Mahadev Maitri Foundation
US Initiatives
Middle· 20 schools in district

Clifford H Smart Middle School

8500 COMMERCE RD, COMMERCE TOWNSHIP, MI 48382Walled Lake Consolidated Schools →
Federal DataRegular SchoolGrades 06–08Non-Charter
934
Students
Total enrolled
$21,783
Per-Pupil Spend
Nat'l avg $14,347
↑ 52% vs nat'l
22.3 : 1
Student:Teacher
Nat'l avg 15.4:1
↑ 45% vs nat'l
45/100
Opportunity Score
Neighborhood outcomes
↓ 10% vs nat'l
⇄ Compare with another school
Large public school
Serves 934 students in grades 06–08 in COMMERCE TOWNSHIP, Michigan.
52% above average funding
District spends $21,783 per pupil, 52% more than the national average of $14,347.
Below-median opportunity
Children from this neighborhood historically reach the 45th income percentile as adults, per Harvard/Census Opportunity Atlas data.
About This School

Clifford H Smart Middle School is a large middle in COMMERCE TOWNSHIP, Michigan, serving grades 06–08 with 934 students. The district invests $21,783 per student — 52% above the national average of $14,347, with a 22.3:1 student-teacher ratio that is higher than the national norm of 15.4:1. With only 22% of students on free or reduced-price lunch, the school primarily serves an economically stable community.

Student Body & Demographics at Clifford H Smart Middle School

934
Total Students
22.3 : 1
Student:Teacher
22%
Free Lunch
42
Teacher FTE
Grade Range
PK
K
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
Highlighted grades (06–08) are served by this school
Gender Distribution466 male · 468 female
50%
50%
Male 50%Female 50%
Free / Reduced Lunch Eligibility22%
National avg 52% · 208 students
Student Composition
87%
Asian2%
White87%
Hispanic / Latino5%
Black3%
Multiracial3%
NCES Common Core of Data · Race/ethnicity self-reported · NCES ID: 263516007072

Academic Outcomes at Clifford H Smart Middle School

Neighborhood Opportunity Score
45
/ 100
Below-median opportunity

Children from modest-income families in this neighborhood reach the 45th income percentile as adults. This school is in the 56th percentile nationally.

0 — Low50 — MedianHigh — 100
Opportunity Atlas (Chetty, Friedman et al., Harvard/Census) · Census tract · ZIP 48382

School Resources & Funding

Per-Pupil Expenditure$21,783Above avg
National avg $14,347
Per-Pupil Spending Comparison
This school
$21,783
State avg
$37,188
National avg
$14,347
How School Funding Is Typically Spent
44%
19%
12%
15%
Instruction$9,585
Student Support$4,139
Administration$2,614
Operations$3,268
Other$2,178
Estimated using national average spending distribution (NCES) · School-level breakdowns not publicly reported
Of the $21,783 spent per student, an estimated $9,650 (~44%) goes directly to classroom instruction.
Where Funding Comes From
51%
39%
State government
50.6%
Local (property tax)
39.5%
Federal programs
9.9%
NCES F-33 Finance Survey · District-level data applied to this school
Strengths & Considerations
Strengths
  • Above-average funding — $21,783/student vs $14,347 nationally
  • Traditional public school — open enrollment, no application process required
Worth Considering
  • 22.3:1 student-teacher ratio — larger classes than the national average of 15.4:1
Strengths and considerations are derived from federal data thresholds — not editorial judgements. See data sources below.
K–12 Pathway in District
Elementary
Meadowbrook Elementary SchoolCommerce Elementary SchoolKeith Elementary SchoolHickory Woods Elementary School
+9 more
↓
Middle
Walnut Creek Middle SchoolJames R Geisler Middle SchoolSarah G Banks Middle School
↓
High School
Walled Lake Northern High SchoolWalled Lake Central High SchoolWalled Lake Western High School
School Profile
TypeRegular School
LevelMiddle
Grades06 – 08
Location—
CountyOakland County
CharterNo
VirtualNo
DistrictWalled Lake Consolidated Schools →
Phone: (248)956-3500
NCES ID: 263516007072
Who Is This School For?

Best suited for families in COMMERCE TOWNSHIP seeking a public middle school, especially those prioritizing above-average resources and classroom investment. We always recommend an in-person visit and a conversation with current families before making any enrollment decision.

More in Walled Lake Consolidated Schools
High
Walled Lake Northern High School
1,485 students · 09–12
● 45 opp19% FRL
High
Walled Lake Central High School
1,194 students · 08–12
● 56 opp33% FRL
High
Walled Lake Western High School
1,133 students · 09–12
● 56 opp34% FRL
Mid
Walnut Creek Middle School
655 students · 06–08
● 58 opp38% FRL
Elem
Meadowbrook Elementary School
570 students · KG–05
● 40 opp50% FRL
Mid
James R Geisler Middle School
562 students · 06–10
● 56 opp40% FRL
Elem
Commerce Elementary School
561 students · KG–05
● 45 opp23% FRL
Mid
Sarah G Banks Middle School
553 students · 06–08
35% FRL
District School Rankings
Location
8500 COMMERCE RD, COMMERCE TOWNSHIP, MI 48382
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.

Middle
1
How does the school support the transition from elementary?
Orientation programs, peer mentoring
2
What electives and clubs are available?
Arts, STEM, sports, extracurriculars
3
How are students grouped for core subjects?
Tracking policies can affect equity
4
What is the school's homework and study policy?
Look for balance and academic support
5
How is bullying and social pressure addressed?
Anti-bullying policies, counselor availability
6
What advanced or enrichment options exist?
Honors courses, gifted programs
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.