Clayton H Symons Elementary School

Clayton H Symons Elementary School in Milan, MI, serves 356 students in grades 2 through 4 and is part of the Milan Area Schools district, which ranks in the 66th percentile statewide.

Clayton H Symons stands out for its remarkable recent progress, particularly with its special education students. In just two years, this subgroup jumped from the 3rd percentile statewide (0 stars) to the 87th percentile (4 stars) — one of the most dramatic turnarounds in the area. This suggests that recent investments in targeted interventions and support have been highly effective. The school also excels in 4th-grade math, with a 49.6% proficiency rate that beats the state average by more than 10 points. Attendance is another clear strength: only 14.3% of students are chronically absent, which is far better than the state average of 27.9% and dramatically lower than the district-wide rate of 42.6%. With a student-teacher ratio of 13.4, children also benefit from more individualized attention than they would at nearby schools like South Arbor Charter Academy (19.7) or East Arbor Charter Academy (18.5).

Compared to its neighbors, Clayton H Symons occupies a solid middle ground. Schools in the more affluent Saline Area Schools district, such as Harvest Elementary School and Heritage School, post higher proficiency rates, but they also serve a much wealthier population. Meanwhile, schools in the Lincoln Consolidated School District, like Brick Elementary School and Bishop Elementary School, have lower performance and higher poverty rates. Clayton H Symons, with about 42% of students eligible for free or reduced lunch, performs above state averages across most subjects and grades. Its unique grade configuration (2-4 only) allows for focused, developmentally appropriate instruction, and its improving state ranking — from the 55th to the 64th percentile — signals a school that is steadily getting better for the families it serves.