Summary:
Zip code 49744 is home to a single public elementary school, Wilson Elementary, which serves grades K-5 with 220 students in the Alpena Public Schools district.
For parents considering this area, Wilson Elementary is the only educational option within the zip code, so its performance defines the local landscape. The school currently holds a 44th percentile state ranking (2 stars), placing it in the lower half of Michigan schools. However, this ranking has been volatile—it jumped to the 55th percentile in the 2024-2025 school year before dropping back down. Academically, the school shows a striking split by grade level. In the most recent testing year, 3rd graders excelled in math (65% proficient, far above the state's 42.9%) and performed reasonably in ELA (45% proficient). But by 5th grade, proficiency collapsed to just 22.2% in math and 16.7% in ELA—both dramatically below state averages. Science scores followed a similar pattern, falling from 56.3% proficiency the prior year to 30.6%.
On the positive side, chronic absenteeism at Wilson is remarkably low at 10.6%, compared to a staggering 44.0% district-wide and 27.9% statewide—a sign of strong attendance habits. The school also maintains a favorable student-teacher ratio of 14.7:1 and spends $13,934 per student, which is relatively high. However, 55% of students qualify for free or reduced lunch, indicating a majority come from economically disadvantaged backgrounds. The sharp year-over-year declines in upper-grade scores, combined with middling overall performance despite solid resources, suggest parents should look closely at how the school supports students as they move from primary to upper elementary grades. The low absenteeism is a strong foundation, but the academic volatility in 5th grade warrants attention.
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