Summary:
Zip code 48035 in Clinton Township, Michigan, is served by a single public high school, Clintondale High School, which enrolls 360 students in grades 9-12 within the Clintondale Community Schools district.
For parents, the most striking finding is the paradox between graduation and academic readiness. Clintondale High School boasts a strong 90.1% graduation rate, far exceeding its district’s 61.4% rate and the state average of 84.0%. However, this success does not translate into test scores. Only 19.5% of 11th graders are proficient in SAT Reading/Writing and just 13.8% in SAT Math, both well below state averages. This suggests students may be graduating without mastering core academic content. The school also outperforms its district in nearly every metric, including a 7.4% dropout rate versus the district’s 20.4%, making it a relative bright spot within a struggling system. Still, the school ranks in the 11th percentile statewide and holds a 1-star rating, with a stable, low performance trajectory over the past three years.
The most critical issue is chronic absenteeism, with 54.3% of students missing significant instructional time—nearly double the state average. This likely drives the low proficiency rates, including a crisis-level 5.9% of 10th graders proficient in PSAT math. The school also saw a dramatic 9.7-point drop in SAT Reading/Writing proficiency from the prior year. Despite spending a high $20,397 per student, outcomes remain in the bottom quartile, indicating that funding alone is not addressing the interconnected challenges of poverty (77.78% low-income) and disengagement. While the graduation rate is commendable, parents should understand that the school appears to be graduating students who are not fully prepared for college or careers, and meaningful improvement will require tackling absenteeism and engagement at their roots.
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