Summary:
Clinton Community Schools is a small, unified district in Clinton, Michigan, serving about 1,238 students across five schools—two elementary, one middle, and two high school programs—with an overall 4-star rating and a 77th-percentile state ranking.
The district’s standout performer is Clinton High School, which jumped to the 89th percentile statewide and boasts a 98.7% graduation rate, SAT reading proficiency nearly 13 points above the state average, and social studies scores 21 points higher than Michigan’s norm. Clinton Middle School is equally impressive, beating state averages in every subject—most notably with 82.4% of 8th graders proficient in PSAT English and 76.9% in social studies. However, Clinton Elementary School is the district’s weak link, ranking in the 43rd–52nd percentile. Its math scores slide dramatically from 40.5% proficiency in 3rd grade to just 25.2% by 5th grade, and 3rd grade reading proficiency dropped nearly 16 points in one year. The tiny Clinton Virtual JrSr High School (8 students) offers a 100% graduation rate but costs $16,198 per student, while DPP School of Early Learning operates with a very high 28.3:1 student-teacher ratio and the lowest per-student spending at $8,302.
One paradox: despite stellar academics, Clinton High has a 31.7% chronic absenteeism rate—worse than the state average—suggesting strong performers mask a disengaged subset. Social studies is the district’s consistent strength across all grades, while elementary math is its clearest vulnerability. For parents, this district offers excellent secondary education but warrants caution at the elementary level, particularly around 4th grade math transitions and recent reading declines.
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