Best Elementary Schools in Zip Code 49849

Zip code 49849, serving the Ishpeming, Michigan area, is home to two elementary schools—Aspen Ridge Elementary School and Birchview School—which together offer a range of grades from pre-kindergarten through 8th grade, though they belong to different districts and serve very different student populations.

For parents, the most striking finding is the dramatic achievement gap between these two neighboring schools. Aspen Ridge Elementary School, part of the NICE Community School District, is a clear standout with a 4-star rating and 76th percentile statewide ranking. Its students far exceed state averages in early grades—for example, 60% of 3rd graders and 56% of 4th graders are proficient in English Language Arts, compared to state averages of 38.2% and 41.3%. In contrast, Birchview School, under the Ishpeming Public School District No. 1, holds just a 1-star rating and ranks in the 15th percentile. Its 4th grade math proficiency is a critically low 8.33%, and its 4th grade ELA proficiency is only 13.2%—both far below state averages. Birchview has also declined sharply over two years, dropping from a 2-star to a 1-star rating.

Interestingly, the gap cannot be explained by attendance, spending, or class size. Both schools report nearly identical chronic absenteeism rates (around 15.6%), and Birchview actually has a slightly better student-teacher ratio (11.8:1 vs. 12.6:1) while spending only about $1,100 less per student. Birchview does serve a higher percentage of economically disadvantaged students (49.79% free/reduced lunch vs. 36.62% at Aspen Ridge), but Aspen Ridge proves that above-average results are achievable in this area. One additional concern for Aspen Ridge is a middle school slump—its 7th grade ELA proficiency drops to 33.3% and 8th grade PSAT math to just 17.1%—suggesting that while its elementary foundation is strong, sustaining that success through older grades remains a challenge. For families, the choice of school in this zip code clearly has a major impact on academic outcomes.