Best Middle Schools in Zip Code 48313

Zip code 48313 in Sterling Heights, MI is home to two middle schools—Davis Junior High School and Bemis Junior High School—both part of the Utica Community Schools district, serving roughly 1,800 students in grades 7-9 with strong overall performance relative to Michigan state averages.

For parents comparing the two, Bemis Junior High School is the clear academic leader. It ranks in the top 17% of Michigan middle schools, holds a 4-star rating every year tracked, and outperforms Davis in nearly every subject—including a 45.4% vs. 39.3% proficiency gap in 7th grade math and a 45.0% vs. 36.1% gap in 8th grade PSAT math. Bemis also serves a smaller student body (742 students) with a lower free/reduced lunch rate (43.0% vs. 57.4% at Davis). Meanwhile, Davis Junior High School is the improving challenger: its state percentile ranking climbed from the 69th to the 75th percentile over two years, with notable year-over-year gains in 7th grade ELA (+3.7 points) and math (+4.8 points). Despite serving a larger, more economically diverse population, Davis still beats state averages in every subject tested.

Both schools share common strengths and challenges. They excel in ELA—8th grade PSAT ELA proficiency tops 71% at each school, well above the state’s 64.8%—but struggle more with math, though both still exceed state averages. Chronic absenteeism runs above the district rate (18.5%) at both schools (22.0% at Davis, 21.4% at Bemis), but remains below the state’s 27.9%. Interestingly, Bemis achieves better results while spending $627 less per student than Davis ($13,850 vs. $14,477). One caution: Bemis saw a 3.9-point drop in 8th grade PSAT ELA, and Davis’s 9th grade scores dip slightly from its 8th grade levels, suggesting transition challenges. Overall, both schools are solid choices within a district ranked in the 72nd percentile statewide, with Bemis offering top-tier consistency and Davis showing promising upward momentum.