Summary:
Clawson Public Schools is home to one elementary school, Clawson Elementary School, which serves grades K-5 and enrolls 543 students in a suburban Michigan community.
Clawson Elementary School is a solid, above-average performer in most areas, though it shows some notable inconsistencies. The district itself is highly rated, ranking 119th out of 625 districts in Michigan (81st percentile, 4-star rating). Academically, the school’s greatest strength is in English Language Arts, where all grade levels (3rd: 50%, 4th: 44.6%, 5th: 48.4%) exceed state averages. The 2024-2025 5th-grade class was particularly exceptional, posting a 62.1% ELA proficiency rate—17.7 points above the state. However, the most recent 5th-grade cohort (2025-2026) shows a dramatic weakness in math, with only 24.2% proficiency, which is 8 points below the state average. This is a stark contrast to 3rd and 4th graders, who both outperform the state in math (49.3% vs. 42.9% and 45.7% vs. 39.4%, respectively). Science performance is strong (46.3% vs. 40% state), while social studies slightly lags (25.3% vs. 27.5% state).
For parents, the key takeaway is that early grades are strong, but there appears to be a "5th-grade cliff" in math that warrants attention. The school’s state ranking has been volatile—improving from 698th to 534th, then dropping to 600th—suggesting year-to-year cohort differences matter greatly. On the positive side, chronic absenteeism is low at 17.6% (vs. 27.9% statewide), indicating good attendance and engagement. The school also benefits from a low student-teacher ratio of 13.4:1 and per-student spending of $16,427, resources that are not fully translating into consistent upper-grade results. With 31.1% of students eligible for free/reduced lunch, the school serves a moderately diverse economic population. Overall, Clawson Elementary School provides a strong foundation in early grades and ELA, but parents of incoming 5th graders may want to inquire about math support and curriculum alignment.
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