Summary:
Zip code 48152 in Livonia, Michigan, is home to two public high schools—Stevenson High School and Clarenceville High School—that serve grades 8-12 and 9-12 respectively, offering a stark contrast in academic performance and student demographics within the same community.
For parents, the standout choice is clearly Stevenson High School, part of the Livonia Public Schools School District. Stevenson earns a 4-star rating and ranks in the 86th percentile statewide, with an impressive 98.9% graduation rate and a 0.2% dropout rate. Its students significantly outperform state averages on the SAT, M-Step, and PSAT exams—for example, 72% are proficient in SAT reading and writing versus the state's 52.1%. In contrast, Clarenceville High School, under the Clarenceville School District, holds a 1-star rating and sits in the 19th percentile, with an 89% graduation rate and a 5.1% dropout rate. The academic gaps are dramatic, especially in math: only 7.7% of Clarenceville 9th graders are proficient in PSAT math compared to 54.7% at Stevenson.
Several factors beyond test scores explain these differences. Clarenceville has a much higher poverty rate, with 56.94% of students on free/reduced lunch versus 18.52% at Stevenson. Chronic absenteeism is also a major issue at Clarenceville, affecting 40.1% of students—nearly double Stevenson's rate and well above the state average. Interestingly, Clarenceville actually spends slightly more per student ($14,733 vs. $14,386) and enjoys a better student-teacher ratio (15.6:1 vs. 21.5:1), yet still lags far behind. Stevenson is also improving, climbing from the 85th to 92nd percentile over three years, while Clarenceville remains stagnant in the bottom quintile. The data suggests that addressing absenteeism, early math intervention, and socioeconomic barriers will be critical for Clarenceville, while Stevenson demonstrates what strong academic programs and engaged families can achieve.
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