Clintondale Middle School

Clintondale Middle School in Clinton Twp, MI, serves 269 students in grades 6-8 and is part of the Clintondale Community Schools district, which ranks in the 7th percentile statewide.

Clintondale Middle School faces significant challenges, with academic proficiency rates well below state averages across all subjects. For example, only 11.3% of 6th graders were proficient in ELA compared to the state average of 37.5%, and just 4.12% were proficient in math versus 31.9% statewide. The school's most pressing issue is chronic absenteeism—61.6% of students were chronically absent in the 2024-2025 school year, more than double the state average of 27.9% and far higher than nearby schools like Wyandot Middle School (28.5%) or Algonquin Middle School (31.6%). This attendance crisis has persisted for five years and is likely a major factor in the school's low performance. Notably, the school spends $17,356 per student—more than higher-performing neighbors like Jefferson Middle School ($15,083) and Richards Middle School ($14,371)—yet outcomes remain low, suggesting funding alone isn't the solution.

There are some encouraging signs. Students appear to make gains by 8th grade, with PSAT ELA proficiency at 29.5%—more than double the 6th-grade rate—and science (21.8%) and social studies (26.9%) scores improving. The school also outperforms its closest demographic peer, Mount Clemens Middle School, in most subjects despite similar poverty levels and absenteeism rates. However, performance varies significantly by student group, with female students ranking in the 4th percentile and low-income students in the 10th percentile. For parents, this school offers a smaller learning environment and dedicated resources, but the attendance crisis and low test scores are critical factors to weigh when considering educational options.