Summary:
Zip code 49013 in Michigan is home to just one middle school, Bangor Middle School, which serves grades 5 through 8 and is part of the Bangor Public Schools (Van Buren) district.
For parents considering this area, the most important takeaway is that Bangor Middle School faces significant academic challenges, particularly in math. Across all grade levels and both the M-Step and PSAT tests, math proficiency rates are strikingly low—often in the single digits or low teens—landing roughly 22 to 25 percentage points below state averages. Reading and English Language Arts scores are also below state averages, though 8th graders showed a relative bright spot on the PSAT, with 55.4% proficient compared to the state’s 64.8%. The school’s state ranking has been stable for three years, hovering around the bottom quarter of Michigan middle schools (673rd out of 896 in the most recent year), which suggests limited progress in closing achievement gaps.
Two factors stand out as likely contributors to these outcomes. First, chronic absenteeism is high at 34%, exceeding the state average of 27.9%—meaning more than one in three students misses significant school time. Second, the student body faces considerable economic hardship, with 65.4% eligible for free or reduced lunch. Notably, the district invests heavily in its students, spending $18,282 per pupil and maintaining a favorable student-teacher ratio of 13.3, which indicates smaller class sizes. However, this substantial financial investment has not yet translated into stronger test scores, pointing to deeper challenges beyond resources. Parents should be aware that while the school offers a supportive environment with relatively low class sizes, the combination of high absenteeism, poverty-related barriers, and persistently low math achievement are critical areas to watch and address.
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