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Thunder Bay Junior High School

Q: Is Thunder Bay Junior High School a good school?

Thunder Bay Junior High School ranks 478 th of 890 Michigan middle schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

Public Grades 6-8

478^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 890 Michigan Middle Schools

Better than 46% of Michigan middle schools

Summary

Thunder Bay Junior High School is a public middle school located in Alpena, Michigan, serving 803 students in grades 6-8. The school is part of the Alpena Public Schools district, which is ranked 309 out of 613 school districts in the state.

While the school has seen improvements in its student-teacher ratio and increased spending per student, Thunder Bay Junior High School faces significant challenges. Its academic performance, as measured by M-Step and PSAT test scores, consistently falls below the state averages in both English Language Arts and Math. The school also struggles with high rates of chronic absenteeism, ranging from 29.5% to 52.8% over the past few years, which is notably higher than the state average. Additionally, the school has a high percentage of students from low socioeconomic backgrounds, with 68.49% of students eligible for free or reduced-price lunch.

The data also reveals some interesting findings about the performance of different student subgroups. While Hispanic and multi-racial students appear to be performing relatively better than their peers, white students and students with special education needs are performing significantly worse, with rankings in the bottom quartile of Michigan middle schools. Overall, the school's declining performance and alignment with the broader district's challenges suggest the need for targeted interventions to address these issues and improve educational outcomes for all students.

796

Students ?

15.5

Student/teacher ratio ?

$13,145

Per pupil spending ?

63.9%

Free/discounted lunch ?

3500 S Third Ave
Alpena, MI 49707-4105

(989) 358-5400

District: Alpena Public Schools

Students who attend Thunder Bay Junior High School usually attend:

High:

Alpena High School

Feeder schools for Thunder Bay Junior High School:

Elementary:	Besser Elementary School
	Ella M White Elementary
	Hinks Elementary
	Lincoln Elementary
	More...
	Sanborn Elementary
	Wilson Elementary

Racial breakdown:

White:

92.5%

Two or more races:

4.0%

Hispanic:

2.6%

See top rated Michigan middle schools

Compare Thunder Bay Junior High School to nearby middle schools!

At a glance

▲ Ranking trend: Rebounding — 24th percentile in 2021 → 46th in 2025

Strengths

✓Ranking is rebounding — up to 46th (2025) from a 24th-percentile low (2021)

Worth a look

!Test scores below the Michigan average (36% vs 41% meeting standards)

!High chronic absenteeism (56% vs 28% Michigan)

!Some student groups rank well below the school's overall statewide standing

Students meeting standards (2024-2025) ?

This school36%

District avg36%

Michigan avg41%

478^th of 890

Michigan public middle schools ?

Bottom 46%▼ down 17 pts since 2015

From top 36% (2015) to bottom 46% (2025)

See the entire ranking list of Michigan Middle Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

309^th of 613Alpena Public Schools among Michigan districts

Statewide rank percentile over time (100 = the top-ranked school in the state; click a legend item to add a student group)

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Michigan percentile	Rating
2025	44.7	478 of 890	46.3%	★★☆☆☆
2024	36.3	547 of 897	39.0%	★★☆☆☆
2023	31.1	598 of 883	32.3%	★★☆☆☆
2022	26.3	571 of 776	26.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	25.7	516 of 675	23.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	40.3	459 of 792	42.0%	★★☆☆☆
2018	56.8	377 of 838	55.0%	★★★☆☆
2017	45.3	405 of 821	50.7%	★★★☆☆
2016	59.6	333 of 894	62.8%	★★★☆☆
2015	60.9	334 of 919	63.7%	★★★☆☆
2014	56.0	415 of 921	54.9%	★★★☆☆
2013	53.8	424 of 919	53.9%	★★★☆☆
2012	51.4	449 of 900	50.1%	★★★☆☆
2011	62.3	398 of 858	53.6%	★★★☆☆
2010	63.5	419 of 851	50.8%	★★★☆☆
2009	62.4	403 of 847	52.4%	★★★☆☆
2008	56.5	485 of 839	42.2%	★★☆☆☆
2007	49.0	542 of 823	34.1%	★★☆☆☆
2006	47.2	554 of 806	31.3%	★★☆☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Michigan percentile	Rating
2025	40.7	451 of 789	42.8%	★★☆☆☆
2024	28.9	557 of 771	27.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	26.3	573 of 770	25.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	23.3	521 of 657	20.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	23.3	429 of 521	17.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	38.0	402 of 658	38.9%	★★☆☆☆
2018	54.9	359 of 794	54.8%	★★★☆☆

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Michigan percentile	Rating
2024	61.4	76 of 257	70.4%	★★★★☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Michigan percentile	Rating
2025	48.6	401 of 832	51.8%	★★★☆☆
2024	37.1	517 of 836	38.2%	★★☆☆☆
2023	23.4	664 of 825	19.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	21.9	566 of 691	18.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	25.4	425 of 523	18.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	38.9	422 of 672	37.2%	★★☆☆☆
2018	60.5	282 of 815	65.4%	★★★☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Michigan percentile	Rating
2025	41.1	448 of 798	43.9%	★★☆☆☆
2024	34.7	518 of 786	34.1%	★★☆☆☆
2023	27.4	564 of 776	27.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	21.2	536 of 658	18.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	19.7	457 of 540	15.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	34.1	428 of 639	33.0%	★★☆☆☆
2018	55.2	335 of 797	58.0%	★★★☆☆

Multi-racial

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Michigan percentile	Rating
2025	54.8	75 of 190	60.5%	★★★☆☆
2023	22.8	132 of 163	19.0%	★☆☆☆☆

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Michigan percentile	Rating
2025	37.2	138 of 244	43.4%	★★☆☆☆
2024	20.3	177 of 201	11.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	20.1	178 of 199	10.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	31.1	280 of 377	25.7%	★☆☆☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Michigan percentile	Rating
2025	30.0	498 of 696	28.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	21.1	589 of 701	16.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	18.3	597 of 688	13.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	16.7	563 of 638	11.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	18.3	492 of 577	14.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	27.6	466 of 624	25.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	40.9	395 of 678	41.7%	★★☆☆☆

How student groups rank statewide ? (each group's percentile vs the same group at other schools — higher is better; the +/- beside each compares the group with this school's overall percentile)

Hispanic (2024)70th percentile+31 vs school

Multi-racial (2025)61st percentile+14 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2025)52nd percentile+6 vs school

Male (2025)44th percentile~ school

Special Education (2025)43rd percentile-3 vs school

Female (2025)43rd percentile-3 vs school

White (2025)28th percentile-18 vs school

By subject vs Michigan (2024-2025) ?

Social Studies46%~ state avg

Science43%~ state avg

English Language Arts30%-9 vs state

Math23%-9 vs state

Mathematics18%-13 vs state

★

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Schools Near Thunder Bay Junior High School

Choose columns to see: Summary School Students/Teachers Ranking Test Scores Finance All

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2025)				Ranking (2024)				PSAT English Language Arts (2025)	PSAT Mathematics (2025)	M-Step English Language Arts (2025)		M-Step Math (2025)		M-Step Science (2025)	M-Step Social Studies (2025)	Per Pupil Expenditures (2024)
Name	Type	Grades	Address	City	Zip	County	District	Is Charter	Is Magnet	Is Virtual	Is Title I	Phone	Enrollment	Full-time Teachers	Student/ Teacher Ratio	Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	White	Black	Hispanic	Asian	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Average Standard Score (2025)	Statewide Rank (2025)	State Percentile (2025)	SchoolDigger Rating (2025)	Average Standard Score (2024)	Statewide Rank (2024)	State Percentile (2024)	Rank Change from Previous Year	PSAT English Language Arts 8th Grade	PSAT Mathematics 8th Grade	M-Step English Language Arts 6th Grade	M-Step English Language Arts 7th Grade	M-Step Math 6th Grade	M-Step Math 7th Grade	M-Step Science 8th Grade	M-Step Social Studies 8th Grade	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
Thunder Bay Junior High School	Public	6-8	3500 S Third Ave	Alpena	49707	Alpena County	Alpena Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(989) 358-5400	796	51	15.5	63.9%	736 (92.5%)	4 (0.5%)	21 (2.6%)	2 (0.3%)	1 (0.1%)	0 (0.0%)	32 (4.0%)	44.7	478^th of 890 public middle schools	46.3%		36.3	547^th of 897 public middle schools	39.0%	69	71.2	17.5	31.2	28.9	20.8	25.9	43.0	46.3	$13,145	$1,480	$11,664

Frequently Asked Questions about Thunder Bay Junior High School

Is Thunder Bay Junior High School a good school?

Thunder Bay Junior High School ranks 478^th of 890 Michigan middle schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

What district is Thunder Bay Junior High School in?

Alpena Public Schools

How many students attend Thunder Bay Junior High School?

In the 2024-25 school year, 796 students attended Thunder Bay Junior High School.

What high school do graduates of Thunder Bay Junior High School attend?

Students who attend Thunder Bay Junior High School usually go on to attend Alpena High School

What is the racial makeup of Thunder Bay Junior High School?

Students at Thunder Bay Junior High School are 92% White, 4% Two or more races, 3% Hispanic.

Rate Thunder Bay Junior High School!

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Schools in Alpena, MI

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SchoolDigger data sources: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education, the U.S. Census Bureau and the Michigan Department of Education.

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMERS: Not all boundaries are included. We make every effort to ensure that boundaries are up-to-date. But it's important to note that these are approximations and are for general informational purposes only. To verify legal descriptions of boundaries or school locations, contact your local tax assessor's office and/or school district.