Best Elementary Schools in Zip Code 49601

Zip code 49601 in Cadillac, Michigan is served by two elementary schools—Franklin Elementary School and Lincoln Elementary School—both part of the Cadillac Area Public Schools district, which ranks in the 69th percentile statewide.

Franklin Elementary is the larger school with 563 students in grades PK-5, while Lincoln serves 480 students in grades K-5. Franklin currently holds the higher overall rating (3 stars) and outperforms Lincoln in most academic areas, particularly in 3rd grade where Franklin posts 48.8% ELA proficiency versus Lincoln's 28.6%, and 51.2% math proficiency versus Lincoln's 38.5%. However, the two schools are on opposite trajectories. Franklin has slipped from the 75th to the 57th percentile over three years, while Lincoln has surged from the 35th to the 55th percentile in the same period. Lincoln's improvement is especially visible in 5th grade math, which jumped from 23.9% to 41.1% proficiency year-over-year—now actually exceeding Franklin's 5th grade math score of 28.8%. Franklin's 5th grade math collapse is dramatic, dropping from 74.7% to 28.8% in a single year, a decline that warrants attention from parents considering that grade level.

Both schools face similar challenges: chronic absenteeism hovers around 21% (below the state average of 27.9%), and social studies proficiency is weak at both schools (21% at Franklin, 26% at Lincoln, both below the state's 27.5%). Lincoln serves a higher percentage of economically disadvantaged students (63.96% free/reduced lunch versus 55.77% at Franklin) yet spends slightly more per student ($14,351 versus $14,123). Despite Franklin's current edge, Lincoln's rapid improvement and narrowing gap suggest it may soon become the stronger choice. Parents should weigh Franklin's stronger early-grade performance against Lincoln's momentum and consider visiting both schools to assess which environment best fits their child's needs.