The top reported proficiency rate is 78% in English language arts. The lowest is 70% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on South Hills Middle School
South Hills Middle School sits on Quarton Road in Bloomfield Hills, serving grades six through eight as part of Bloomfield Hills Schools. The building was formerly known as Bloomfield Hills Middle School before being renovated, expanded, and renamed in a districtwide facilities reconfiguration that took effect in fall 2023. Publicly reported district information describes that reconfiguration as wide-reaching: the former Lahser High School became North Hills Middle School, elementary schools shifted buildings, and preschool programs were reorganized across the following year as well. For a family looking at South Hills, this means the school is relatively fresh in its current identity, operating in a building that received recent capital investment.
Academically, South Hills posts strong results. Across the most recent state assessments, proficiency rates in math, English language arts, science, and social studies run well above what is typical for Oakland County districts. The school's overall proficiency index places it in the top quartile relative to districts in Oakland County, above the county median by a wide margin and even above the highest district benchmark in the comparison set. English language arts stands out in particular at the eighth-grade level, where the share of students meeting proficiency is striking. Math proficiency is solid and consistent across grades, though the seventh-grade math result sits modestly below the sixth- and eighth-grade marks. A parent may want to look into how the school supports students through that middle-year dip, though the overall trajectory across grades is strong. No multi-year trend data was available, so it is not possible to say whether these results are improving or holding steady over time. Graduation rates do not apply here, since the school serves only middle grades. Chronic absenteeism and discipline data were not available.
The student body is moderate in size for a middle school. A small share of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, which is consistent with the surrounding community's economic profile. The enrollment is predominantly white, with smaller Asian, Black, Hispanic, and multiracial populations. Data on English learners and students with individualized education programs was not reported, so those populations cannot be characterized here. Bloomfield Hills is an affluent, almost exclusively residential suburb of Detroit. The city has no commercial corridor or walkable downtown; its texture is defined by large wooded lots, winding residential roads, and institutional campuses rather than street-level activity. The Cranbrook Educational Community, a National Historic Landmark, serves as the dominant civic and cultural anchor, with its science museum, art academy, gardens, and private schools. Several corporate headquarters are based in the city, and many residents hold executive positions with Detroit-area automakers and Fortune companies, but the everyday environment is one of privacy and low density. The city's official stance is explicitly resistant to growth, and the area is essentially built out. Housing in the school's zip code carries a typical home value well above both the state and national benchmarks, with rents also elevated. The housing market has seen modest year-over-year appreciation in home values. Oakland County's broader market shows a healthy supply of active listings and moderate demand, with homes spending roughly a month on the market. This is an expensive community to buy into, and the rental market, while more affordable than owning at current mortgage rates, still reflects the area's premium positioning. For a family already in or able to access this market, South Hills offers a strong academic environment in a quiet, resourced district. The school's recent renovation, the district's investment in facilities, and the consistently high proficiency results across subjects make it a solid option for families seeking a traditional public middle school experience in an affluent suburban setting. The lack of available data on specialized programs, staffing, attendance, and student support services means a parent would want to ask the school directly about those offerings rather than infer them from what is reported here.
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