Summary
Waldon Middle School in Lake Orion, MI, is a highly-rated public school serving 514 students in grades 6-8 as part of the Lake Orion Community Schools district, which ranks in the 88th percentile statewide.
Waldon is a consistent high performer, currently ranked in the top 10% of Michigan middle schools. Its standout strengths are in 8th-grade Social Studies, where 77.8% of students are proficient—far exceeding the state average of 50.3%—and in 8th-grade PSAT Math, where 53.5% of students are proficient compared to the state average of 33.2%. The school also boasts a low chronic absenteeism rate of 11.4%, less than half the state average, suggesting strong student engagement. With a favorable student-teacher ratio of 13.9, students benefit from a more personalized learning environment than many nearby schools. Waldon is competitive with high-achieving neighbors like Sashabaw Middle School in Clarkston, outperforming it in 8th-grade math, though it trails the elite North Hills Middle School in Bloomfield Hills. Within its own district, Waldon outperforms Scripps Middle School in 8th-grade Science and Social Studies, while Scripps shows higher proficiency in 6th-grade Math.
While overall performance is strong, the school shows varying effectiveness across student subgroups. The school serves its White, Hispanic, and Female/Male student populations exceptionally well, with all ranking in the 87th-92nd percentile statewide. However, the performance of Multi-racial students has dropped to the 37th percentile, a notable decline from the previous year. Support for Special Education students has also been inconsistent, ranging from the 86th percentile to the 35th percentile in recent years. Financially, Waldon is a cost-effective option, spending $18,036 per student—less than its district rival Scripps ($19,771) and significantly less than North Hills ($25,741)—while achieving comparable or better results in several key metrics. Though it has slipped from its former top-20 state ranking, Waldon remains a top-tier, efficient school that provides an excellent education for the majority of its students.
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