Best Public Schools in Zip Code 49509

Zip code 49509 in Wyoming, Michigan, is served by 9 schools across three districts—Wyoming Public Schools, Godfrey-Lee Public Schools, and Godwin Heights Public Schools—covering elementary through high school grades for roughly 4,172 students in an area with very high economic need, where free/reduced lunch rates average about 88%.

For parents, the standout traditional high school is Wyoming High School, which posts the best graduation rate (86.8%) among standard high schools, the lowest dropout rate (5.0%), and the largest enrollment at 1,273 students. However, Lee High School actually beats it with a 89.7% graduation rate—the highest in the entire zip code—despite serving a student body with 90% economic disadvantage. At the elementary level, Oriole Park Elementary School is a rising star, jumping from the 16th to 28th percentile in one year and posting 4th grade ELA proficiency (37.1%) that nearly matches the state average. In contrast, East Lee Campus is a serious concern: its 39% graduation rate, 21.9% dropout rate, and 72.2% chronic absenteeism are all far worse than state averages, suggesting this alternative school needs immediate restructuring.

Chronic absenteeism splits sharply by district—Wyoming Intermediate (41.3%) and Wyoming High (52.3%) far exceed the state rate of 27.9%, while most Godfrey-Lee schools beat the state average, with Godfrey Elementary School at just 19.0%. Math proficiency is a systemic weakness everywhere, with 11th grade SAT math at 11.8-16.1% versus the state's 26.5%, and 8th grade PSAT math at only 9.2% at Lee Middle School. Spending shows no clear payoff—GodfreyLee Early Childhood Center spends the most ($21,581/student) but serves only PK-2, while Wyoming High spends the least ($14,511) yet achieves the best outcomes. The middle school transition appears to be a weak point, as Wyoming Intermediate shows 5th grade ELA at just 21.4% and math at 12.1%, both far below state averages.