Summary:
Middle Schools in zip code 49455 consist of a single school, Shelby Middle School, which serves grades 6-8 in the rural community of Shelby, Michigan, and is part of the Shelby Public Schools district.
For parents considering this area, Shelby Middle School is the only option, enrolling 264 students with a student-teacher ratio of 15.6:1. The school has shown a concerning three-year decline in its state ranking, dropping from the 57th percentile in 2023-2024 to the 40th percentile (534th out of 896 schools) in the most recent data, now holding a 2-star rating. Academically, the school performs below state averages in nearly every subject and grade level. The most significant weakness is mathematics, where 6th-grade proficiency is just 15.7% compared to the state average of 31.9%, and 7th-grade math proficiency is 23.4% versus 33.3% statewide. Reading and writing (ELA) scores also trail the state, with 6th-grade proficiency at 27.5% versus 37.5%, though 8th-grade PSAT ELA performance is closer to average at 56.8% versus 64.8%. Social studies shows a large gap as well, with only 37.4% proficiency versus the state's 50.3%.
One notable bright spot is 8th-grade science, where proficiency (36.6%) is only 2.6 percentage points below the state average, suggesting a relative strength in that subject. The school serves a predominantly low-income population, with 68.94% of students eligible for free or reduced-price lunch. Chronic absenteeism is a significant concern at 25.9%, meaning more than one in four students miss substantial school time, which likely contributes to the academic struggles. Despite spending a substantial $20,555 per student, the school has not translated this funding into competitive outcomes, raising questions about resource effectiveness. For parents, this school faces clear challenges in math and attendance, though the science program and relatively small class sizes offer some positives to consider.
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