East Rockford Middle School

East Rockford Middle School, part of the Rockford Public Schools district, serves 788 students in grades 6-8 and is consistently ranked among the top 5% of middle schools in Michigan, earning a 5-star rating for several years running.

This is a school where your child is likely to thrive academically, no matter their background. East Rockford’s most impressive feat is its exceptional success with students who are often underserved elsewhere. The school ranks in the 99th percentile statewide for Hispanic students and the 96th percentile for students from low-income families. In fact, proficiency rates across all core subjects—English, math, science, and social studies—are roughly double the state averages. The school has also made a remarkable recovery from the pandemic, slashing its chronic absenteeism rate from 25% in 2021-2022 down to just 11.6%, far better than the state average of 27.9%. This tells you the school has worked hard to re-engage students and create a positive, consistent learning environment.

However, no school is perfect, and there are a couple of specific areas where East Rockford isn't the top performer in its immediate region. While its math scores are strong overall, only 61.1% of 8th graders were proficient in math on the PSAT, compared to 69.9% at its sister school, North Rockford Middle School, and 71.9% at Northern Hills Middle School. Additionally, while support for Special Education students is above the state average, their performance (72nd percentile) is the school's lowest subgroup ranking and lags behind the near-perfect scores seen in other groups. If your child needs extra support or is particularly advanced in math, it’s worth asking the school how they address these specific areas. Overall, East Rockford is an outstanding choice, especially known for closing achievement gaps and fostering success for a wide range of learners.