Best High Schools in Zip Code 49707

Zip code 49707, serving the Alpena, Michigan area, is home to two public high schools within the Alpena Public Schools district, offering a combined range of grades 7 through 12 and catering to a community with significant economic diversity.

For parents, the choice here is stark. Alpena High School is the clear academic leader, a large, traditional school of over 1,000 students that earns a 3-star rating and ranks in the top half of Michigan high schools. It outperforms state averages in reading, writing, science, and social studies, making it a solid choice for college-bound students. However, its biggest red flag is a staggering 74.2% chronic absenteeism rate—nearly triple the state average—which suggests a widespread engagement problem despite decent test scores. In contrast, ACES Academy is a tiny alternative school (57 students) with a 0-star rating and a 5th percentile state rank. Its graduation rate is just 44.8%, and its dropout rate is 27.5%, reflecting its mission to serve highly at-risk students. While ACES offers a much better 8:1 student-teacher ratio and spends nearly as much per pupil as Alpena High, its academic outcomes remain critically low, showing that funding and small classes alone cannot overcome the severe challenges its students face.

The most important takeaway is that these two schools are not comparable in a traditional sense. Alpena High provides strong instruction for students who show up, but its absenteeism crisis is a serious concern that could undermine future performance. ACES Academy is a last-resort option with poor completion metrics, though its lower chronic absenteeism (41.8%) suggests that its regular attendees are more engaged. For parents, if your child is motivated and attends consistently, Alpena High is the clear choice. If your child needs intensive support due to past struggles, ACES may offer a smaller, more personalized environment, but you should be aware of its very low success rates. The district as a whole is dragged down by these extremes, masking the fact that Alpena High’s core academics are actually quite effective for its present students.