Middle Schools in Taylor School District

The Taylor School District in Michigan is home to two middle schools, Robert J West Middle School and Hoover Middle School, which serve students in grades 6-8. Unfortunately, both schools have consistently performed poorly compared to state averages, with low rankings, test scores, and high chronic absenteeism rates.

According to the data, neither Robert J West Middle School nor Hoover Middle School can be considered standout schools. Robert J West Middle School has ranked in the bottom third of Michigan middle schools over the past three years, while Hoover Middle School has ranked even lower, in the bottom quarter. Both schools significantly underperform the state averages in all subject areas and grade levels, with proficiency rates often less than half the state's. For example, in 2024-2025, the proficiency rates in English Language Arts for 6th and 7th grades at Robert J West Middle School were 16.9% and 19.8%, respectively, compared to the state averages of 38.6% and 39.2%.

Interestingly, Hoover Middle School has a higher percentage of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch at 94.88%, compared to 83.99% at Robert J West Middle School. This suggests that the schools serve economically disadvantaged communities, which may contribute to their academic challenges. However, the higher spending per student at Hoover Middle School ($21,784) compared to Robert J West Middle School ($19,191) does not appear to translate into better academic outcomes, indicating that simply increasing funding may not be the sole solution to improving these schools' performance. Overall, the data paints a concerning picture of the academic performance and challenges faced by the middle schools in the Taylor School District, and addressing these issues will likely require a multifaceted approach.