Best Public Schools in Commerce Township, MI

Commerce Township, Michigan is served by eight public schools—four elementary schools, one middle school, and three high schools—that collectively enroll about 6,211 students, with the vast majority belonging to the Walled Lake Consolidated Schools district and one elementary school in the Huron Valley Schools district.

For parents, the standout choice at the elementary level is Oakley Park Elementary School, which ranks in the 91st percentile statewide with a 5-star rating and posts the highest proficiency rates in the township—72.9% in 5th grade ELA and 68.6% in math, far exceeding district and state averages. It also maintains a low 14:1 student-teacher ratio, the best among all township schools. Among the three high schools, Walled Lake Northern High School is the clear leader, with a 95% graduation rate, a 0.2% dropout rate, and the top SAT scores in the area. In contrast, Walled Lake Western High School is the most concerning outlier: it spends the most per student ($20,342) yet posts the lowest test scores among the high schools and has a chronic absenteeism rate of 33.5%—the only school in the township above the state average. Walled Lake Central High School sits in the middle, with a 90% graduation rate and moderate performance.

Overall, the township’s elementary schools are exceptional, all exceeding state proficiency averages by wide margins, but that advantage narrows by high school. Chronic absenteeism rises steadily from elementary (10–16%) to high school (24–34%), and nearly every school saw year-over-year test score declines from 2024-2025 to 2025-2026, suggesting systemic challenges rather than school-specific issues. Social Studies is a consistent weakness across all grade levels, even at top schools like Oakley Park. Clifford H Smart Middle School shows strong 8th grade science and social studies scores but has slipped in state ranking from 71st to 125th. For families, Commerce Elementary School and Glengary Elementary School offer solid options, while Country Oaks Elementary School in Huron Valley consistently underperforms its Walled Lake counterparts despite similar demographics.