Summary:
Zip code 48503 in Flint, Michigan, is home to just one middle school, Holmes STEM Middle School Academy, which serves grades 6-8 within the Flint School District of the City of.
For parents considering this school, the most important takeaway is that Holmes STEM faces severe, systemic challenges that go far beyond academics. The school serves a student body where nearly 93% qualify for free or reduced lunch, and chronic absenteeism is a staggering 82.7%—roughly three times the state average. This means about four out of five students are regularly missing school, which makes meaningful learning nearly impossible regardless of teaching quality. Academically, proficiency rates are extremely low across all subjects. In the most recent testing year, only 14.81% of 6th graders and 15.6% of 7th graders were proficient in ELA, while 8th grade science and social studies proficiency sat at just 3.74% each. The school’s state ranking reflects this, placing it in the bottom 3% of Michigan middle schools for three consecutive years, with no improvement trend.
One striking paradox is the school’s spending: at $29,353 per student, it spends roughly double the national average, yet achieves some of the lowest scores in the state. This suggests that money alone is not solving the underlying issues of poverty, instability, and absenteeism. The school’s STEM designation also appears disconnected from outcomes, as science scores are dramatically below state averages. Notably, the school’s performance mirrors the district’s almost exactly, indicating these are district-wide struggles rather than problems unique to Holmes. For parents, this data paints a clear picture: the primary barriers to student success here are attendance and socioeconomic factors, not a lack of funding or curriculum. Any family considering this school should weigh these challenges heavily and explore what support systems might be available to help their child overcome the significant obstacles present in this environment.
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