Summary:
Zip code 48076 is home to just one high school, University High School Academy, a public school serving grades 9 through 12 with a small enrollment of 274 students, making it an intimate learning environment within the larger Southfield Public School District.
For parents, this school is a standout academic performer that dramatically outpaces its surrounding district and the state averages. In the most recent testing, 83% of 11th graders were proficient in SAT Reading and Writing, compared to just 36% for the district and 52.1% statewide. The school also boasts a perfect 100% graduation rate and a 0.0% dropout rate, far exceeding the district's 87.5% graduation rate. Its state ranking has been consistently strong, peaking at 60th out of 739 schools (92nd percentile) with a 5-star rating in 2024-2025. This success comes with a high level of investment, as the school spends $24,570 per student, which supports a favorable 15.6:1 student-teacher ratio. However, there are two areas of note. First, while scores are excellent overall, there is a clear "math gap"—only 46.8% of 11th graders were proficient in SAT Math, a significant drop from the reading scores. Second, chronic absenteeism sits at 18.1%, meaning nearly 1 in 5 students are chronically absent, though this is still far better than the district's alarming 49.6% rate.
The most striking takeaway is the immense disparity between this school and its governing district. While Southfield Public School District ranks in the 35th percentile statewide, University High School Academy consistently ranks in the 80th-90th percentile, indicating it functions as a specialized, high-achieving academy within the district. Its recent ranking did dip slightly from 60th to 115th in the latest year, which is worth monitoring, but the school remains an elite option for families seeking a rigorous, well-funded academic environment in the 48076 area.
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