Summary:
Zip code 48611 is home to a single middle school, Western Middle School, which serves grades 6 through 8 and enrolls 681 students within the Bay City School District.
Western Middle School is a consistently high-performing school, ranking in the 72nd percentile statewide (251st out of 896 Michigan middle schools) for the 2025-2026 school year, with a 4-star rating. Its state ranking has remained remarkably stable over the past three years, hovering between the 72nd and 74th percentile, which points to reliable, sustained academic quality. The school is a clear academic leader within its district, outperforming Bay City School District in every reported subject and grade level. For example, 6th-grade ELA proficiency stands at 45.6% versus the district’s 32.9%, and 8th-grade PSAT math proficiency is 36.4% compared to 29.3% district-wide.
The school’s biggest strength is English Language Arts, especially in 8th grade, where PSAT ELA proficiency reaches an exceptional 71.9%—well above the state average of 64.8%. Science scores are also strong (47.6% vs. 39.2% statewide). However, math is a relative weakness, with 6th-grade proficiency at 30% and 7th-grade at 32.9%, both slightly below state averages. Chronic absenteeism is a positive indicator at 23.8%, notably lower than the district’s 32.8% and the state’s 27.9%, suggesting good student engagement. The school spends $13,798 per student, above the national average, yet maintains a relatively high student-teacher ratio of 17.6, implying funds may go toward resources beyond class-size reduction. With 40.23% of students eligible for free or reduced lunch, the school serves a moderately diverse socioeconomic population while still achieving strong results.
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