Beta You're viewing our redesigned school page. Prefer the classic layout?

New rankings! SchoolDigger recently updated its Michigan rankings with newly released test scores for the 2025-26 school year.

Be the first to know when we post new rankings!

Kingsley Area Middle School

Q: Is Kingsley Area Middle School a good school?

Kingsley Area Middle School ranks 202 nd of 896 Michigan middle schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

Public Grades 6-8

202^nd

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 896 Michigan Middle Schools

Better than 77% of Michigan middle schools

Summary

Kingsley Area Middle School, part of the Kingsley Area Schools district, serves 366 students in grades 6-8 in the small, rural community of Kingsley, Michigan, and stands out as a high-performing school that delivers results comparable to much larger suburban districts.

The most impressive story here is in 7th-grade math, where Kingsley students post proficiency rates that are nearly double the state average—60.5% in the most recent year compared to 33.3% statewide. This isn't a fluke; the school has maintained a 60-68% proficiency rate in this subject for three straight years, far outpacing nearby West Middle School (47.5%) and East Middle School (43.4%) in Traverse City. Interestingly, 6th-grade math scores start below the state average (27.2% vs. 31.9%), which suggests the school has a highly effective intervention strategy that helps students make dramatic gains during that crucial first year. Kingsley also shines in 8th-grade science (53.8% proficient vs. 39.2% statewide) and social studies (57.7% vs. 50.3%). The contrast with Forest Area Middle School, just 11.5 miles away, is stark—Kingsley posts proficiency rates two to three times higher across nearly every subject.

What makes these results even more remarkable is the school's efficiency. Kingsley spends just $12,688 per pupil—the lowest among all comparable schools, including Manton Consolidated Middle School ($13,630) and the Traverse City schools ($14,178-$14,803)—yet achieves superior outcomes. The school has also made huge strides in reducing chronic absenteeism, cutting it from 29.9% to 14.7%, well below the state average of 27.9%. While the school has cooled slightly from its elite 2021-2022 ranking (40th in the state) to 202nd today, it remains a 4-star school that delivers exceptional value, particularly for students from lower-income backgrounds, who rank in the 85th percentile statewide. One area for improvement is special education support, where rankings have slipped from the 79th to 47th percentile in recent years.

366

Students ?

16.0

Student/teacher ratio ?

$12,688

Per pupil spending ?

45.1%

Free/discounted lunch ?

403 Blair St
Kingsley, MI 49649-9277

(231) 263-5261

District: Kingsley Area Schools

Students who attend Kingsley Area Middle School usually attend:

High:

Kingsley Area High School

Feeder schools for Kingsley Area Middle School:

Elementary:

Kingsley Area Elementary School

Racial breakdown:

White:

94.3%

Hispanic:

2.5%

African American:

1.1%

See top rated Michigan middle schools

Compare Kingsley Area Middle School to nearby middle schools!

At a glance

▼ Ranking trend: Declining — 82nd percentile in 2016 → 77th in 2026

Strengths

✓Test scores above the Michigan average (50% vs 41% meeting standards)

✓Ranks in the top 23% of Michigan middle schools

Worth a look

!Ranking has slipped — down 5 percentile points since 2016

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

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school50%

District avg50%

Michigan avg41%

202^nd of 896

Michigan public middle schools ?

Top 23%▼ down 4 pts since 2016

From top 18% (2016) to top 23% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of Michigan Middle Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

104^th of 625Kingsley Area 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
2026	72.3	202 of 896	77.5%	★★★★☆
2025	79.6	140 of 890	84.3%	★★★★☆
2024	79.3	135 of 897	84.9%	★★★★☆
2023	88.3	88 of 883	90.0%	★★★★★
2022	93.3	40 of 776	94.8%	★★★★★
2021	79.6	96 of 675	85.8%	★★★★☆
2019	73.0	172 of 792	78.3%	★★★★☆
2018	88.1	82 of 838	90.2%	★★★★★
2017	79.5	121 of 821	85.3%	★★★★☆
2016	76.1	165 of 894	81.5%	★★★★☆
2015	73.3	195 of 919	78.8%	★★★★☆
2014	73.2	204 of 921	77.9%	★★★★☆
2013	75.8	177 of 919	80.7%	★★★★☆
2012	74.6	190 of 900	78.9%	★★★★☆
2011	69.7	273 of 858	68.2%	★★★☆☆
2010	72.8	237 of 851	72.2%	★★★★☆
2009	65.3	365 of 847	56.9%	★★★☆☆
2008	71.7	241 of 839	71.3%	★★★★☆
2007	70.4	258 of 823	68.7%	★★★☆☆
2006	52.2	493 of 806	38.8%	★★☆☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Michigan percentile	Rating
2026	75.3	136 of 789	82.8%	★★★★☆
2025	76.1	133 of 789	83.1%	★★★★☆
2024	78.1	109 of 771	85.9%	★★★★☆
2023	85.9	79 of 770	89.7%	★★★★☆
2022	91.1	40 of 657	93.9%	★★★★★
2021	78.4	73 of 521	86.0%	★★★★☆
2019	74.1	137 of 658	79.2%	★★★★☆
2018	85.9	87 of 794	89.0%	★★★★☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Michigan percentile	Rating
2026	74.8	124 of 834	85.1%	★★★★☆
2025	81.6	81 of 832	90.3%	★★★★★
2024	76.8	101 of 836	87.9%	★★★★☆
2023	86.6	49 of 825	94.1%	★★★★★
2022	94.4	14 of 691	98.0%	★★★★★
2021	79.3	51 of 523	90.2%	★★★★★
2019	75.6	90 of 672	86.6%	★★★★☆
2018	95.9	10 of 815	98.8%	★★★★★

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Michigan percentile	Rating
2026	64.2	233 of 813	71.3%	★★★★☆
2025	77.9	135 of 798	83.1%	★★★★☆
2024	73.4	155 of 786	80.3%	★★★★☆
2023	85.6	96 of 776	87.6%	★★★★☆
2022	93.0	37 of 658	94.4%	★★★★★
2021	73.5	100 of 540	81.5%	★★★★☆
2019	65.4	175 of 639	72.6%	★★★★☆
2018	87.5	76 of 797	90.5%	★★★★★

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Michigan percentile	Rating
2026	41.3	124 of 236	47.5%	★★☆☆☆
2025	48.0	96 of 244	60.7%	★★★☆☆
2023	68.6	41 of 199	79.4%	★★★★☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Michigan percentile	Rating
2026	63.4	212 of 687	69.1%	★★★☆☆
2025	70.7	165 of 696	76.3%	★★★★☆
2024	72.6	151 of 701	78.5%	★★★★☆
2023	82.2	93 of 688	86.5%	★★★★☆
2022	91.4	36 of 638	94.4%	★★★★★
2021	77.0	97 of 577	83.2%	★★★★☆
2019	63.5	199 of 624	68.1%	★★★☆☆
2018	81.8	93 of 678	86.3%	★★★★☆

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)

Low Socio Economic Status (2026)85th percentile+8 vs school

Female (2026)83rd percentile+5 vs school

Male (2026)71st percentile-6 vs school

White (2026)69th percentile-8 vs school

Special Education (2026)47th percentile-30 vs school

By subject vs Michigan (2025-2026) ?

Social Studies58%+7 vs state

Science54%+15 vs state

English Language Arts46%+8 vs state

Math44%+11 vs state

Mathematics39%+6 vs state

★

No ratings yet

Be the first to rate Kingsley Area Middle School and help other families decide.

Rate Kingsley Area Middle School

Have first-hand experience? A quick rating - and a sentence or two about what stands out (teachers, academics, safety, communication) - helps other families know what to expect.

Takes about a minute. We email you a link to verify your review - your address is never shown publicly.

Tap a star to rate

Reviews

No written reviews yet. If you know this school, be the first to share what stands out.

Schools Near Kingsley Area Middle School

Load more schools when map is moved

Ranking:

E Elementary M Middle H High A Alternative P Private

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

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2026)				Ranking (2025)				PSAT English Language Arts (2026)	PSAT Mathematics (2026)	M-Step English Language Arts (2026)				M-Step Math (2026)				M-Step Science (2026)		M-Step Social Studies (2026)		Per Pupil Expenditures (2025)
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 (2025)	White	Black	Hispanic	Asian	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Average Standard Score (2026)	Statewide Rank (2026)	State Percentile (2026)	SchoolDigger Rating (2026)	Average Standard Score (2025)	Statewide Rank (2025)	State Percentile (2025)	Rank Change from Previous Year	PSAT English Language Arts 8th Grade	PSAT Mathematics 8th Grade	M-Step English Language Arts 4th Grade	M-Step English Language Arts 5th Grade	M-Step English Language Arts 6th Grade	M-Step English Language Arts 7th Grade	M-Step Math 4th Grade	M-Step Math 5th Grade	M-Step Math 6th Grade	M-Step Math 7th Grade	M-Step Science 5th Grade	M-Step Science 8th Grade	M-Step Social Studies 5th Grade	M-Step Social Studies 8th Grade	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
Kingsley Area Middle School	Public	6-8	403 Blair St	Kingsley	49649	Grand Traverse County	Kingsley Area Schools	No	No	No	No	(231) 263-5261	366	23	16.0	45.1%	345 (94.3%)	4 (1.1%)	9 (2.5%)	2 (0.5%)	3 (0.8%)	3 (0.8%)	0 (0.0%)	72.3	202^nd of 896 public middle schools	77.5%		79.6	140^th of 890 public middle schools	84.3%	62	68.8	39.1			47.8	44.2			27.2	60.5		53.8		57.7	$12,688	$832	$11,856
East Middle School	Public	6-8	1776 3 Mile Rd N	Traverse City	49686	Grand Traverse County	Traverse City Area Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(231) 933-7300	829	42	19.8	30.4%	723 (87.2%)	25 (3.0%)	33 (4.0%)	16 (1.9%)	29 (3.5%)	3 (0.4%)	0 (0.0%)	82.7	123^rd of 896 public middle schools	86.3%		76.5	161^st of 890 public middle schools	81.9%	38	76.8	48.7			54.4	52.5			43.4	43.4		55.1		67.7	$14,803	$699	$14,104
Forest Area Middle School	Public	4-8	7661 Shippy Rd SW	Fife Lake	49633	Kalkaska County	Forest Area Community Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(231) 369-2884	193	13	14.3	56.5%	172 (89.1%)	3 (1.6%)	3 (1.6%)	0 (0.0%)	5 (2.6%)	0 (0.0%)	10 (5.2%)	13.5	779^th of 896 public middle schools	13.1%		14.3	762^nd of 890 public middle schools	14.4%	17	30.8	15.4	29.0	33.3	15.8	15.8	32.3	23.1	12.8	15.8	33.3	15.4	17.9	17.9	$14,364	$1,458	$12,906
West Middle School	Public	6-8	3950 Silver Lake Rd	Traverse City	49684	Grand Traverse County	Traverse City Area Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(231) 933-8200	1,081	52	20.7	27.6%	985 (91.1%)	20 (1.9%)	29 (2.7%)	24 (2.2%)	22 (2.0%)	1 (0.1%)	0 (0.0%)	78.5	150^th of 896 public middle schools	83.3%		76.6	158^th of 890 public middle schools	82.2%	8	77.5	47.0			50.5	50.8			37.3	47.5		49.7		59.9	$14,178	$699	$13,479
Manton Consolidated Middle School	Public	5-8	105 5th St	Manton	49663	Wexford County	Manton Consolidated Schools	No	No	No	No	(231) 824-6401	305	17	17.8	49.5%	272 (89.2%)	1 (0.3%)	13 (4.3%)	1 (0.3%)	6 (2.0%)	1 (0.3%)	11 (3.6%)	66	244^th of 896 public middle schools	72.8%		63.4	270^th of 890 public middle schools	69.7%	26	77.4	37.1		46.9	48.6	32.4		43.8	32.4	28.4	48.4	59.7	31.3	61.3	$13,630	$1,083	$12,547

Frequently Asked Questions about Kingsley Area Middle School

Is Kingsley Area Middle School a good school?

Kingsley Area Middle School ranks 202^nd of 896 Michigan middle schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

What is the racial makeup of Kingsley Area Middle School?

Students at Kingsley Area Middle School are 94% White, 2% Hispanic, 1% African American.

What high school do graduates of Kingsley Area Middle School attend?

Students who attend Kingsley Area Middle School usually go on to attend Kingsley Area High School

What district is Kingsley Area Middle School in?

Kingsley Area Schools

How many students attend Kingsley Area Middle School?

In the 2024-25 school year, 366 students attended Kingsley Area Middle School.

Rate Kingsley Area Middle School!

Other helpful SchoolDigger resources...

Compare to nearby schools

MIMichigan Middle School Rankings

MIMichigan District Rankings

Schools in Kingsley, MI

Sign up for updates!

Be the first to know when there is an update for Kingsley Area Middle School!

Latest Michigan data All new data »

2025–26 M-Step, PSAT & SAT test scoresSep 4, 2026

2024–25 school spending dataJun 13, 2026

2024–25 dropout rates & graduation ratesJun 13, 2026

2024–25 attendance dataJan 6, 2026

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.