The top reported proficiency rate is 80% in Science. The lowest is 65% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on Independence Elementary School
Independence Elementary School sits on Hubbard Road in Clarkston, serving pre-kindergarten through fifth grade as part of the Clarkston Community School District. It is a regular public school, not a charter or magnet, and it draws from a community where the surrounding Independence Township uses the Clarkston mailing address. The village of Clarkston itself is a compact, historic place, officially the City of the Village of Clarkston, settled in the 1830s around saw and grist mills. It is the smallest city by land area in Michigan, with a walkable historic core along Main Street and the Mill Pond, a section of the Clinton River, at its center. The surrounding township is more suburban and car-dependent, so families at Independence Elementary live in a mix of village-close and township-suburban settings.
The school's enrollment is moderate for an elementary building, with a fairly even distribution across the early grades. The student body is predominantly white, with small shares of Hispanic students and students of two or more races, and very small shares of Black and Asian students. A low proportion of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, which places this school among the less economically disadvantaged in its area. Data on students with individualized education programs and English learners was not reported, so those populations cannot be characterized here. The same is true for Title I status, which was not available in the provided data.
On Michigan's M-STEP assessments for the most recent school year, Independence Elementary posted strong results across the board. Third graders performed particularly well in math, with a large majority proficient, and fifth graders showed similar strength in science, where nearly four in five tested students reached proficiency. Fifth grade English language arts was also a bright spot, with a clear majority proficient. Fourth grade was the relatively softer spot in both math and English language arts, where proficiency dipped below the school's other grades, though it still represented a majority of tested students. Social studies proficiency for fifth graders was solid, with a substantial majority proficient. Taken together, the school's overall proficiency across tested subjects and grades places it in the top quartile relative to districts in Oakland County, which is a high-performing county with many districts. That positioning reflects consistently strong outcomes rather than a single standout grade.
No multi-year trend data was available, so it is not possible to say whether these results represent improvement, stability, or fluctuation over time. Participation rates for the assessments were also missing from the data. Because this is an elementary school, there is no graduation rate to report, and the absence of that metric reflects the grade band served rather than any gap in performance.
The broader housing market context matters for families considering the area. Home values in the school's zip code are well above the state benchmark and above the national benchmark, reflecting the generally affluent character of this part of Oakland County. The county-level market shows a healthy supply of active listings with steady new inventory, and median days on market remain in a moderate range, suggesting a market that is active but not frenzied. Median listing prices in the county have dipped slightly compared to the prior year, which may give buyers a bit more room than in recent seasons. Affordability remains a consideration, as the estimated monthly mortgage cost exceeds typical rent costs in the area, meaning families weighing a purchase against renting face a real tradeoff.
Within the Clarkston Community School District, a recent capital improvement is worth noting. Clarkston Junior High School, which serves grades eight and nine, was rebuilt and reopened, according to publicly reported information. While that does not directly affect Independence Elementary families day to day, it signals ongoing investment in district facilities that students will eventually move into.
For a parent evaluating this school, the academic evidence points to a consistently strong performer with particular strength in the upper elementary grades and in third grade math. The peer environment is relatively homogeneous and economically advantaged. Families looking for detailed information on special education services, English learner supports, or discipline and attendance patterns would need to ask the school directly, as those data points were not available in the sources reviewed.
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