Best Elementary Schools in Zip Code 49454

Zip code 49454, encompassing Scottville, MI, is home to 2 elementary schools serving grades K-5, both part of the Mason County Central Schools district, which holds a 1-star rating and ranks in the 25th percentile statewide.

These two schools operate as a feeder system, with Scottville Elementary School serving grades K-2 (211 students) and Mason County Central Upper Elementary serving grades 3-5 (258 students). The upper elementary is the only school with recent testing data, and its results reveal significant academic challenges. Proficiency rates in English Language Arts range from 17.6% (3rd grade) to 22.7% (5th grade), while math proficiency drops dramatically from 25% in 3rd grade to just 6.8% in 5th grade—all well below state averages. The school's ranking has slipped from the 22nd percentile (2023-2024) to the 13th percentile (2025-2026), indicating that while absolute scores may be improving slightly, other schools are advancing faster. Scottville Elementary, with no recent test data, shows a higher poverty rate (71% free/reduced lunch) and higher chronic absenteeism (18.1%) compared to the upper elementary (60% and 13.2%, respectively).

Notable differences exist between the two campuses. Scottville Elementary spends more per student ($14,645 vs. $12,905) but has a higher student-teacher ratio (18:1 vs. 16.8:1). Chronic absenteeism at the upper elementary (13.2%) is a bright spot, roughly half the district average (26.2%), though Scottville's rate (18.1%) is higher. Both schools serve predominantly low-income populations, and the district's performance consistently trails state proficiency averages by 50-80% across subjects. The steep decline in math proficiency from 3rd to 5th grade suggests cumulative learning gaps may be forming, though the lack of recent testing data for K-2 students creates a blind spot in understanding where these gaps originate. Parents should be aware that while attendance at the upper elementary is strong, academic proficiency remains a significant concern across all subjects and grade levels.