Is South Lake High School a good school?

South Lake High School ranks in the bottom 18.4% of Michigan high schools.

How many students attend South Lake High School?

In the 2023-24 school year, 474 students attended South Lake High School.

What is the racial makeup of South Lake High School?

Students at South Lake High School are 75% African American, 16% White, 6% Two or more races, 3% Hispanic.

What schools feed into South Lake High School?

South Lake High School is fed by the following schools: Elementary : Avalon Elementary School Elementary : Elmwood Elementary School Middle : South Lake Middle School

South Lake High School

Summary:

South Lake High School is a public high school located in Saint Clair Shores, Michigan, serving 516 students in grades 9-12. The school is part of the Lakeview Public Schools (Macomb) district, which is ranked 536 out of 610 districts in Michigan and has a 1-star rating from SchoolDigger.

South Lake High School stands out for several key factors. It has a significantly higher percentage of African American students (73.64%) compared to the state average, in contrast to nearby schools like Lakeview High School, which has a majority white student population (71.33%). Academically, South Lake High School consistently ranks in the bottom quartile of Michigan high schools, with only 15-27.7% of 11th-grade students proficient in core subjects. The school's graduation rate has fluctuated between 91.2% and 96.1%, while its dropout rate has been relatively high, ranging from 0.7% to 4.8%. Additionally, South Lake High School has a very high chronic absenteeism rate, ranging from 24.5% to 62.7%, significantly higher than the state average and nearby schools like Lakeview High School (32.8%).

When compared to nearby high-performing schools like Grosse Pointe North High School, the stark differences in academic performance, graduation rates, and chronic absenteeism at South Lake High School suggest systemic issues related to equity and access to quality education for the predominantly African American student population. Despite the school's relatively high per-student spending, the poor academic outcomes raise questions about the effective allocation and utilization of resources. Addressing the root causes of chronic absenteeism and improving educational outcomes should be a priority for the school and the Lakeview Public Schools (Macomb) district.

Detail:

Public 9-12

21900 E 9 Mile Rd
Saint Clair Shores, MI 48080-2905

(586) 435-1401

District: South Lake Schools

SchoolDigger Rank:
606^th of 743 Michigan High Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures: $14,708

Feeder schools for South Lake High School:

Elementary:	Avalon Elementary School
	Elmwood Elementary School
Middle:	South Lake Middle School

Student/teacher ratio: 16.7

Number of students: 474

Racial breakdown:

African American:

74.9%

White:

16.0%

Two or more races:

5.7%

Free/discounted lunch recipients: 64.8%

See top rated Michigan high schools

Compare South Lake High School to nearby high schools!

Performance Trends

Compare Details South Lake High School ranks worse than 81.6% of high schools in Michigan. (See more...)

Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 19.22. (See more...)

The four-year cohort graduation rate measures the percentage of students at South Lake 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 Racial makeup is: African American (74.9%), White (16%), two or more races (5.7%). (See more...)

Compare Details 64.8% of students are receiving a free or discounted lunch. (See more...)

Teachers

Compare Details The student/teacher ratio at South Lake High School is 16.7. (See more...)

Compare South Lake High School employs 28.2 full-time teachers.

Finance

Compare Details The average total spent per student at South Lake High School is $14,708.

Schooldigger 2024 Rankings:

South Lake High School:

SchoolDigger ranks South Lake High School 606^th of 743 Michigan public high schools. (See South Lake High School in the ranking list.)

High School Test Score Ratings by Student Subgroup:

Low Socio Economic Status students:

Female students:

Male students:

African American students:

White students:

South Lake Schools:

SchoolDigger ranks South Lake Schools 536^th of 610 Michigan school districts. (See district ranking list.)

Average Parent Rating:

Read all reviews and ratings detail for South Lake High School.

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Your rating for South Lake High School?

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Rank History for South Lake High School

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Rank History for all students at South Lake High School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	MI State Percentile
2006	53.95	399^th	705	43.4%
2007	63.66	329^th	767	57.1%
2008	56.85	411^th	750	45.2%
2009	54.19	434^th	754	42.4%
2010	47.10	492^nd	765	35.7%
2011	41.33	537^th	784	31.5%
2012	41.44	498^th	773	35.6%
2013	45.87	464^th	805	42.4%
2014	41.27	499^th	799	37.5%
2015	53.98	399^th	832	52.0%
2016	38.79	495^th	852	41.9%
2017	27.53	540^th	835	35.3%
2018	23.96	590^th	824	28.4%
2019	24.35	515^th	666	22.7%
2021	6.62	541^st	561	3.6%
2022	6.14	526^th	531	0.9%
2023	8.23	677^th	735	7.9%
2024	19.22	606^th	743	18.4%

See the entire list of Michigan High School Rankings!

Rank History for Special Education students at South Lake High School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	MI State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2018	21.76	254^th	315	19.4%

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

Rank History for Low Socio Economic Status students at South Lake High School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	MI State Percentile
2018	22.48	566^th	755	25.0%
2019	25.52	425^th	532	20.1%
2021	12.21	393^rd	417	5.8%
2023	8.16	580^th	614	5.5%
2024	27.86	484^th	654	26.0%

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

Rank History for Female students at South Lake High School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	MI State Percentile
2018	25.84	516^th	710	27.3%
2019	19.69	464^th	554	16.2%
2021	8.35	448^th	462	3.0%
2023	7.76	572^nd	611	6.4%
2024	12.37	548^th	619	11.5%

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

Rank History for Male students at South Lake High School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	MI State Percentile
2018	15.02	573^rd	707	19.0%
2019	18.39	463^rd	543	14.7%
2021	1.40	471^st	472	0.2%
2023	4.55	599^th	611	2.0%
2024	19.18	533^rd	633	15.8%

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

Rank History for African American students at South Lake High School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	MI State Percentile
2018	32.35	156^th	254	38.6%
2019	35.75	88^th	147	40.1%
2021	22.98	47^th	59	20.3%
2023	22.52	137^th	170	19.4%
2024	33.23	122^nd	188	35.1%

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

Rank History for White students at South Lake High School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	MI State Percentile
2018	58.55	275^th	708	61.2%
2019	53.80	261^st	582	55.2%
2023	22.57	524^th	647	19.0%
2024	62.98	196^th	638	69.3%

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: 4.7)

67%

33%

Reviews:

by a teacher
Tuesday, May 15, 2018

Great students, Teachers that care about each student make our school a wonderful place to work and learn. Close Quote

by a parent
Sunday, September 19, 2010

My son loves his freshman year at South Lake High and the staff are wonderful. Close Quote

Enrollment information for South Lake High School

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Year	White	African American	Asian	Hispanic	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Not Specified	Total
1988	705	2	8	5	28	n/a	n/a	-235	513
1989	624	3	5	2	30	n/a	n/a	-132	532
1990	611	2	9	5	10	n/a	n/a	-75	562
1991	599	2	8	7	26	n/a	n/a	0	642
1992	572	4	13	11	28	n/a	n/a	0	628
1993	587	3	12	12	27	n/a	n/a	0	641
1994	597	4	17	7	26	n/a	n/a	0	651
1995	624	7	15	7	15	n/a	n/a	0	668
1996	624	7	15	7	15	n/a	n/a	0	668
1997	664	6	18	7	15	n/a	n/a	0	710
1998	687	14	13	10	14	n/a	n/a	0	738
1999	692	18	13	6	18	n/a	n/a	0	747
2000	692	27	18	7	16	n/a	n/a	0	760
2001	672	27	17	7	14	n/a	n/a	0	737
2002	740	68	26	12	21	n/a	n/a	1	868
2003	740	68	26	12	21	n/a	n/a	1	868
2004	739	100	25	11	21	n/a	n/a	0	896
2005	729	119	23	17	27	n/a	n/a	0	915
2006	682	183	17	19	22	n/a	n/a	0	923
2007	677	193	16	24	18	n/a	n/a	2	930
2008	619	217	9	21	16	n/a	n/a	5	887
2009	522	258	9	19	10	n/a	n/a	9	827
2010	501	316	4	16	10	n/a	n/a	12	859
2011	361	288	3	13	8	1	24	0	698
2012	346	307	5	21	4	2	28	0	713
2013	331	294	8	23	2	0	15	0	673
2014	287	278	9	17	1	0	17	0	609
2015	270	331	9	17	1	0	25	0	653
2016	230	338	6	11	0	0	30	0	615
2017	202	311	6	15	0	0	32	0	566
2018	164	333	6	13	0	0	30	0	546
2019	135	325	3	13	0	0	32	0	508
2020	123	318	4	14	0	0	26	0	485
2021	106	338	4	16	0	0	24	0	488
2022	92	377	5	15	0	0	26	0	515
2023	84	380	4	17	0	0	31	0	516
2024	76	355	4	12	0	0	27	0	474

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 South Lake High School

Compare

Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
1988	513	n/a	n/a	n/a
1989	532	n/a	n/a	4.7
1990	562	51.0	11.0	4.3
1991	642	n/a	n/a	n/a
1992	628	n/a	n/a	12.6
1993	641	n/a	0.0	12
1994	651	30.0	21.7	8.1
1995	668	31.5	21.2	8.5
1996	668	31.5	21.2	8.5
1997	710	37.0	19.2	9.3
1998	738	38.0	19.4	9.1
1999	747	39.0	19.2	6.6
2000	760	40.5	18.8	7.8
2001	737	41.9	17.6	5.4
2002	868	43.2	20.1	12.7
2003	868	43.2	20.1	12.7
2004	896	47.3	18.9	14.7
2005	915	44.0	20.8	18.8
2006	923	44.3	20.8	23
2007	930	43.5	21.4	22.6
2008	887	43.1	20.6	30.5
2009	827	40.9	20.2	35.2
2010	859	38.2	22.4	46.4
2011	698	33.6	20.7	49.3
2012	713	33.1	21.4	51.8
2013	673	34.1	19.7	57.8
2014	609	31.6	19.2	57.8
2015	653	30.0	21.7	61.6
2016	615	26.0	23.6	64.1
2017	566	26.8	21.0	67.1
2018	546	28.5	19.1	66.3
2019	508	26.1	19.4	62.4
2020	485	27.6	17.5	68.5
2021	488	25.9	18.8	50.4
2022	515	26.1	19.7	61.9
2023	516	23.0	22.3	61.2
2024	474	28.2	16.7	64.8

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 South Lake High School

Compare

Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
1988	513	n/a	n/a	n/a
1989	532	n/a	n/a	4.7
1990	562	51.0	11.0	4.3
1991	642	n/a	n/a	n/a
1992	628	n/a	n/a	12.6
1993	641	n/a	0.0	12
1994	651	30.0	21.7	8.1
1995	668	31.5	21.2	8.5
1996	668	31.5	21.2	8.5
1997	710	37.0	19.2	9.3
1998	738	38.0	19.4	9.1
1999	747	39.0	19.2	6.6
2000	760	40.5	18.8	7.8
2001	737	41.9	17.6	5.4
2002	868	43.2	20.1	12.7
2003	868	43.2	20.1	12.7
2004	896	47.3	18.9	14.7
2005	915	44.0	20.8	18.8
2006	923	44.3	20.8	23
2007	930	43.5	21.4	22.6
2008	887	43.1	20.6	30.5
2009	827	40.9	20.2	35.2
2010	859	38.2	22.4	46.4
2011	698	33.6	20.7	49.3
2012	713	33.1	21.4	51.8
2013	673	34.1	19.7	57.8
2014	609	31.6	19.2	57.8
2015	653	30.0	21.7	61.6
2016	615	26.0	23.6	64.1
2017	566	26.8	21.0	67.1
2018	546	28.5	19.1	66.3
2019	508	26.1	19.4	62.4
2020	485	27.6	17.5	68.5
2021	488	25.9	18.8	50.4
2022	515	26.1	19.7	61.9
2023	516	23.0	22.3	61.2
2024	474	28.2	16.7	64.8

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 South Lake High School

Year	Expenditures from Federal Funds	Expenditures from State and Local Funds	Total Expenditures Per Pupil (All Funds)
2019	$722 (5.8%)	$11,754 (94.2%)	$12,476
2020	$757 (6.3%)	$11,247 (93.7%)	$12,004
2021	$626 (5.4%)	$10,936 (94.6%)	$11,561
2022	$944 (7.2%)	$12,179 (92.8%)	$13,123
2023	$1,207 (8.2%)	$13,501 (91.8%)	$14,708

Data source: Michigan Department of Education

Pre and Post Pandemic Data

Impact of COVID-19 on South Lake 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 515^th of 666 High schools	Ranks 677^th of 735 High schools	14.8%

Test Scores

	% proficient Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	% proficient Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
11th Grade Social Studies (South Lake High School)	31.8	8.8	23%
11th Grade Social Studies (South Lake Schools)	31.8	8.8	23%
11th Grade Social Studies (Michigan)	46.6	36.1	10.5%
11th Grade Evidence-Based Reading and Writing (South Lake High School)	45.5	24.8	20.7%
11th Grade Evidence-Based Reading and Writing (South Lake Schools)	45.5	24.8	20.7%
11th Grade Evidence-Based Reading and Writing (Michigan)	55.3	52.2	3.1%
11th Grade Mathematics (South Lake High School)	15.5	6.2	9.3%
11th Grade Mathematics (South Lake Schools)	15.5	6.2	9.3%
11th Grade Mathematics (Michigan)	36.3	29.9	6.4%

Student Body

	Number of students Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	Number of students Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
Total Students	508	516	1.6%
African American	325	380	16.9%
American Indian	0	0
Asian	3	4	33.3%
Hispanic	13	17	30.8%
Pacific Islander	0	0
White	135	84	37.8%
Two or More Races	32	31	3.1%
% Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	62.4%	61.2%	1.2%

Schools Near South Lake High School

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

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2024)				Ranking (2023)				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	SAT Evidence-Based Reading and Writing 11th Grade	SAT Mathematics 11th Grade	M-Step Science 11th Grade	M-Step Social Studies 11th Grade	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
South Lake High School	Public	9-12	21900 E 9 Mile Rd	Saint Clair Shores	48080	Macomb County	South Lake Schools	No	No	No	No	(586) 435-1401	474	28	16.7	64.8%	76 (16.0%)	355 (74.9%)	12 (2.5%)	4 (0.8%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	27 (5.7%)	19.2	606^th of 743 public high schools	18.4%		8.2	677^th of 735 public high schools	7.9%	71	27.7		15.0	27.5	$14,708	$1,207	$13,501
Lakeview High School	Public	9-12	21100 E 11 Mile Rd	Saint Clair Shores	48081	Macomb County	Lakeview Public Schools (Macomb)	No	No	No	No	(586) 445-4045	1,441	62	23.3	42.6%	1,040 (72.2%)	223 (15.5%)	63 (4.4%)	11 (0.8%)	2 (0.1%)	0 (0.0%)	102 (7.1%)	53.1	316^th of 743 public high schools	57.5%		65.5	208^th of 735 public high schools	71.7%	108	62.2	19.9	28.3	44.0	$13,634	$930	$12,704
Grosse Pointe North High School	Public	9-12	707 Vernier Rd	Grosse Pointe Woods	48236	Wayne County	Grosse Pointe Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(313) 432-3200	1,007	62	16.2	28.5%	595 (59.1%)	316 (31.4%)	30 (3.0%)	21 (2.1%)	4 (0.4%)	2 (0.2%)	39 (3.9%)	83	91^st of 743 public high schools	87.8%		77.3	137^th of 735 public high schools	81.4%	46	74.3	42.8	48.1	48.3	$19,072	$854	$18,218
Harper Academy	Public, Virtual	7-12	20225 Beaconsfield St	Harper Woods	48225	Wayne County	Harper Woods The School District of the City of	No	No	Yes	Yes	(313) 245-3084	89	1	89.0	86.5%	0 (0.0%)	89 (100.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)								(n/a)					$24,544	$2,845	$21,700
Harper Woods High School	Public, Magnet	9-12	20225 Beaconsfield St	Harper Woods	48225	Wayne County	Harper Woods The School District of the City of	No	Yes	No	Yes	(313) 245-3084	878	36	24.3	82.1%	14 (1.6%)	858 (97.7%)	5 (0.6%)	1 (0.1%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	5.3	712^th of 743 public high schools	4.2%		6.7	690^th of 735 public high schools	6.1%	22	15.6		8.2	9.2	$17,842	$3,144	$14,698
The Harper Woods College and Career Institute	Public	9-12	20570 Kelly Rd	Harper Woods	48225	Wayne County	Harper Woods The School District of the City of	No	No	No	No	(313) 332-8451	0	8	.0		0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()								(n/a)
Chandler Park Academy High School	Public, Charter	9-12	20254 Kelly Rd	Harper Woods	48225	Wayne County	Chandler Park Academy	Yes	No	No	Yes	(313) 499-3010	703	36	19.5	94.0%	0 (0.0%)	702 (99.9%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.1%)	4.8	719^th of 743 public high schools	3.2%		8.6	676^th of 735 public high schools	8.0%	43	17.4		6.6	6.6	$13,403	$2,827	$10,575
Eastpointe High School	Public	9-12	15501 Couzens Ave	Eastpointe	48021	Macomb County	Eastpointe Community Schools	No	No	No	No	(586) 533-3700	551	32	17.3	88.2%	30 (5.4%)	474 (86.0%)	2 (0.4%)	8 (1.5%)	2 (0.4%)	0 (0.0%)	35 (6.4%)	7	693^rd of 743 public high schools	6.7%		4.2	718^th of 735 public high schools	2.3%	25	12.6		10.8	14.9	$25,626	$5,695	$19,931
Eastpointe Virtual Academy	Public, Virtual	6-12	15501 Couzens Ave	Eastpointe	48021	Macomb County	Eastpointe Community Schools	No	No	Yes	No	(586) 533-3700	126	0	49.4	86.5%	12 (9.5%)	106 (84.1%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.8%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	7 (5.6%)								(n/a)					$6,969	$2,578	$4,391
Eastpointe Alternative Center	Public	8-12	15501 Couzens Ave	Eastpointe	48021	Macomb County	Eastpointe Community Schools	No	No	No	No	(586) 533-3700	7	0			1 (14.3%)	5 (71.4%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (14.3%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)								(n/a)

South Lake High School

South Lake High School:

High School Test Score Ratings by Student Subgroup:

South Lake Schools:

Average Parent Rating:

What do you think?

Rank History for South Lake High School

Rank History for all students at South Lake High School

Rank History for Special Education students at South Lake High School

Rank History for Low Socio Economic Status students at South Lake High School

Rank History for Female students at South Lake High School

Rank History for Male students at South Lake High School

Rank History for African American students at South Lake High School

Rank History for White students at South Lake High School

Review counts

Enrollment information for South Lake High School

Students eligible for free or discounted lunch at South Lake High School

Student/Teacher Ratio South Lake High School

Per Pupil Expenditures for South Lake High School

Impact of COVID-19 on South Lake High School

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