Farwell Middle School

Summary:

Farwell Middle School is a public magnet middle school serving grades 4-7 in Farwell, Michigan, with a student population of around 300. The school is part of the Farwell Area Schools district, which is ranked 391 out of 610 districts in Michigan and has a 2-star rating from SchoolDigger.

Farwell Middle School faces several challenges, including a significantly higher percentage of white students (over 92%) compared to the state average and nearby schools like Chippewa Hills Middle School, Mt. Pleasant Middle School, and Clare Middle School. The school consistently underperforms the state averages across all grade levels and subject areas in the M-Step standardized tests, with proficiency rates ranging from 17.2% to 33.3% in English Language Arts and 18.2% to 32.8% in Math, compared to state averages of 37.5% to 44% in ELA and 31% to 39.1% in Math. Additionally, Farwell Middle School has had high chronic absenteeism rates, ranging from 7% to 38.7% over the past few years, significantly higher than the state average.

Despite the relatively high per-student spending at Farwell Middle School, which has increased from $10,029 in 2019-2020 to $14,928 in 2022-2023, the school's academic outcomes remain poor, suggesting that simply increasing funding may not be the sole solution to improving student performance. The school's declining rankings, from 384 out of 838 Michigan middle schools in 2016-2017 to 625 out of 897 in 2023-2024, and its drop in SchoolDigger rating from 3 stars to 2 stars during this period, indicate a concerning trend in academic performance, particularly for female students, white students, and students from low socioeconomic backgrounds.


Detail:

Public, Magnet 4-7

 500 E Ohio St
       Farwell, MI  48622-9339


(989) 588-9915

District: Farwell Area Schools

SchoolDigger Rank:
625th of 897 Michigan Middle Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures:  $14,928 Help


Students who attend Farwell Middle School usually attend:

High:    Farwell High School

Feeder schools for Farwell Middle School:

Elementary:    Farwell Elementary School

Student/teacher ratio:  15.9 Help
Number of students:  300

Racial breakdown:

White:
92.3%
Hispanic:
3.3%
Two or more races:
2.7%
more

Free/discounted lunch recipients:  68% Help


 See top rated Michigan middle schools

 Compare Farwell Middle School to nearby middle schools!

Performance Trends
Help
Compare Details Farwell Middle School ranks worse than 68.6% of elementary schools in Michigan. (See more...)
Help
Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 29.77. (See more...)
Help
Compare Details Farwell Middle School ranks worse than 69.7% of middle schools in Michigan. (See more...)
Help
Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 28.85. (See more...)
Help
Chronic absenteeism in a high school refers to a situation where students repeatedly miss school, with the threshold often defined as missing 10% or more of school days for any reason, excused or unexcused.
Student Body
Help
Compare Details Racial makeup is: White (92.3%), Hispanic (3.3%), two or more races (2.7%). (See more...)
Help
Compare Details 68% of students are receiving a free or discounted lunch. (See more...)
Teachers
Help
Compare Details The student/teacher ratio at Farwell Middle School is 15.9. (See more...)
Help
Compare Farwell Middle School employs 18.8 full-time teachers.
Finance
Help
Compare Details The average total spent per student at Farwell Middle School is $14,928.
Schooldigger 2024 Rankings:

Farwell Middle School:

SchoolDigger ranks Farwell Middle School 1019th of 1486 Michigan public elementary schools. (See Farwell Middle School in the ranking list.)

Elementary School Test Score Ratings by Student Subgroup:


Low Socio Economic Status students:
Female students:
Male students:
White students:

SchoolDigger ranks Farwell Middle School 625th of 897 Michigan public middle schools. (See Farwell Middle School in the ranking list.)

Middle School Test Score Ratings by Student Subgroup:


Low Socio Economic Status students:
Female students:
Male students:
White students:


Farwell Area Schools:

SchoolDigger ranks Farwell Area Schools 391st of 610 Michigan school districts. (See district ranking list.)

Average Parent Rating:

Read all reviews and ratings detail for Farwell Middle School.

What do you think?

Your rating for Farwell Middle School?

Rank History for Farwell Middle School

Help
Compare

Rank History for all elementary school students at Farwell Middle School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools MI State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2019 41.18 820th 1408 41.8%
2021 21.37 935th 1153 18.9%
2022 18.22 1096th 1344 18.5%
2023 28.48 1013th 1470 31.1%
2024 29.77 1019th 1486 31.4%
See the entire list of Michigan Middle School Rankings!

Rank History for elementary school Special Education students at Farwell Middle School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools MI State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 20.38 372nd 403 7.7%
See the entire list of Best Michigan Middle Schools for Special Education Students!

Rank History for elementary school Low Socio Economic Status students at Farwell Middle School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools MI State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 58.77 548th 1397 60.8%
2019 50.09 550th 1134 51.5%
2021 30.13 564th 749 24.7%
2022 15.60 974th 1099 11.4%
2023 30.93 942nd 1350 30.2%
2024 37.01 867th 1381 37.2%
See the entire list of Best Michigan Middle Schools for Low Socio Economic Status Students!

Rank History for elementary school Female students at Farwell Middle School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools MI State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 48.40 790th 1443 45.3%
2019 37.55 744th 1171 36.5%
2021 20.07 779th 902 13.6%
2022 18.19 943rd 1106 14.7%
2023 18.04 1097th 1321 17.0%
2024 19.90 1093rd 1342 18.6%
See the entire list of Best Michigan Middle Schools for Female Students!

Rank History for elementary school Male students at Farwell Middle School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools MI State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 39.41 917th 1446 36.6%
2019 38.67 744th 1196 37.8%
2021 16.20 811th 915 11.4%
2022 13.77 1018th 1139 10.6%
2023 30.05 926th 1334 30.6%
2024 32.71 892nd 1347 33.8%
See the entire list of Best Michigan Middle Schools for Male Students!

Rank History for elementary school White students at Farwell Middle School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools MI State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 29.02 950th 1253 24.2%
2019 31.92 799th 1128 29.2%
2021 14.54 921st 1005 8.4%
2022 10.50 1043rd 1102 5.4%
2023 15.76 1059th 1198 11.6%
2024 16.73 1061st 1204 11.9%
See the entire list of Best Michigan Middle Schools for White Students!

Data source: test scores: Michigan Department of Education, rankings: SchoolDigger.com

Rank History for Farwell Middle School

Help
Compare

Rank History for all middle school students at Farwell Middle School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Middle Schools MI State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2006 42.07 602nd 806 25.3%
2007 41.48 604th 823 26.6%
2008 27.62 709th 839 15.5%
2009 34.66 670th 847 20.9%
2010 52.29 547th 851 35.7%
2011 43.87 621st 858 27.6%
2012 40.71 580th 900 35.6%
2013 25.57 719th 919 21.8%
2014 56.29 410th 921 55.5%
2015 51.82 440th 919 52.1%
2016 44.24 497th 894 44.4%
2017 46.84 385th 821 53.1%
2018 55.33 384th 838 54.2%
2019 31.81 542nd 792 31.6%
2021 35.09 431st 675 36.1%
2022 28.64 553rd 776 28.7%
2023 31.59 591st 883 33.1%
2024 28.85 625th 897 30.3%
See the entire list of Michigan Middle School Rankings!

Rank History for middle school Low Socio Economic Status students at Farwell Middle School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Middle Schools MI State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 67.00 218th 815 73.3%
2019 36.03 448th 672 33.3%
2021 59.74 157th 523 70.0%
2022 31.86 490th 691 29.1%
2023 30.12 590th 825 28.5%
2024 29.10 605th 836 27.6%
See the entire list of Best Michigan Middle Schools for Low Socio Economic Status Students!

Rank History for middle school Female students at Farwell Middle School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Middle Schools MI State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 57.38 323rd 794 59.3%
2019 33.16 446th 658 32.2%
2021 21.08 442nd 521 15.2%
2022 30.00 478th 657 27.2%
2023 28.04 552nd 770 28.3%
2024 14.04 685th 771 11.2%
See the entire list of Best Michigan Middle Schools for Female Students!

Rank History for middle school Male students at Farwell Middle School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Middle Schools MI State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 48.58 390th 797 51.1%
2019 22.10 523rd 639 18.2%
2021 39.06 303rd 540 43.9%
2022 19.66 553rd 658 16.0%
2023 27.03 568th 776 26.8%
2024 33.22 530th 786 32.6%
See the entire list of Best Michigan Middle Schools for Male Students!

Rank History for middle school White students at Farwell Middle School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Middle Schools MI State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 40.19 402nd 678 40.7%
2019 21.31 509th 624 18.4%
2021 28.62 420th 577 27.2%
2022 18.57 546th 638 14.4%
2023 19.49 584th 688 15.1%
2024 17.92 610th 701 13.0%
See the entire list of Best Michigan Middle Schools for White Students!

Data source: test scores: Michigan Department of Education, rankings: SchoolDigger.com

As you review the school rankings data, please be aware that some of the information from certain demographics is missing. The reason for this omission is that the data has been redacted from the source data itself due to low population samples in these specific demographic groups.

Redacting data from low population samples is a necessary step to ensure the reliability and accuracy of the results, as small sample sizes may not be representative of the broader population. Additionally, this measure helps protect the privacy of individuals belonging to these demographic groups.

Farwell Middle School Test Scores
Tests: 
  
Grades: 
  
Years: 
  
Group by: 
District Scores:
State Scores:    
  
Subgroup: 






Data source: Michigan Department of Education

Review counts

All ratings (Avg rating: 5)
100%

0%

0%

0%

0%

  

Reviews:
by a parent
Thursday, December 10, 2009

Open Quote Excellant school! The principals and teachers really care about their students. If a student is struggling, they make every effort to get extra help for those students. I would highly recommend this school to anyone moving into the area. They have a high AYP score, and you can really tell they care about the kids. Close Quote



Enrollment information for Farwell Middle School

Help
Compare
Year White African American Asian Hispanic American Indian Pacific Islander Two or More Races Not Specified Total
1988 456 0 2 0 2 n/a n/a 0 460
1989 445 4 0 0 0 n/a n/a 0 449
1990 469 4 0 0 0 n/a n/a 0 473
1991 504 0 0 0 0 n/a n/a 0 504
1992 498 2 0 0 0 n/a n/a 0 500
1993 512 1 0 3 0 n/a n/a 0 516
1994 518 5 0 0 0 n/a n/a 0 523
1995 554 4 2 0 1 n/a n/a 0 561
1996 554 4 2 0 1 n/a n/a 0 561
1997 531 5 2 2 1 n/a n/a 0 541
1998 561 3 3 6 2 n/a n/a 0 575
1999 555 1 1 1 4 n/a n/a 0 562
2000 530 3 1 11 4 n/a n/a 0 549
2001 514 3 2 4 2 n/a n/a 0 525
2002 506 3 0 5 8 n/a n/a 0 522
2003 506 3 0 5 8 n/a n/a 0 522
2004 498 4 1 3 7 n/a n/a 0 513
2005 482 1 1 6 8 n/a n/a 0 498
2006 457 0 1 6 11 n/a n/a 0 475
2007 481 3 1 3 9 n/a n/a 0 497
2008 467 3 n/a 2 10 n/a n/a 0 482
2009 480 1 2 5 10 n/a n/a 0 498
2010 453 2 0 6 8 n/a n/a 0 469
2011 424 1 0 18 7 0 0 0 450
2012 432 7 0 17 6 2 0 0 464
2013 403 6 2 18 5 1 2 0 437
2014 379 6 4 14 5 1 5 0 414
2015 364 7 3 14 4 1 6 0 399
2016 342 4 2 11 3 1 11 0 374
2017 253 2 0 7 1 0 6 0 269
2018 337 3 0 12 0 0 9 0 361
2019 325 4 1 14 0 0 9 0 353
2020 305 5 2 11 1 0 9 0 333
2021 293 2 2 8 0 0 13 0 318
2022 278 2 2 10 0 0 7 0 299
2023 277 4 1 10 0 0 8 0 300

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Enrollment/Ethnicity

For more information about how the Department of Education defines ethnicity, see Defining Race and Ethnicity Data, National Center for Education Statistics

Students eligible for free or discounted lunch at Farwell Middle School

Help
Compare
Year # Students Full-time Teachers Student/Teacher ratio % Free/Discounted Lunch
1988 460 n/a n/a n/a
1989 449 n/a n/a 40.3
1990 473 24.0 19.7 39.3
1991 504 n/a n/a n/a
1992 500 n/a n/a n/a
1993 516 n/a 0.0 46.9
1994 523 29.5 17.7 42.1
1995 561 29.4 19.1 34.8
1996 561 29.4 19.1 34.8
1997 541 27.0 20.0 37.5
1998 575 32.0 18.0 40.5
1999 562 33.0 17.0 40.2
2000 549 34.0 16.1 54.8
2001 525 34.0 15.4 55
2002 522 28.5 18.3 61.1
2003 522 28.5 18.3 61.1
2004 513 30.0 17.1 60.8
2005 498 28.5 17.5 60.4
2006 475 27.1 17.5 63.8
2007 497 23.2 21.4 57.1
2008 482 23.9 20.2 62
2009 498 24.4 20.4 65.7
2010 469 25.3 18.5 68.9
2011 450 25.2 17.8 70.2
2012 464 26.0 17.8 63.1
2013 437 23.0 18.9 70.7
2014 414 23.0 18.0 71
2015 399 21.0 19.0 68.9
2016 374 21.0 17.8 42.2
2017 269 15.7 17.0 59.5
2018 361 17.6 20.4 69.5
2019 353 17.6 20.0 66.9
2020 333 16.1 20.6 72.4
2021 318 17.0 18.6 62.9
2022 299 17.0 17.5 66.6
2023 300 18.8 15.9 68

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Students eligible for discounted/free lunch:

The National School Lunch Program (NSLP) provides low-cost or free meals to students in U.S. public and nonprofit private schools based on household income. Those with incomes below 130% of the poverty line receive free lunch, while those between 130% and 185% qualify for reduced-price lunch. The percentage of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch serves as a marker for poverty, as it reflects the socioeconomic status of families in a given school or district. A higher FRPL rate typically indicates a higher concentration of low-income families, suggesting that the school or district may face additional challenges in providing adequate resources and support for student success.

Student/Teacher Ratio Farwell Middle School

Help
Compare
Year # Students Full-time Teachers Student/Teacher ratio % Free/Discounted Lunch
1988 460 n/a n/a n/a
1989 449 n/a n/a 40.3
1990 473 24.0 19.7 39.3
1991 504 n/a n/a n/a
1992 500 n/a n/a n/a
1993 516 n/a 0.0 46.9
1994 523 29.5 17.7 42.1
1995 561 29.4 19.1 34.8
1996 561 29.4 19.1 34.8
1997 541 27.0 20.0 37.5
1998 575 32.0 18.0 40.5
1999 562 33.0 17.0 40.2
2000 549 34.0 16.1 54.8
2001 525 34.0 15.4 55
2002 522 28.5 18.3 61.1
2003 522 28.5 18.3 61.1
2004 513 30.0 17.1 60.8
2005 498 28.5 17.5 60.4
2006 475 27.1 17.5 63.8
2007 497 23.2 21.4 57.1
2008 482 23.9 20.2 62
2009 498 24.4 20.4 65.7
2010 469 25.3 18.5 68.9
2011 450 25.2 17.8 70.2
2012 464 26.0 17.8 63.1
2013 437 23.0 18.9 70.7
2014 414 23.0 18.0 71
2015 399 21.0 19.0 68.9
2016 374 21.0 17.8 42.2
2017 269 15.7 17.0 59.5
2018 361 17.6 20.4 69.5
2019 353 17.6 20.0 66.9
2020 333 16.1 20.6 72.4
2021 318 17.0 18.6 62.9
2022 299 17.0 17.5 66.6
2023 300 18.8 15.9 68

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Student-Teacher Ratio

Student/teacher ratio is calculated by dividing the total number of students by the total number of full-time equivalent teachers. Please note that a smaller student/teacher ratio does not necessarily translate to smaller class size. In some instances, schools hire teachers part time, and some teachers are hired for specialized instruction with very small class sizes. These and other factors contribute to the student/teacher ratio. Note: For private schools, Student/teacher ratio may not include Pre-Kindergarten.
Finances

Per Pupil Expenditures for Farwell Middle School

Help

YearExpenditures from Federal FundsExpenditures from State and Local FundsTotal Expenditures Per Pupil (All Funds)
2019 $1,625 (16.6%) $8,188 (83.4%) $9,813
2020 $1,940 (19.3%) $8,089 (80.7%) $10,029
2021 $2,190 (19.5%) $9,026 (80.5%) $11,215
2022 $4,027 (31.1%) $8,937 (68.9%) $12,963
2023 $3,792 (25.4%) $11,135 (74.6%) $14,928

Data source: Michigan Department of Education
Pre and Post Pandemic Data

Impact of COVID-19 on Farwell Middle School

The coronavirus has had a profound impact on education in America. Learning shifted online overnight, attendance numbers dwindled, and enrollment decreased. SchoolDigger.com is making it easier for you to better assess how COVID-19 has impacted your school. Through the collection of pre-pandemic (2019) and current data, SchoolDigger.com is sharing test scores, enrollment numbers and school demographics from schools across the country – and we make it easy to see how impacted schools compare locally and statewide.

Rankings

Rank
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)
Rank
Post pandemic (2022-2023)
Change (%)
Ranks 820th of 1408 Elementary schoolsRanks 1013th of 1470 Elementary schools
 10.7%
Ranks 542nd of 792 Middle schoolsRanks 591st of 883 Middle schools
 1.5%

Test Scores

% proficient
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)
% proficient
Post pandemic (2022-2023)
Change (%)
4th Grade English Language Arts (Farwell Middle School)24.432.3
 7.9%
   4th Grade English Language Arts (Farwell Area Schools)24.432.3
 7.9%
   4th Grade English Language Arts (Michigan)45.844.3
 1.5%
4th Grade Math (Farwell Middle School)24.432.3
 7.9%
   4th Grade Math (Farwell Area Schools)24.432.3
 7.9%
   4th Grade Math (Michigan)41.838.6
 3.2%
5th Grade English Language Arts (Farwell Middle School)53.423.2
 30.2%
   5th Grade English Language Arts (Farwell Area Schools)53.423.2
 30.2%
   5th Grade English Language Arts (Michigan)46.243.9
 2.3%
5th Grade Math (Farwell Middle School)45.523.2
 22.3%
   5th Grade Math (Farwell Area Schools)45.523.2
 22.3%
   5th Grade Math (Michigan)34.831.5
 3.3%
5th Grade Social Studies (Farwell Middle School)19.513
 6.5%
   5th Grade Social Studies (Farwell Area Schools)19.513
 6.5%
   5th Grade Social Studies (Michigan)17.418.6
 1.2%
6th Grade English Language Arts (Farwell Middle School)42.923.2
 19.7%
   6th Grade English Language Arts (Farwell Area Schools)42.923.2
 19.7%
   6th Grade English Language Arts (Michigan)41.737.5
 4.2%
6th Grade Math (Farwell Middle School)24.226.8
 2.6%
   6th Grade Math (Farwell Area Schools)24.226.8
 2.6%
   6th Grade Math (Michigan)35.129.6
 5.5%
7th Grade English Language Arts (Farwell Middle School)27.423.9
 3.5%
   7th Grade English Language Arts (Farwell Area Schools)27.423.9
 3.5%
   7th Grade English Language Arts (Michigan)42.736.9
 5.8%
7th Grade Math (Farwell Middle School)21.421.1
 0.3%
   7th Grade Math (Farwell Area Schools)21.421.1
 0.3%
   7th Grade Math (Michigan)35.731
 4.7%

Student Body

Number of students
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)
Number of students
Post pandemic (2022-2023)
Change (%)
Total Students353300
 15%
African American44
American Indian00
Asian11
Hispanic1410
 28.6%
Pacific Islander00
White325277
 14.8%
Two or More Races98
 11.1%
% Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients66.9%68%
 1.1%


Schools Near Farwell Middle School









Frequently Asked Questions about Farwell Middle School

Students at Farwell Middle School are 92% White, 3% Hispanic, 3% Two or more races, 1% African American.

In the 2022-23 school year, 300 students attended Farwell Middle School.

Farwell Middle School ranks 625th of 897 Michigan middle schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

Students who attend Farwell Middle School usually go on to attend Farwell High School


Rate Farwell Middle School!



Sign up for updates!

Be the first to know when there is an update for Farwell Middle School!




SchoolDigger data sources: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education, the U.S. Census Bureau and the Michigan Department of Education.

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMERS: Not all boundaries are included. We make every effort to ensure that boundaries are up-to-date. But it's important to note that these are approximations and are for general informational purposes only. To verify legal descriptions of boundaries or school locations, contact your local tax assessor's office and/or school district.





Diagnostics

None retrieved from Database in 105 milliseconds.