Summary:
Zip code 48105 in Ann Arbor, MI is home to just one middle school, Clague Middle School, which serves grades 6 through 8 and enrolls 696 students within the highly-rated Ann Arbor Public Schools district.
Clague Middle School is an elite academic institution, ranking in the top 2% of Michigan middle schools and improving its statewide position from 26th to 14th over the past three years. Its students dramatically outperform state averages in every subject and grade level, with the most impressive results in 7th-grade math (77.6% proficiency, a 44.3-point advantage over the state) and 8th-grade PSAT English Language Arts (90.5% proficiency). The school also excels in 8th-grade social studies (82.4%) and science (74.3%). Clague consistently beats its own district by 9 to 22 percentage points, making it a standout even within the well-regarded Ann Arbor system. The school benefits from substantial resources, spending $15,618 per student with a student-teacher ratio of 18.6:1, and serves a relatively affluent population, with only 14.5% of students qualifying for free or reduced lunch.
Despite its stellar academics, Clague Middle School faces a notable challenge: a chronic absenteeism rate of 30.9%, which exceeds the state average of 27.9% though it remains below the district's 35.7%. This suggests a district-wide issue rather than a school-specific problem. Year-over-year test scores show a mixed pattern—some grades improved (8th-grade social studies rose 6.9 points, 8th-grade PSAT ELA rose 6.0 points) while others declined slightly (6th-grade ELA fell 4.6 points)—yet the school's ranking still improved, likely reflecting broader testing population changes. For parents, Clague offers an exceptional education with near-universal college-readiness in reading by 8th grade, but they should be aware of the absenteeism concern and consider how to support consistent attendance to maximize the school's clear academic advantages.
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