Summary:
Zip code 48209 is served by a single middle school, Clippert Academy, which enrolls 424 students in grades 6-8 within the Detroit Public Schools Community District, an area where nearly 90% of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch.
Clippert Academy stands out as a relative bright spot within its district, consistently outperforming Detroit Public Schools averages by 10 to 20 percentage points across most subjects and grade levels. For example, 7th-grade math proficiency (33.3%) ties the state average, and 8th-grade social studies (40.6%) comes within 10 points of the state. The school also posts a chronic absenteeism rate of 34.1%—dramatically better than the district's 60.9%—which likely contributes to its academic edge. However, performance is uneven: 6th-grade ELA proficiency fell from 32.6% to 22.5% in one year, while 7th-grade ELA improved from 26.4% to 32.5%. This volatility suggests strong capacity but inconsistent results across cohorts.
Statewide, Clippert Academy ranks in the 38th percentile (553 of 896 Michigan middle schools) with a 2-star rating, having improved slightly from the 32nd percentile three years ago. Per-student spending is high at $19,836 annually, reflecting the substantial support services needed for its high-poverty population. The school's best subject is social studies, while science (22.3% proficiency) and 6th-grade ELA remain the weakest areas. Notably, 8th graders perform far better on the PSAT ELA (50.7% proficient) than on M-Step science, suggesting assessment format may influence results. For parents, this school offers a safer, more engaged environment than the district norm, with genuine academic strengths—particularly in 7th grade—but families should expect variability year to year and prepare to support consistency in core subjects like ELA and science.
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