Utica Community Schools

Utica Community Schools is a large, highly-rated district in suburban Macomb County, Michigan, serving more than 22,000 students across 36 schools—25 elementary, 6 junior high, and 5 high schools—and ranking in the 72nd percentile statewide with a 4-star rating.

For parents, the standout story is Messmore Elementary School, which ranks in the 98th percentile statewide and posts extraordinary scores—88.1% proficiency in 6th grade ELA and 86% in 3rd grade math—while serving a relatively low-poverty population. At the secondary level, Eisenhower High School leads the pack with a 90th percentile ranking, a 97.4% graduation rate, and just 0.5% dropout rate. All four traditional high schools—including Henry Ford II High School (98.3% graduation) and Utica High School (96.8%)—far exceed the state's 84% graduation average. However, performance varies widely. West Utica Elementary School and Burr Elementary School sit in the bottom 28th percentile, with West Utica's 6th grade math proficiency at just 8.8% and chronic absenteeism near 40%. Meanwhile, Malow Junior High School (88th percentile) and Frank Jeannette Junior High School (46th percentile) illustrate stark divides even within the same grade band.

Notably, the district outperforms Michigan averages in SAT reading/writing (62.2% vs. 52.1%) and math (38.4% vs. 26.5%), but 11th grade science proficiency (33.7%) trails the state (35.2%)—a clear weak spot. Chronic absenteeism averages 18.5% district-wide, but ranges from a low of 7.5% at Beck Centennial Elementary School to 64.2% at UCS Alternative Learning Center. Spending does not predict success: Plumbrook Elementary School spends nearly $19,000 per student yet ranks only in the 65th percentile, while Morgan Elementary School achieves an 86th percentile ranking despite moderate poverty levels. For parents, this means school choice within the district matters greatly—research individual buildings rather than relying on the district's overall strong reputation.