Summary:
Zip code 49766, serving the rural Ossineke area of Michigan, is home to just one school: Sanborn Elementary, a K-5 school with 201 students in the Alpena Public Schools district.
For parents, the standout feature of Sanborn Elementary is its exceptional attendance record. With a chronic absenteeism rate of just 13.9%, this school dramatically outperforms its district average of 44.0% and is roughly half the state average of 27.9%. This is a strong signal of a positive school culture and engaged families, especially notable given that 55.72% of students qualify for free or reduced lunch. Academically, the school shows real strengths in 5th grade English Language Arts, where 46.2% of students are proficient—beating both the district (42.9%) and state (43.8%). Third grade math is also a bright spot at 41.7% proficiency, nearly matching the state average and significantly outpacing the district's 35.7%. In fact, Sanborn outperforms its own district in several key areas, including 5th grade math and ELA, suggesting effective school-level practices despite broader district struggles.
However, there are clear challenges. The most concerning pattern is a "4th grade slump," where proficiency drops sharply—4th grade math sits at just 22.6%, a staggering 16.8 points below the state average, and 4th grade ELA trails by 12.3 points. Year-to-year scores are also volatile; while 3rd grade math improved by 6.2 points, 4th grade math fell by 12.5 points and 5th grade math dropped by 9.7 points. This inconsistency may stem from small class sizes where a few students can skew results. The school's state ranking fell from 475th to 844th, but recent improvements in several subjects suggest a potential rebound. With a student-teacher ratio of 20.2:1 and per-student spending of $12,143, resources are modest, yet the school's ability to beat its district in multiple subjects points to targeted, effective teaching—particularly in early grades and 5th grade ELA.
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