Holland Middle School

Holland Middle School in Holland, MI, serves 605 students in grades 6-8 and is part of the Holland City School District.

Holland Middle School has shown steady improvement over the past few years, climbing from the 28th percentile statewide in 2022-2023 to the 36th percentile for the 2025-2026 school year. That said, the school still faces significant academic challenges, particularly in math. Only about 18% of 6th graders and 21% of 7th graders are proficient in math on the M-Step, which is roughly half the state average. This gap is even more striking when compared to nearby schools like Riley Street Middle School in Hudsonville, where 6th-grade math proficiency is 53%, or Allendale Middle School at 50%. The school also serves a student population with significant socioeconomic needs—62.5% qualify for free or reduced lunch—and chronic absenteeism sits at 26.2%, which is more than double the rate at nearby Hamilton Middle School (10.9%) or Cityside Middle School in Zeeland (9.0%).

One of the most notable findings is the school's exceptionally high spending—$25,570 per student—which is far above what top-performing neighbors spend. For example, Saugatuck Middle School spends just $9,180 per student, and the Hudsonville schools spend around $13,000-$14,500, yet they achieve much higher academic results. This raises questions about how effectively resources are being used. There is a glimmer of hope, though: 8th graders show relative strength in English Language Arts on the PSAT, with 61.9% proficient compared to the state average of 64.8%—a much smaller gap than in other subjects. This suggests literacy efforts may be gaining traction by the time students reach 8th grade, offering a potential model for improvement in other areas.