The top reported proficiency rate is 52% in Science. The lowest is 38% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on Paul a Schalm School
Paul A Schalm School is a regular public elementary school serving kindergarten through fifth grade in Clawson, Michigan, part of Clawson Public Schools in Oakland County. Families considering this school should know that the district recently went through a substantial reorganization. Beginning around 2023, Clawson Public Schools consolidated its two previous elementary buildings, Schalm and Kenwood, into a single elementary school called Clawson Elementary School, located in the former middle school building on Phillips Avenue. Kenwood Elementary closed in June 2024 and reopened as an early childhood center in September 2025. A new middle school wing was built in 2023 on John M Avenue. This consolidation eliminated the old geographic attendance split, where Schalm served children north of 14 Mile Road or west of Rochester and Kenwood served those south or east. The state assessment data reported here is tied to Schalm's NCES identifier but appears under the consolidated Clawson Elementary School name, which reflects this reorganization. Parents looking at current enrollment boundaries should confirm directly with the district, as the old neighborhood assignments no longer apply.
On state assessments, the school's M-STEP results from the most recent year show a mixed but generally middling profile. English language arts is the stronger subject, with proficiency rising meaningfully from third grade through fifth grade, where a clear majority of fifth graders reached proficiency. That upward trajectory across grade levels in ELA is a genuine bright spot. Math results are more modest, with roughly two-fifths of third and fourth graders demonstrating proficiency and a smaller share of fifth graders doing so. Fifth grade science landed near the middle, with about half of tested students proficient. Social studies was the softest area, with fewer than two-fifths of fifth graders meeting the bar. A parent may want to look into the school's approach to math instruction and social studies support in more detail. Among Oakland County districts, the school's overall proficiency sits above the midpoint, which is a reasonably strong position given the county's competitive academic landscape.
The student body is predominantly white, with small representation across Black, Hispanic, Asian, and multiracial students. A moderate share of students qualify for free or reduced price lunch. Information on special education enrollment, English learner services, chronic absenteeism, and staffing was not available in the data provided, so those are gaps a family would want to ask the school about directly. No graduation rate applies here, since the school serves only elementary grades, and that is expected for this grade band.
Clawson itself is a small, fully developed residential suburb just north of Detroit, bounded by Troy, Royal Oak, and Madison Heights. Publicly reported descriptions from the city emphasize a walkable, small town feel where amenities, parks, and schools are within walking distance in a compact footprint. The city has a modest commercial corridor along Main Street with local shops and restaurants, a seasonal farmers market, and community events throughout the year. There are no large industrial or corporate employers within the city; the school district and city government are the primary institutional anchors. The housing market in the immediate zip code is relatively accessible compared with the broader county, with home values below both the state and national benchmarks, while the county wide market carries a higher median listing price. Rents in the area are moderate. Clawson is described as fully built out with no remaining land for large scale development, so growth is limited to infill and redevelopment.
For a family, the picture is of a small, walkable community with a recently reorganized elementary program that shows real strength in literacy, a middling position in math and science, and a standing above the county midpoint on proficiency overall. The consolidation means the school families see today may differ from what long time residents remember, and confirming current boundaries and program details with the district is the practical next step.
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