Schools in Zip Code 49820

Zip code 49820, located in the Curtis, MI area, is served by a single public charter school, Three Lakes Academy, which enrolls 114 students in grades PK through 6, meaning families will need to look to neighboring communities for middle and high school options.

Three Lakes Academy, which operates as its own district under the Three Lakes Academy district, earns a strong 4-star rating and ranks in the 77th percentile statewide (142nd out of 625 comparable Michigan schools). The school’s most impressive results come from its 6th-grade class, where 72.73% of students are proficient in both English Language Arts and Math—nearly double the state averages of 37.5% and 31.9%, respectively. Early math foundations are also a clear strength, with 3rd graders achieving 66.7% proficiency compared to the state’s 42.9%. However, 5th grade shows some challenges, with math proficiency at 30.77% (below the state’s 32.2%) and social studies at 23.08% (below the state’s 27.5%). Science performance in 5th grade is a bright spot at 61.54% proficiency versus the state’s 40%.

With a favorable student-teacher ratio of 12.3:1 and per-student spending of $13,792, the school provides a supportive learning environment. Notably, 62.28% of students qualify for free or reduced lunch, yet the school still achieves top-quartile results, suggesting effective instructional strategies. Chronic absenteeism is remarkably low at 14.4%—roughly half the state average of 27.9%—indicating strong attendance and engagement. The dramatic performance gap between 5th and 6th grades may point to a particularly effective 6th-grade teaching team or curriculum shift, while the dip in 4th and 5th-grade math warrants attention. Overall, Three Lakes Academy stands out as a high-performing elementary school that successfully supports a high-needs population, making it an excellent option for families with children in these grade levels within this rural zip code.