Summary:
Zip code 48043 is home to just one high school, Mount Clemens High School, a small public school serving grades 9-12 within the Mount Clemens Community School District, where nearly 85% of the 239 students qualify for free or reduced lunch.
For parents, the most important takeaway is that this school faces significant challenges, but there are also clear areas of focus. Academically, Mount Clemens High School ranks in the bottom fifth of Michigan high schools (660th out of 800). Test scores are well below state averages across the board, with the most alarming figure being 9th-grade math proficiency at just 5.4%—meaning over 94% of incoming freshmen are not meeting math standards. Reading and writing scores also lag, with only 22.2% of 11th graders proficient on the SAT, compared to 52.1% statewide. The school's strongest subject is social studies, where 40.5% of 11th graders are proficient, just 2.7 points behind the state average. Graduation rates are a concern at 70.1% versus the state's 84%, and the dropout rate of 14% is double the state average.
Perhaps the most critical issue is chronic absenteeism: 55% of students miss significant school days, nearly twice the state rate of 27.9%. This directly impacts learning, as evidenced by declining ELA scores from 9th to 11th grade—students are falling further behind rather than catching up. Interestingly, the district spends a substantial $18,931 per student, yet the student-teacher ratio is a high 17.6:1, suggesting funds may not be reaching direct classroom instruction. For parents, the key insight is that improving attendance is likely the single most powerful lever to boost all other outcomes. While the school is investing heavily, the combination of poverty, absenteeism, and foundational skill gaps creates a steep uphill climb. Social studies stands out as a relative strength, offering a potential pathway for student engagement and success.
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