Summary:
Middle Schools located in Flint School District of the City of serve grades 6-8 and face profound challenges tied to extreme poverty, with the district ranking in the 2nd percentile statewide (614 out of 625 districts).
Holmes STEM Middle School Academy is the only middle school in this district, enrolling 256 students. The most urgent issue is chronic absenteeism: 82.7% of students are chronically absent, nearly three times the state average of 27.9% and well above the district’s already-high 73.7%. This means over four out of five students miss significant instructional time, which directly undermines learning. Academically, proficiency rates are critically low across all subjects. In 8th grade, only 3.74% of students are proficient in science and social studies, compared to state averages of 39.2% and 50.3%, respectively—a gap of 35 to 46 percentage points. Even in 6th and 7th grade ELA, proficiency hovers around 15%, less than half the state average. The school spends a substantial $29,353 per student, yet outcomes remain among the lowest in Michigan, ranking 872 out of 896 schools (3rd percentile).
There are a few encouraging signs. Between 2024-2025 and 2025-2026, 7th grade ELA proficiency doubled from 7.1% to 15.6%, and 8th grade PSAT ELA improved from 15.6% to 24.1%, suggesting literacy interventions may be gaining traction. However, science and social studies scores dropped by roughly half during the same period. Notably, the school’s scores are often identical to the district average, indicating that Holmes STEM reflects systemic district-wide struggles rather than being an isolated case. Despite its STEM designation, science proficiency is alarmingly low, raising questions about program implementation. For parents, the takeaway is clear: this school faces overwhelming obstacles tied to poverty and absenteeism, and while small ELA gains offer hope, the overall picture demands comprehensive community support beyond the classroom.
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