic improvement in 6th grade math at OJ DeJonge Middle School, which jumped 16.8 percentage points to 45.9% proficiency in one year, even as 5th grade math at Ludington Elementary School declined. However, chronic absenteeism nearly doubles from elementary (13.4%) to middle school (25.7%), signaling a critical engagement drop. While middle and high school scores are stable or improving, Ludington Elementary showed declines across every subject and grade level, which could create a future pipeline problem. Notably, all three traditional district schools consistently outperform the state in social studies, suggesting a district-wide strength in that subject.
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