Summary:
Zip code 48420, encompassing the Clio area in Michigan, is served by the Clio Area School District, which operates five public schools—Clio Elementary (PK-3), Clio Intermediate School (4-5), Clio Middle School (6-8), Clio Area High School (8-12), and Clio Community High School (PK-12)—serving roughly 2,482 students in a predominantly low-income area.
For parents, the standout is Clio Area High School, which leads the district with a 93.4% graduation rate—well above the state average of 84%—and a dropout rate below 3%. It also outperforms state averages in 11th-grade science and social studies, though SAT math proficiency (18.4%) remains a weakness. The most dramatic story is at Clio Elementary, where 3rd-grade proficiency jumped from far below state averages to above them in one year (43.3% ELA, 46.3% Math). In contrast, Clio Intermediate School shows strong 5th-grade ELA (56.1%) but lags in math, while Clio Middle School reveals a sharp "slump" with 6th-grade ELA proficiency at just 23.7%, despite solid 8th-grade PSAT scores. Clio Community High School faces severe challenges with an 81% poverty rate, 79.6% chronic absenteeism, and a 14.8% graduation rate.
Key takeaways for families: math is a district-wide vulnerability from elementary through high school, and chronic absenteeism—highest at the intermediate (32.7%) and community high school levels—appears closely tied to lower performance. The middle school transition is a critical drop-off point in ELA. However, Clio Elementary demonstrates that rapid improvement is possible, making it a model worth watching. Overall, the district earns a 3-star rating, with the main high school as the clear academic and behavioral leader.
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