Au GresSims Middle School

Au GresSims Middle School is a small, rural school in Au Gres, MI, serving 104 students in grades 6 through 8 within the Au Gres-Sims School District. Nearly 60% of its students qualify for free or reduced lunch, reflecting a high level of economic need in the community.

This school is on a remarkable upward trajectory. Over the past decade, its statewide ranking has climbed from the 25th percentile to the 63rd percentile, earning a solid 3-star rating. What truly sets it apart is its success with students from low-income backgrounds: these students ranked in the 75th percentile statewide in 2025-2026, a dramatic jump from just two years prior. This is especially impressive when compared to nearby Pinconning Middle School and Tawas Area Middle School, which serve fewer economically disadvantaged students but don't achieve the same results with them. Au GresSims also shines in specific subjects: 65.6% of 8th graders are proficient in Social Studies (well above the state average of 50.3%), and 40.6% are proficient in PSAT Math—far exceeding both neighboring schools. The school has also made notable strides in supporting its female students, whose performance jumped from the 49th to the 65th percentile in a single year.

However, challenges remain. Chronic absenteeism sits at 33.6%, nearly double the rate at Tawas Area and above the state average, which likely holds back even greater gains. Proficiency in some core subjects, like 6th-grade ELA (25.7%) and 7th-grade math (30.8%), lags behind state averages, though scores fluctuate significantly year-to-year due to small class sizes. With a favorable student-teacher ratio of 16.8 and per-student spending comparable to its neighbors, Au GresSims is efficiently using its resources to drive meaningful improvement—making it a school worth watching for families seeking a supportive environment that prioritizes academic growth.