Mahadev Maitri Foundation
US Initiatives
High· 38 schools in district

UCS Alternative Learning Center

7600 18 Mile Rd, Sterling Heights, MI 48314Utica Community Schools →
Federal DataAlternative Education SchoolGrades 09–12Non-Charter
196
Students
Total enrolled
42%
Grad Rate
Nat'l avg 87%
↓ 51% vs nat'l
$13,893
Per-Pupil Spend
Nat'l avg $14,347
~avg
20.1 : 1
Student:Teacher
Nat'l avg 15.4:1
↑ 30% vs nat'l
52/100
Opportunity Score
Neighborhood outcomes
~avg
⇄ Compare with another school
Small public school
Serves 196 students in grades 09–12 in Sterling Heights, Michigan.
Near-average funding
District spends $13,893 per pupil — close to the national average of $14,347.
Near-median opportunity
Children from this neighborhood historically reach the 52th income percentile as adults, per Harvard/Census Opportunity Atlas data.
About This School

UCS Alternative Learning Center is a small high in Sterling Heights, Michigan, serving grades 09–12 with 196 students. The district invests $13,893 per student — close to the national average of $14,347, with a 20.1:1 student-teacher ratio that is higher than the national norm of 15.4:1. About 69% of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, reflecting significant economic challenges in the surrounding community. The 42% graduation rate is below the national average of 87%, a data point worth exploring further during a school visit.

Student Body & Demographics at UCS Alternative Learning Center

196
Total Students
20.1 : 1
Student:Teacher
69%
Free Lunch
10
Teacher FTE
Grade Range
PK
K
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
Highlighted grades (09–12) are served by this school
Gender Distribution126 male · 70 female
64%
36%
Male 64%Female 36%
Free / Reduced Lunch Eligibility69%
National avg 52% · 136 students
Student Composition
67%
16%
Asian4%
White67%
Hispanic / Latino7%
Black16%
Multiracial5%
Native American1%
NCES Common Core of Data · Race/ethnicity self-reported · NCES ID: 263447008727

Academic Outcomes at UCS Alternative Learning Center

Graduation Rate (Adjusted Cohort)
40-44
Below avg
National avg 87%
Graduation Rate Comparison
This school
42%
State avg
81%
National avg
87%
Neighborhood Opportunity Score
52
/ 100
Near-median opportunity

Children from modest-income families in this neighborhood reach the 52th income percentile as adults. This school is in the 85th percentile nationally.

0 — Low50 — MedianHigh — 100
Opportunity Atlas (Chetty, Friedman et al., Harvard/Census) · Census tract · ZIP 48314

School Resources & Funding

Per-Pupil Expenditure$13,893Near avg
National avg $14,347
Per-Pupil Spending Comparison
This school
$13,893
State avg
$37,188
National avg
$14,347
How School Funding Is Typically Spent
44%
19%
12%
15%
Instruction$6,113
Student Support$2,640
Administration$1,667
Operations$2,084
Other$1,389
Estimated using national average spending distribution (NCES) · School-level breakdowns not publicly reported
Of the $13,893 spent per student, an estimated $6,154 (~44%) goes directly to classroom instruction.
Where Funding Comes From
63%
27%
State government
63.4%
Local (property tax)
27.1%
Federal programs
9.5%
NCES F-33 Finance Survey · District-level data applied to this school
Strengths & Considerations
Strengths
  • Traditional public school — open enrollment, no application process required
Worth Considering
  • 42% graduation rate — below the national average of 87%
Strengths and considerations are derived from federal data thresholds — not editorial judgements. See data sources below.
K–12 Pathway in District
Elementary
Beacon Tree Elementary SchoolRichard J Duncan ElementaryFloyd Ebeling Elementary SchoolSchuchard Elementary School
+15 more
↓
Middle
Malow Junior High SchoolShelby Junior High SchoolBemis Junior High SchoolDavis Junior High School
+3 more
↓
High School
Adlai Stevenson High SchoolEisenhower High SchoolHenry Ford II High SchoolUtica High School
School Profile
TypeAlternative Education School
LevelHigh
Grades09 – 12
Location—
CountyMacomb County
CharterNo
VirtualNo
DistrictUtica Community Schools →
Phone: (586)797-7000
NCES ID: 263447008727
Who Is This School For?

Best suited for families in Sterling Heights seeking a public high school, especially those prioritizing a diverse, community-focused learning environment. We always recommend an in-person visit and a conversation with current families before making any enrollment decision.

More in Utica Community Schools
High
Adlai Stevenson High School
1,977 students · 09–12
● 48 opp55% FRL
High
Eisenhower High School
1,835 students · 10–12
● 52 opp21% FRL
High
Henry Ford II High School
1,717 students · 09–12
● 48 opp37% FRL
High
Utica High School
1,368 students · 10–12
● 41 opp36% FRL
Mid
Malow Junior High School
1,043 students · 07–09
● 52 opp27% FRL
Mid
Shelby Junior High School
1,025 students · 07–09
● 52 opp25% FRL
Mid
Bemis Junior High School
805 students · 07–08
● 48 opp43% FRL
Mid
Davis Junior High School
728 students · 07–09
58% FRL
District School Rankings
Location
7600 18 Mile Rd, Sterling Heights, MI 48314
Data Sources & Transparency
Enrollment & Profile
NCES Common Core of Data. Grades, enrollment, demographics, school characteristics. Updated annually.
Funding & Spending
NCES F-33 Finance Survey. District-level spending data. School-level breakdowns are not publicly reported.
Graduation Rate
EDFacts Adjusted Cohort Graduation Rate (ACGR). High schools only. Small cohorts may be range-coded for privacy.
Opportunity Score
Opportunity Atlas (Chetty, Friedman et al., Harvard/Census Bureau). Census tract outcomes for children born in the 1980s.
Fact-Based Rankings
Best-school rankings are computed from federal metrics only — enrollment, per-pupil spending, student-teacher ratio, opportunity score, and graduation rate. No editorial opinion or paid placements.
Equity Data (Coming Soon)
AP access, counselor ratios, and chronic absenteeism from the CRDC will be added in a future update.

Questions to Ask on Your School Visit

Research shows the most important factors are invisible in the data. Here is what to ask when you visit.

High
1
What percentage of students take AP or dual enrollment courses?
Indicates academic rigor and college prep
2
What college counseling and application support is provided?
Ratio of students per counselor matters
3
What career and vocational pathways are offered?
CTE programs, internships, industry partnerships
4
How does the school support students at risk of not graduating?
Credit recovery, attendance intervention
5
What's the school's culture around attendance and behavior?
Discipline approach, restorative practices
6
What happens after graduation — where do students go?
Ask about college, career, military outcomes
7
What does the school do with student performance data?
How data is used to personalize instruction
8
How would you describe teacher retention here?
High turnover can disrupt continuity of learning
9
What's the culture around student diversity and inclusion?
How differences are celebrated and managed

Frequently Asked Questions

About this school and the data on this page

About This Data

All figures on this page come directly from US federal open datasets — NCES Common Core of Data, EDFacts, and the Opportunity Atlas — and we work hard to keep them accurate and up to date. That said, federal data is published on an annual cycle, so some figures may not yet reflect the very latest school-year changes or local updates. We recommend using this page as a helpful starting point and cross-checking with the school or district directly, or visiting the NCES Common Core of Data and ed.gov for the most authoritative figures before making any important decisions.