Summary:
Monroe Middle School is the only middle school serving zip code 48161 in Monroe, Michigan, covering grades 6-8 with 674 students in the Monroe Public Schools district.
For parents considering this school, the most important takeaway is that Monroe Middle School faces significant academic challenges, particularly in math. Only about 1 in 5 students (18-21%) score proficient in math on state assessments, while ELA proficiency ranges from 25.5% on the 7th-grade M-Step to 50.9% on the 8th-grade PSAT. Across every subject—including science (24.9%) and social studies (34.3%)—the school trails Michigan state averages by 12 to 16 percentage points. The school has earned just 2 out of 5 stars from the state, ranking in the 30th percentile of Michigan middle schools. However, there is a silver lining: the school consistently performs at or slightly above its own district averages, suggesting it is not an outlier but rather reflects broader challenges within Monroe Public Schools.
One of the most pressing concerns is chronic absenteeism, which affects 38% of students—well above the district rate of 30.6% and the state rate of 27.9%. Nearly 4 in 10 students are missing enough school to jeopardize their learning, which likely contributes to the achievement gaps. The school also serves a predominantly low-income population, with 63.35% of students qualifying for free or reduced lunch. Despite spending a substantial $17,317 per student—likely above state averages—results remain below benchmarks, raising questions about resource effectiveness. On a positive note, the school has shown modest improvement in state rankings over two years, moving from the 27th to 30th percentile, and year-over-year data shows gains in social studies and PSAT math. Still, with math proficiency critically low and absenteeism high, parents should expect that significant intervention and support will be needed to help their child succeed at this school.
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