Southfield Public School District

The Southfield Public School District serves about 4,313 students across 11 schools in Southfield and Lathrup Village, Michigan, including six elementary schools (two of which are K-8), two middle schools, two high schools, and one alternative learning center.

This district presents a tale of two very different educational experiences. The University High School Academy is the clear standout, ranking in the 86th percentile statewide with a 100% graduation rate, 0% dropout rate, and SAT reading proficiency of 83%—more than double the district average. Its feeder schools, University Middle School Academy (81st percentile) and University Elementary School Academy (90th percentile, up from 65th just two years ago), share a campus and form a coherent pathway of success. These three schools also have the lowest chronic absenteeism rates in the district, ranging from 16.2% to 30.7%. At the other extreme, Southfield High School for the Arts and Technology ranks in the 13th percentile with only 6.3% SAT math proficiency and a staggering 69% chronic absenteeism rate—the highest in the district and 2.5 times the state average. The remaining schools, including Thompson K8 International Academy, Alice M Birney K8 School, Adlai Stevenson Elementary School, Morris Adler Elementary School, Glenn W Levey Middle School, and McIntyre Elementary School, generally rank in the bottom half statewide, with math proficiency rates often below 10%.

Chronic absenteeism is the district's most critical challenge, affecting 49.6% of students on average—nearly double the state rate. The correlation is stark: schools with absenteeism below 20% achieve proficiency rates 2-4 times the district average, while those above 50% consistently score in the bottom quartile. Interestingly, per-student spending does not predict success—the high-performing University schools receive some of the lowest funding ($16,404-$24,570), while struggling Southfield High receives $30,878. Mathematics is a district-wide emergency, with even the best schools showing math as their relative weakness. However, pockets of strength exist in early elementary ELA, with McIntyre Elementary School achieving 57.9% proficiency in 3rd grade reading, well above state averages. For parents, the University schools offer a proven, coherent educational pathway, while other schools in the district face significant challenges that require urgent attention to attendance and math instruction.