Summary:
Union City Community Schools is a small, predominantly low-income district in rural Michigan, serving about 909 students in Pre-K through 12th grade across three schools: Union City Elementary School (PK-4), Union City Middle School (5-8), and Union City High School (9-12).
The clear standout is Union City Middle School, which has held a 3-star rating for three straight years and posts the district's best results. Its 8th graders far exceed state averages in both PSAT English (76.6% vs. 64.8%) and math (44.7% vs. 33.2%), and it has the lowest chronic absenteeism rate (17.1%) in the district. Union City High School is also improving dramatically, jumping from the 28th to 59th percentile in one year, with a 93.7% graduation rate (state: 84%) and science/social studies scores now above state averages. However, its 34% chronic absenteeism rate is the district's highest. The biggest concern is Union City Elementary School, which has declined from the 41st to 13th percentile over two years, with all 3rd and 4th grade scores far below state averages—3rd grade math plummeted from 39% to 15.7% proficiency.
Math is a district-wide weakness, with proficiency in most grades running 15-27 points below state levels, though 8th grade math is a notable exception. Year-to-year swings are large due to small class sizes, making single-year data unreliable. The middle school's success suggests students "catch up" after a weak elementary foundation, but the elementary decline is a red flag for future cohorts. Spending doesn't explain outcomes—the high school spends the most ($17,439/student) yet has mixed results, while the middle school achieves more with less. Overall, the district shows a positive upper-grade trajectory, but reversing the elementary slide is critical to sustaining that momentum.
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