Summary:
St. Joseph Public Schools is home to just one middle school, Upton Middle School, which serves grades 6-8 with 690 students in Saint Joseph, Michigan, a district that ranks in the top 7% statewide with a 5-star rating.
Upton Middle School is an elite performer, consistently landing in the top 10-12% of Michigan middle schools over the past three years. Its 8th graders shine brightest in science (62.7% proficient vs. 39.2% statewide) and social studies (70.2% vs. 50.3%), while PSAT ELA results are extraordinary at 88% proficiency—23 points above the state average. Math is the relative weak spot, though still 17-21 points above state averages. The school also boasts a chronic absenteeism rate of just 15.9%, nearly half the state average of 27.9%, and serves a relatively affluent population with only 20.7% of students qualifying for free or reduced lunch. Per-student spending of $13,256 delivers top-tier results efficiently.
The most concerning trend is a 16.1-point drop in 7th grade ELA proficiency, falling from 66.1% to 50.0% year-over-year—a decline that warrants investigation into curriculum or cohort changes. Meanwhile, 8th grade science and social studies improved by 6.6 and 4.5 points, respectively. Despite stable scores overall, the school's state ranking slipped from 70th to 87th over two years, suggesting peer schools are improving faster. For parents, Upton Middle School offers an academically rigorous environment with exceptional literacy outcomes and strong attendance culture, though math and the recent 7th grade ELA dip are areas to watch as the school works to maintain its elite status.
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