Renaissance Alternative High School

Q: Is Renaissance Alternative High School a good school?

Renaissance Alternative High School ranks 536 th of 743 Michigan high schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 1 star out of 5.

Summary:

Renaissance Alternative High School is a public high school serving grades 9-12 in Clarkston, Michigan, which is part of the Clarkston Community School District. With a relatively small student population of 165, the school faces significant challenges compared to nearby high schools.

Renaissance Alternative High School has a more diverse student population than Clarkston High School, with higher percentages of minority students. However, the school consistently underperforms academically, with only 28.6% of students proficient or better in M-Step/Science, compared to 57% for the Clarkston district and 37.5% for the state. Renaissance also has much lower graduation rates (60.4%) and higher dropout rates (18.6%) than Clarkston High School (96.8% graduation, 0.5% dropout). Additionally, the school struggles with chronic absenteeism, ranging from 69.2% to 86.1% over the past five years, significantly higher than the 17.9% rate at Clarkston High School.

Despite spending significantly more per student ($21,067) than Clarkston High School ($14,462) and having a lower student-teacher ratio of 9.3, Renaissance Alternative High School continues to underperform nearby schools, such as Waterford Durant High School and Harbor High School, which generally outperform Renaissance in academic measures and have lower rates of chronic absenteeism and dropout. The school's challenges suggest the need for targeted interventions and support to improve student outcomes.

Detail:

Public 9-12

6558 Waldon Rd
Clarkston, MI 48346-2469

(248) 623-8060

District: Clarkston Community School District

SchoolDigger Rank:
536^th of 743 Michigan High Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures: $21,067

Student/teacher ratio: 8.2

Number of students: 140

Racial breakdown:

White:

75.0%

Hispanic:

12.9%

African American:

6.4%

Free/discounted lunch recipients: 57.1%

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Performance Trends

Compare Details Renaissance Alternative High School ranks worse than 72.1% of high schools in Michigan. (See more...)

Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 26.49. (See more...)

The four-year cohort graduation rate measures the percentage of students at Renaissance Alternative High School who earn a standard high school diploma within four years of starting ninth grade.

The high school dropout rate measures the percentage of students who do not complete their high school education.

Chronic absenteeism in a school refers to a situation where students repeatedly miss school, with the threshold often defined as missing 10% or more of school days for any reason, excused or unexcused.

Student Body

Compare Details Renaissance Alternative High School has the smallest high school student body size in the Clarkston Community School District. Racial makeup is: White (75%), Hispanic (12.9%), African American (6.4%). (See more...)

Compare Details 57.1% of students are receiving a free or discounted lunch. This is the highest percentage in the Clarkston Community School District. (See more...)

Teachers

Compare Details The student/teacher ratio at Renaissance Alternative High School is 8.2, which is the lowest among 3 high schools in the Clarkston Community School District! (See more...)

Compare Renaissance Alternative High School employs 17 full-time teachers.

Finance

Compare Details The average total spent per student at Renaissance Alternative High School is $21,067, which is the highest among 3 high schools in the Clarkston Community School District!

Schooldigger 2024 Rankings:

Renaissance Alternative High School:

SchoolDigger ranks Renaissance Alternative High School 536^th of 743 Michigan public high schools. (See Renaissance Alternative High School in the ranking list.)

High School Test Score Ratings by Student Subgroup:

Low Socio Economic Status students:

Male students:

White students:

Clarkston Community School District:

SchoolDigger ranks Clarkston Community School District 105^th of 610 Michigan school districts. (See district ranking list.)

Average Parent Rating:

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Rank History for Renaissance Alternative High School

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Rank History for all students at Renaissance Alternative High School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	MI State Percentile
2006	5.43	652^nd	705	7.5%
2007	14.33	642^nd	767	16.3%
2008	5.32	711^th	750	5.2%
2009	12.13	653^rd	754	13.4%
2010	25.17	587^th	765	23.3%
2011	8.89	703^rd	784	10.3%
2012	10.12	693^rd	773	10.3%
2013	15.18	654^th	805	18.8%
2014	12.25	672^nd	799	15.9%
2015	14.22	709^th	832	14.8%
2016	12.23	696^th	852	18.3%
2017	5.77	743^rd	835	11.0%
2018	7.08	745^th	824	9.6%
2019	7.44	619^th	666	7.1%
2023	14.73	634^th	735	13.7%
2024	26.49	536^th	743	27.9%

See the entire list of Michigan High School Rankings!

Rank History for Low Socio Economic Status students at Renaissance Alternative High School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	MI State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2018	11.37	645^th	755	14.6%
2024	24.25	511^th	654	21.9%

See the entire list of Best Michigan High Schools for Low Socio Economic Status Students!

Rank History for Female students at Renaissance Alternative High School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	MI State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2018	6.29	641^st	710	9.7%
2023	19.92	492^nd	611	19.5%

See the entire list of Best Michigan High Schools for Female Students!

Rank History for Male students at Renaissance Alternative High School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	MI State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2018	4.08	672^nd	707	5.0%
2024	39.87	378^th	633	40.3%

See the entire list of Best Michigan High Schools for Male Students!

Rank History for White students at Renaissance Alternative High School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	MI State Percentile
2018	1.04	707^th	708	0.1%
2019	3.87	566^th	582	2.7%
2023	7.06	622^nd	647	3.9%
2024	28.32	460^th	638	27.9%

See the entire list of Best Michigan High Schools for White Students!

Data source: test scores: Michigan Department of Education, rankings: SchoolDigger.com

As you review the school rankings data, please be aware that some of the information from certain demographics is missing. The reason for this omission is that the data has been redacted from the source data itself due to low population samples in these specific demographic groups.

Redacting data from low population samples is a necessary step to ensure the reliability and accuracy of the results, as small sample sizes may not be representative of the broader population. Additionally, this measure helps protect the privacy of individuals belonging to these demographic groups.

Data source: Michigan Department of Education

Review counts

All ratings (Avg rating: 5)

100%

Reviews:
No reviews have been submitted!

Enrollment information for Renaissance Alternative High School

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Year	White	African American	Asian	Hispanic	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Not Specified	Total
2002	97	2	1	4	0	n/a	n/a	0	104
2003	97	2	1	4	0	n/a	n/a	0	104
2004	92	4	1	4	1	n/a	n/a	0	102
2005	97	7	2	8	2	n/a	n/a	0	116
2006	116	3	1	9	0	n/a	n/a	9	138
2007	101	3	1	8	0	n/a	n/a	8	121
2008	134	8	n/a	8	n/a	n/a	n/a	6	156
2009	138	5	3	9	1	n/a	n/a	10	166
2010	148	13	3	7	2	n/a	n/a	9	182
2011	133	17	1	9	3	0	7	0	170
2012	172	25	5	34	0	0	6	0	242
2013	161	27	3	27	2	0	9	0	229
2014	159	17	2	22	1	0	9	0	210
2015	152	12	2	21	2	0	6	0	195
2016	149	10	2	19	1	0	8	0	189
2017	113	13	0	19	0	0	8	0	153
2018	137	13	1	13	0	0	9	0	173
2019	114	13	1	20	0	0	9	0	157
2020	115	10	2	24	0	0	4	0	155
2021	111	8	3	16	0	0	5	0	143
2022	125	13	4	18	1	0	5	0	166
2023	128	12	1	20	0	0	4	0	165
2024	105	9	1	18	0	0	7	0	140

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Enrollment/Ethnicity

For more information about how the Department of Education defines ethnicity, see Defining Race and Ethnicity Data, National Center for Education Statistics

Students eligible for free or discounted lunch at Renaissance Alternative High School

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Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
2002	104	1.0	104.0	n/a
2003	104	1.0	104.0	n/a
2004	102	2.0	51.0	n/a
2005	116	1.0	116.0	40.5
2006	138	1.3	106.2	0
2007	121	3.2	37.8	33.6
2008	156	12.1	12.9	28
2009	166	15.3	10.8	28.8
2010	182	13.5	13.4	50.9
2011	170	11.2	15.1	51.2
2012	242	13.8	17.5	53.3
2013	229	14.5	15.7	61.1
2014	210	14.1	14.8	60
2015	195	13.0	15.0	44.6
2016	189	15.0	12.6	58.7
2017	153	13.7	11.0	55.6
2018	173	13.6	12.6	57.8
2019	157	14.2	11.0	59.2
2020	155	14.0	11.0	49
2021	143	15.6	9.1	47.6
2022	166	16.7	9.9	51.8
2023	165	17.7	9.3	53.3
2024	140	17.0	8.2	57.1

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Students eligible for discounted/free lunch:

The National School Lunch Program (NSLP) provides low-cost or free meals to students in U.S. public and nonprofit private schools based on household income. Those with incomes below 130% of the poverty line receive free lunch, while those between 130% and 185% qualify for reduced-price lunch. The percentage of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch serves as a marker for poverty, as it reflects the socioeconomic status of families in a given school or district. A higher FRPL rate typically indicates a higher concentration of low-income families, suggesting that the school or district may face additional challenges in providing adequate resources and support for student success.

Student/Teacher Ratio Renaissance Alternative High School

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Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
2002	104	1.0	104.0	n/a
2003	104	1.0	104.0	n/a
2004	102	2.0	51.0	n/a
2005	116	1.0	116.0	40.5
2006	138	1.3	106.2	0
2007	121	3.2	37.8	33.6
2008	156	12.1	12.9	28
2009	166	15.3	10.8	28.8
2010	182	13.5	13.4	50.9
2011	170	11.2	15.1	51.2
2012	242	13.8	17.5	53.3
2013	229	14.5	15.7	61.1
2014	210	14.1	14.8	60
2015	195	13.0	15.0	44.6
2016	189	15.0	12.6	58.7
2017	153	13.7	11.0	55.6
2018	173	13.6	12.6	57.8
2019	157	14.2	11.0	59.2
2020	155	14.0	11.0	49
2021	143	15.6	9.1	47.6
2022	166	16.7	9.9	51.8
2023	165	17.7	9.3	53.3
2024	140	17.0	8.2	57.1

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Student-Teacher Ratio

Student/teacher ratio is calculated by dividing the total number of students by the total number of full-time equivalent teachers. Please note that a smaller student/teacher ratio does not necessarily translate to smaller class size. In some instances, schools hire teachers part time, and some teachers are hired for specialized instruction with very small class sizes. These and other factors contribute to the student/teacher ratio. Note: For private schools, Student/teacher ratio may not include Pre-Kindergarten.

Finances

Per Pupil Expenditures for Renaissance Alternative High School

Year	Expenditures from Federal Funds	Expenditures from State and Local Funds	Total Expenditures Per Pupil (All Funds)
2019	$1,450 (8.2%)	$16,151 (91.8%)	$17,601
2020	$410 (2.4%)	$16,921 (97.6%)	$17,331
2021	$778 (4.1%)	$18,088 (95.9%)	$18,866
2022	$1,273 (6.6%)	$17,885 (93.4%)	$19,159
2023	$862 (4.1%)	$20,204 (95.9%)	$21,067

Data source: Michigan Department of Education

Pre and Post Pandemic Data

Impact of COVID-19 on Renaissance Alternative High School

The coronavirus has had a profound impact on education in America. Learning shifted online overnight, attendance numbers dwindled, and enrollment decreased. SchoolDigger.com is making it easier for you to better assess how COVID-19 has impacted your school. Through the collection of pre-pandemic (2019) and current data, SchoolDigger.com is sharing test scores, enrollment numbers and school demographics from schools across the country – and we make it easy to see how impacted schools compare locally and statewide.

Rankings

Rank Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	Rank Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
Ranks 619^th of 666 High schools	Ranks 634^th of 735 High schools	6.7%

Test Scores

	% proficient Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	% proficient Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
11th Grade Evidence-Based Reading and Writing (Renaissance Alternative High School)	21.2	25	3.8%
11th Grade Evidence-Based Reading and Writing (Clarkston Community School District)	65.6	59.9	5.7%
11th Grade Evidence-Based Reading and Writing (Michigan)	55.3	52.2	3.1%

Student Body

	Number of students Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	Number of students Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
Total Students	157	165	5.1%
African American	13	12	7.7%
American Indian	0	0
Asian	1	1
Hispanic	20	20
Pacific Islander	0	0
White	114	128	12.3%
Two or More Races	9	4	55.6%
% Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	59.2%	53.3%	5.9%

Schools Near Renaissance Alternative High School

Choose columns to see: Summary School Students/Teachers Ranking Test Scores Finance All

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2024)				Ranking (2023)				PSAT English Language Arts (2024)	PSAT Mathematics (2024)	SAT Evidence-Based Reading and Writing (2024)	SAT Mathematics (2024)	M-Step Science (2024)		M-Step Social Studies (2024)		Per Pupil Expenditures (2023)
Name	Type	Grades	Address	City	Zip	County	District	Is Charter	Is Magnet	Is Virtual	Is Title I	Phone	Enrollment	Full-time Teachers	Student/ Teacher Ratio	Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	White	Black	Hispanic	Asian	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Average Standard Score (2024)	Statewide Rank (2024)	State Percentile (2024)	SchoolDigger Rating (2024)	Average Standard Score (2023)	Statewide Rank (2023)	State Percentile (2023)	Rank Change from Previous Year	PSAT English Language Arts 8th Grade	PSAT Mathematics 8th Grade	SAT Evidence-Based Reading and Writing 11th Grade	SAT Mathematics 11th Grade	M-Step Science 8th Grade	M-Step Science 11th Grade	M-Step Social Studies 8th Grade	M-Step Social Studies 11th Grade	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
Renaissance Alternative High School	Public	9-12	6558 Waldon Rd	Clarkston	48346	Oakland County	Clarkston Community School District	No	No	No	Yes	(248) 623-8060	140	17	8.2	57.1%	105 (75.0%)	9 (6.4%)	18 (12.9%)	1 (0.7%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	7 (5.0%)	26.5	536^th of 743 public high schools	27.9%		14.7	634^th of 735 public high schools	13.7%	98			32.1			28.6		23.1	$21,067	$862	$20,204
Clarkston Junior High School	Public	7-12	6595 Waldon Rd	Clarkston	48346	Oakland County	Clarkston Community School District	No	No	No	No	(248) 623-5600	982	58	16.8	21.3%	826 (84.1%)	24 (2.4%)	78 (7.9%)	18 (1.8%)	0 (0.0%)	4 (0.4%)	32 (3.3%)								(n/a)	74.6	46.1			45.9		40.3		$13,628	$994	$12,634
Clarkston High School	Public	7-12	6093 Flemings Lake Rd	Clarkston	48346	Oakland County	Clarkston Community School District	No	No	No	No	(248) 623-3600	1,560	79	19.7	16.8%	1,354 (86.8%)	29 (1.9%)	97 (6.2%)	38 (2.4%)	3 (0.2%)	1 (0.1%)	38 (2.4%)	89.4	62^nd of 743 public high schools	91.7%		62.1	239^th of 735 public high schools	67.5%	177			72.4	47.0		58.5		53.1	$14,462	$887	$13,575
Oakland Schools Technical CampusNW	Public	9-12	8211 Big Lake Rd	Clarkston	48346	Oakland County	Oakland Schools	No	No	No	No	(248) 922-5800	0	15	.0		0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()								(n/a)
Waterford Kettering High School	Public	7-12	2800 Kettering Dr	Waterford	48329	Oakland County	Waterford School District	No	No	No	No	(248) 673-1261	902	46	19.4	39.2%	676 (74.9%)	53 (5.9%)	118 (13.1%)	18 (2.0%)	3 (0.3%)	1 (0.1%)	33 (3.7%)	45.3	374^th of 743 public high schools	49.7%		45.4	386^th of 735 public high schools	47.5%	12			49.8	19.6		38.5		30.3	$15,516	$1,971	$13,546
Waterford Mott High School	Public	9-12	1151 Scott Lake Rd	Waterford	48328	Oakland County	Waterford School District	No	No	No	No	(248) 674-4134	1,076	58	18.4	51.5%	558 (51.9%)	158 (14.7%)	260 (24.2%)	30 (2.8%)	8 (0.7%)	5 (0.5%)	57 (5.3%)	31	505^th of 743 public high schools	32.0%		25.9	546^th of 735 public high schools	25.7%	41			38.8	11.5		31.7		29.2	$15,632	$1,874	$13,758
Waterford Durant High School	Public	9-12	501 N Cass Lake Rd	Waterford	48328	Oakland County	Waterford School District	No	No	No	No	(248) 674-6347	123	12	9.9	69.1%	65 (52.8%)	18 (14.6%)	31 (25.2%)	2 (1.6%)	1 (0.8%)	0 (0.0%)	6 (4.9%)	8	683^rd of 743 public high schools	8.1%		3.8	724^th of 735 public high schools	1.5%	41						9.5		14.3	$26,721	$10,546	$16,175
Brandon High School	Public	7-12	1025 S Ortonville Rd	Ortonville	48462	Oakland County	Brandon School District	No	No	No	No	(248) 627-1820	695	32	21.4	38.4%	601 (86.5%)	14 (2.0%)	54 (7.8%)	15 (2.2%)	5 (0.7%)	0 (0.0%)	6 (0.9%)	65.2	213^th of 743 public high schools	71.3%		73.3	160^th of 735 public high schools	78.2%	53			50.6	28.7		49.4		44.9	$14,144	$1,342	$12,801
Harbor High School	Public	8-12	1000 Hill Rd	White Lake	48383	Oakland County	Huron Valley Schools	No	No	No	No	(248) 676-8421	142	9	15.3	60.6%	121 (85.2%)	1 (0.7%)	14 (9.9%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.7%)	0 (0.0%)	5 (3.5%)	8.1	682^nd of 743 public high schools	8.2%		21.8	569^th of 735 public high schools	22.6%	113			16.4			16.4		9.8	$15,933	$1,592	$14,341
Huron Valley Adult Education	Public	9-12	1000 Hill Rd	White Lake	48383	Oakland County	Huron Valley Schools	No	No	No	No	(248) 676-8399	6	0			5 (83.3%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (16.7%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)								(n/a)									$63,175	$2,270	$60,905

Frequently Asked Questions about Renaissance Alternative High School

What is the racial makeup of Renaissance Alternative High School?

Students at Renaissance Alternative High School are 75% White, 13% Hispanic, 6% African American, 5% Two or more races.

What district is Renaissance Alternative High School in?

Clarkston Community School District

How many students attend Renaissance Alternative High School?

In the 2023-24 school year, 140 students attended Renaissance Alternative High School.

Is Renaissance Alternative High School a good school?

Renaissance Alternative High School ranks 536^th of 743 Michigan high schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 1 star out of 5.

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SchoolDigger data sources: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education, the U.S. Census Bureau and the Michigan Department of Education.

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMERS: Not all boundaries are included. We make every effort to ensure that boundaries are up-to-date. But it's important to note that these are approximations and are for general informational purposes only. To verify legal descriptions of boundaries or school locations, contact your local tax assessor's office and/or school district.