TS Nurnberger Middle School

TS Nurnberger Middle School in Saint Louis, MI, serves 217 students in grades 6-8 and is part of the St. Louis Public Schools district, a small, close-knit community where nearly three-quarters of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch.

For parents, the most important takeaway is that TS Nurnberger is currently struggling academically. The school holds a 1-star rating and ranks in the 27th percentile statewide, a significant drop from last year's 2-star rating. Proficiency rates on state tests are well below average—for example, only 19% of 6th graders and 23% of 7th graders are proficient in English Language Arts, compared to state averages of 37.5% and 38.4%. Math scores tell a similar story. A major factor appears to be chronic absenteeism: 31% of students miss enough school to be considered chronically absent, which makes consistent learning difficult. The school does invest heavily in its students, spending $16,547 per pupil and maintaining a low student-teacher ratio of 14.4, yet these resources haven't yet translated into higher achievement.

One of the most telling comparisons is with Donald L Pavlik Middle School in Alma, just 2.9 miles away. Both schools serve nearly identical student populations in terms of economic disadvantage (about 72-74% free/reduced lunch), yet Pavlik significantly outperforms TS Nurnberger in nearly every subject and grade level. For instance, Pavlik's 6th-grade ELA proficiency is 40.9% versus Nurnberger's 19%. This shows that high poverty doesn't have to mean low performance. There is one bright spot worth noting: 8th-grade science proficiency was actually above the state average in 2024-2025, though that gain wasn't sustained the following year. For parents considering this school, the key question is whether the district can address the attendance challenges and replicate the success seen at nearby Pavlik to turn around the downward trend in rankings.