Summary:
Zip code 49107 is home to just one middle school, Buchanan Middle School, which serves grades 5 through 7 and enrolls 358 students in the Buchanan Community Schools district.
For parents, the most important takeaway is that Buchanan Middle School shows a mixed but generally solid academic picture, despite a declining state ranking. The school has slipped from the 86th percentile in 2023-2024 to the 65th percentile for 2025-2026, yet its M-Step scores are often at or above state averages. In 2025-2026, 5th graders excelled in English Language Arts (55.2% proficient vs. 43.8% statewide), science (44.8% vs. 40%), and social studies (35.2% vs. 27.5%). However, 6th-grade ELA dipped below the state average (34.1% vs. 37.5%), and math proficiency declined across all grades from the prior year—a trend worth watching. The school also serves a high-poverty population, with 62.29% of students qualifying for free or reduced lunch, yet still manages to outperform the state in several subjects.
One notable concern is chronic absenteeism. At 27.4%, the rate at Buchanan Middle School is significantly higher than the district average of 18.4%, suggesting this is a school-specific issue rather than a district-wide problem. The student-teacher ratio of 19.4:1 is also relatively high, which may limit individualized attention. Per-student spending is $11,749. While the school’s declining rank may worry some parents, the actual test data shows a school that is holding its own in many areas, with clear opportunities for improvement in 6th-grade ELA and consistent math performance. Parents should consider the attendance challenges and the grade-level variability when evaluating the school.
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