South Lake Schools

Every figure on PlainSchools is rendered directly from the source NCES, CRDC and F-33 federal records, no number is typed in by an editor. District totals are aggregated directly from the schools reporting under this district in the source records. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, the data changelog, or report a data error. Data current as of August 2026.

Saint Clair Shores, Michigan - 4 schools

An equity score of 63/100 ranks South Lake Schools #152 of 702 districts in Michigan (state average 50). Derived live from how evenly resources are distributed across the district's schools.

At $17,334 per pupil, South Lake Schools ranks #116 of 812 Michigan districts by per-pupil spending (Michigan districts). NCES F-33 finance data.

1,496
Total Enrollment
4
Schools
$17,334
Per-Pupil Spending
High, Combined
School Types

District-Level NCES Analysis

South Lake Schools operates 4 public schools serving 1,496 students, placing it among the smallest districts in Michigan. The school portfolio breaks down into 1 high, 1 combined, 1 middle, 1 elementary schools, a small enough portfolio that most families will interact with nearly every campus in the district at some point. These enrollment and school figures come from the NCES Common Core of Data (CCD) 2024-25 release, and the district is based in Macomb County.

Per-pupil expenditure runs $17,334 according to the NCES F-33 School District Finance Survey, in the upper half of 812 Michigan districts by per-pupil spending. See how Michigan compares in our national per-pupil spending analysis. The funding mix is 39.4% local, 45.2% state, and 15.4% federal, a balanced mix across local, state, and federal sources, spreading budget risk across funding cycles rather than concentrating it in one. The district's equity score is 63/100, ranked #152 of 702 in Michigan against a state average of 50, notably more even than the typical district in the state for how evenly funding reaches its schools.

Academic infrastructure includes 1 of 4 schools offering Advanced Placement (8 AP courses district-wide), a 272.9:1 student-counselor ratio, somewhat above the 250:1 ASCA recommendation, and 69.2% chronic absenteeism from the 2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection. Demographically, the student body averages 61.3% African American, 25.9% White, 3.6% Hispanic or Latino across the district's schools. Its most demographically mixed campus is Avalon Elementary School, with a diversity index of 59.5/100.

Its largest campus is South Lake High School, enrolling 426 students (31% of the district's total enrollment).

South Lake High School accounts for 28.5% of all South Lake Schools student enrollment

That dominant concentration means South Lake Schools-wide averages can mask substantial variation outside the largest entity. Grade band: high. The share measures enrollment concentration only; it does not establish how the district allocates programs, capital, or staff. Enrollment-weighted aggregates give this entity more weight than any smaller peer, while an unweighted entity average treats every record equally.

Source: NCES Common Core of Data

South Lake Schools reports 57.6% free-lunch eligibility

The reported share clears the 50% majority mark. Title I operates under the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA, 2015), but its statutory allocation uses additional LEA-level counts and rules not represented by this average. This percentage is an economic-need context measure; it does not establish a Title I award, show dollars received, or describe how funds are distributed among campuses.

Source: NCES Common Core of Data

South Lake Schools student-counselor ratio is 273:1 — near the typical range (US average ~408) — within the typical range for U.S. public districts

student-counselor ratio is the simplest comparative metric but it does not capture the full picture: the ratio counts FTE counselors against total enrollment, districts that contract intervention or social-emotional staff outside the counselor classification may be under-counted Variation between sub-units within South Lake Schools is typically wider than the South Lake Schools-aggregate figure suggests.

Source: NCES Civil Rights Data Collection

South Lake Schools chronic absenteeism rate is 69.2% — well above typical (typically associated with unusually large scale or acute resource constraints)

chronic absenteeism rate is the simplest comparative metric but it does not capture the full picture: a student is chronically absent if they miss ≥10% of enrolled days for any reason, illness, family obligations, or disengagement Values this far above typical often signal acute resource constraints or a structurally different scale than most peers — worth reading alongside the underlying counts, not the ratio alone.

Source: NCES Civil Rights Data Collection 2021-22

Where does the funding come from?

15.4%
Federal
45.2%
State
39.4%
Local

Funding Equity

63
Equity Score
152 / 702
State Rank
50
State Average

This district has moderate funding equity. There may be room to improve funding diversity or resource allocation.

Student Demographics

Average demographic composition across 4 schools in South Lake Schools.

White 25.9%
Hispanic or Latino 3.6%
African American 61.3%
Asian 1.1%
Multiracial 7.8%

Source: NCES CCD School Membership 2024-25.

Student-body diversity

Average diversity index 53.8/100

Average Simpson diversity index across South Lake Schools's schools, above the Michigan average of 36.2.

Most mixed schools

  1. 1 Avalon Elementary School 59.5
  2. 2 Elmwood Elementary School 59.1
  3. 3 South Lake Middle School 54.3
  4. 4 South Lake High School 42.2

Programs & Resources

1 / 4
Schools with AP
8 AP courses total
272.9:1
Student-Counselor Ratio
69.2%
Chronically Absent

Source: NCES Civil Rights Data Collection (CRDC) 2021-22.

Schools in South Lake Schools

School Enrollment
South Lake High School
426
Avalon Elementary School
345
South Lake Middle School
309
Elmwood Elementary School
305

How South Lake Schools Compares to Similar-Size Districts

The Michigan districts closest to this one in total enrollment.

District Enrollment Spending Funding Mix
Caro Community Schools Similar size Lower spending Less locally funded
Kingsley Area Schools Similar size Lower spending Less locally funded
Essexville-Hampton Public Schools Similar size Lower spending Less locally funded
Westwood Community School District Similar size Similar spending Less locally funded
Gladstone Area Schools Similar size Lower spending Less locally funded

Comparisons are relative to South Lake Schools's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data and the F-33 Finance Survey.

Nearby Districts in Michigan

Top districts in the same state, compare side-by-side for enrollment, spending, and demographics.

Detroit Public Schools Community District
48,548 students · 107 schools · $22,002/pupil
Compare vs South Lake Schools →
Utica Community Schools
25,744 students · 38 schools · $14,295/pupil
Compare vs South Lake Schools →
Dearborn City School District
20,128 students · 37 schools · $18,204/pupil
Compare vs South Lake Schools →
Ann Arbor Public Schools
17,026 students · 32 schools · $19,271/pupil
Compare vs South Lake Schools →
Plymouth-Canton Community Schools
16,294 students · 25 schools · $14,974/pupil
Compare vs South Lake Schools →

Nationwide districts with similar enrollment or spending

Out-of-state peers matched by enrollment and by per-pupil expenditure, not the same-state lists above.

Compare South Lake Schools

See how this district compares to others in enrollment, spending, demographics, and academic resources.

Compare vs Detroit Public Schools Community District →

Frequently Asked Questions

How many schools are in South Lake Schools?

South Lake Schools has 4 schools, including 1 high, 1 combined, 1 middle, 1 elementary. Total enrollment is 1,496 students.

How much does South Lake Schools spend per student?

South Lake Schools spends $17,334 per student. The district has an equity score of 63/100, ranking #152 in Michigan.

What is the demographic composition of South Lake Schools?

South Lake Schools students are 61.3% African American, 25.9% White, 3.6% Hispanic or Latino, 1.1% Asian, averaged across 4 schools. Source: NCES CCD Membership 2024-25.

What is the equity score for South Lake Schools?

South Lake Schools has an equity score of 63/100, ranking #152 out of 702 districts in Michigan.