Richards Middle School

Summary:

Richards Middle School is a public middle school located in Fraser, Michigan, serving grades 7-8 with a total enrollment of 765 students. The school is part of the Fraser Public Schools district, which is ranked 266 out of 610 districts in Michigan and has a 3-star rating from SchoolDigger.

Richards Middle School consistently performs above the state average in M-Step and PSAT assessments across various subjects and grade levels. In the 2023-2024 school year, 51.4% of 7th-grade students were proficient or better in M-Step English Language Arts, compared to the state average of 37.9%, and 39.9% were proficient or better in M-Step Math, compared to the state average of 32.1%. The school's performance across different student subgroups is also noteworthy, with its African American, Hispanic, and multi-racial student populations ranking higher than the overall school ranking. However, the school has experienced a significant increase in chronic absenteeism, rising from 18.4% in the 2019-2020 school year to 35.0% in the 2022-2023 school year.

Compared to nearby schools, Richards Middle School generally outperforms them in academic assessments, such as M-Step and PSAT. For example, in the 2023-2024 school year, its 7th-grade M-Step English Language Arts proficiency rate of 51.4% was significantly higher than the rates of Warren Woods Middle School (40.3%) and Wyandot Middle School (36.5%). However, some nearby schools, such as Heritage Junior High School, have higher overall rankings and performance, particularly in PSAT assessments. Additionally, Richards Middle School has a relatively high percentage of students eligible for free or reduced-price lunch, ranging from 44.95% to 53.21% over the past few years, suggesting a higher proportion of students from lower-income families compared to some nearby schools.


Detail:

Public 7-8

 33500 Garfield Rd
       Fraser, MI  48026-1884


(586) 439-7400

District: Fraser Public Schools

SchoolDigger Rank:
297th of 897 Michigan Middle Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures:  $13,500 Help


Students who attend Richards Middle School usually attend:

High:    Fraser High School

Feeder schools for Richards Middle School:

Elementary:    Dooley Center
    Eisenhower Elementary School
    Mark Twain Elementary School
    Ralph Waldo Emerson Elementary School
    More...

Student/teacher ratio:  16.7 Help
Number of students:  730

Racial breakdown:

White:
70.1%
African American:
17.8%
Two or more races:
7.9%
more

Free/discounted lunch recipients:  50.3% Help


 See top rated Michigan middle schools

 Compare Richards Middle School to nearby middle schools!

Performance Trends
Help
Compare Details Richards Middle School ranks better than 66.9% of middle schools in Michigan. (See more...)
Help
Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 58.53. (See more...)
Help
Chronic absenteeism in a 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 (70.1%), African American (17.8%), two or more races (7.9%). (See more...)
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Compare Details 50.3% of students are receiving a free or discounted lunch. (See more...)
Teachers
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Compare Details The student/teacher ratio at Richards Middle School is 16.7. (See more...)
Help
Compare Richards Middle School employs 43.5 full-time teachers.
Finance
Help
Compare Details The average total spent per student at Richards Middle School is $13,500.
Schooldigger 2024 Rankings:

Richards Middle School:

SchoolDigger ranks Richards Middle School 297th of 897 Michigan public middle schools. (See Richards Middle School in the ranking list.)

Middle School Test Score Ratings by Student Subgroup:


Multi-racial students:
Special Education students:
Low Socio Economic Status students:
Female students:
Male students:
African American students:
White students:


Fraser Public Schools:

SchoolDigger ranks Fraser Public Schools 266th of 610 Michigan school districts. (See district ranking list.)


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Your rating for Richards Middle School?

Rank History for Richards Middle School

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Compare

Rank History for all students at Richards Middle School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Middle Schools MI State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2006 75.68 179th 806 77.8%
2007 70.78 247th 823 70.0%
2008 72.23 232nd 839 72.3%
2009 70.32 277th 847 67.3%
2010 67.55 329th 851 61.3%
2011 67.69 303rd 858 64.7%
2012 58.86 357th 900 60.3%
2013 55.13 403rd 919 56.1%
2014 56.14 412th 921 55.3%
2015 62.25 314th 919 65.8%
2016 52.11 408th 894 54.4%
2017 45.72 399th 821 51.4%
2018 66.17 272nd 838 67.5%
2019 65.87 217th 792 72.6%
2021 40.08 384th 675 43.1%
2022 47.33 373rd 776 51.9%
2023 58.62 295th 883 66.6%
2024 58.53 297th 897 66.9%
See the entire list of Michigan Middle School Rankings!

Rank History for Multi-racial students at Richards Middle School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Middle Schools MI State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 51.20 70th 156 55.1%
2019 72.36 11th 51 78.4%
2022 30.59 47th 65 27.7%
2023 46.06 83rd 163 49.1%
2024 51.74 77th 176 56.3%
See the entire list of Best Michigan Middle Schools for Multi-racial Students!

Rank History for English Language Learner students at Richards Middle School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Middle Schools MI State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 19.32 145th 154 5.8%
See the entire list of Best Michigan Middle Schools for English Language Learner Students!

Rank History for Special Education students at Richards Middle School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Middle Schools MI State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 54.47 125th 377 66.8%
2019 20.80 67th 76 11.8%
2023 10.25 198th 199 0.5%
2024 42.47 97th 201 51.7%
See the entire list of Best Michigan Middle Schools for Special Education Students!

Rank History for Low Socio Economic Status students at Richards Middle School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Middle Schools MI State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 65.79 229th 815 71.9%
2019 65.83 166th 672 75.3%
2021 31.03 389th 523 25.6%
2022 40.14 422nd 691 38.9%
2023 50.60 359th 825 56.5%
2024 56.38 293rd 836 65.0%
See the entire list of Best Michigan Middle Schools for Low Socio Economic Status Students!

Rank History for Female students at Richards Middle School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Middle Schools MI State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 61.95 278th 794 65.0%
2019 62.03 205th 658 68.8%
2021 40.12 293rd 521 43.8%
2022 46.40 311th 657 52.7%
2023 55.01 280th 770 63.6%
2024 53.88 288th 771 62.6%
See the entire list of Best Michigan Middle Schools for Female Students!

Rank History for Male students at Richards Middle School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Middle Schools MI State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 66.01 236th 797 70.4%
2019 61.66 204th 639 68.1%
2021 29.37 384th 540 28.9%
2022 38.42 388th 658 41.0%
2023 53.04 310th 776 60.1%
2024 55.96 285th 786 63.7%
See the entire list of Best Michigan Middle Schools for Male Students!

Rank History for African American students at Richards Middle School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Middle Schools MI State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 55.08 140th 366 61.7%
2019 65.66 50th 196 74.5%
2021 23.68 68th 77 11.7%
2022 39.60 103rd 182 43.4%
2023 46.57 140th 310 54.8%
2024 45.26 132nd 300 56.0%
See the entire list of Best Michigan Middle Schools for African American Students!

Rank History for Hispanic students at Richards Middle School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Middle Schools MI State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 62.78 81st 266 69.5%
2023 64.89 78th 246 68.3%
See the entire list of Best Michigan Middle Schools for Hispanic Students!

Rank History for White students at Richards Middle School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Middle Schools MI State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 57.87 245th 678 63.9%
2019 58.82 218th 624 65.1%
2021 40.25 317th 577 45.1%
2022 45.35 320th 638 49.8%
2023 54.75 263rd 688 61.8%
2024 54.53 266th 701 62.1%
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.

Richards 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: 1)
0%

0%

0%

0%

100%

  

Reviews:
by a parent
Wednesday, February 16, 2022

Open Quote This school openly allows bullies to thrive. My child was photographed teased and threatened on school property and electronically via school provided devices. The principal and superintendent did nothing and my child continues to be harassed by these children and the school refuses to listen. Close Quote



Enrollment information for Richards Middle School

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Compare
Year White African American Asian Hispanic American Indian Pacific Islander Two or More Races Not Specified Total
1988 735 4 8 2 0 n/a n/a 0 749
1989 702 3 6 1 0 n/a n/a 0 712
1990 697 3 2 1 3 n/a n/a 0 706
1991 695 5 4 1 6 n/a n/a 0 711
1992 645 8 5 3 3 n/a n/a 0 664
1993 666 3 7 2 7 n/a n/a 0 685
1994 678 4 11 3 7 n/a n/a 0 703
1995 725 14 7 2 4 n/a n/a 0 752
1996 725 14 7 2 4 n/a n/a 0 752
1997 721 11 8 1 4 n/a n/a 0 745
1998 688 8 18 1 4 n/a n/a 0 719
1999 680 7 21 5 12 n/a n/a 0 725
2000 682 13 16 5 10 n/a n/a 0 726
2001 647 20 12 0 7 n/a n/a 0 686
2002 759 38 9 3 10 n/a n/a 0 819
2003 759 38 9 3 10 n/a n/a 0 819
2004 756 49 11 6 10 n/a n/a 0 832
2005 769 55 0 4 15 n/a n/a 0 843
2006 750 59 16 10 6 n/a n/a 0 841
2007 680 62 15 10 3 n/a n/a 23 793
2008 718 75 10 14 6 n/a n/a 16 839
2009 700 62 16 12 1 n/a n/a 12 803
2010 664 74 20 8 3 n/a n/a 18 787
2011 649 92 21 17 2 0 19 0 800
2012 682 71 17 23 0 0 32 0 825
2013 696 107 14 19 0 2 37 0 875
2014 684 112 16 25 3 3 34 0 877
2015 668 100 16 31 4 1 29 0 849
2016 634 98 17 30 0 2 39 0 820
2017 668 95 18 27 2 1 60 0 871
2018 667 105 13 20 3 0 52 0 860
2019 628 119 18 24 2 0 39 0 830
2020 581 120 11 28 1 1 47 0 789
2021 557 108 10 24 2 1 46 0 748
2022 564 114 16 25 2 0 51 0 772
2023 538 135 11 20 1 0 60 0 765
2024 512 130 9 20 1 0 58 0 730

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 Richards Middle School

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Compare
Year # Students Full-time Teachers Student/Teacher ratio % Free/Discounted Lunch
1988 749 n/a n/a n/a
1989 712 n/a n/a 8
1990 706 48.0 14.7 6.4
1991 711 n/a n/a n/a
1992 664 n/a n/a 14
1993 685 n/a 0.0 13
1994 703 0.0 n/a 10.5
1995 752 37.5 20.1 11.7
1996 752 37.5 20.1 11.7
1997 745 39.0 19.1 10.6
1998 719 40.0 18.0 9
1999 725 40.0 18.1 11
2000 726 41.8 17.4 13.5
2001 686 41.4 16.6 15.5
2002 819 47.6 17.2 14.8
2003 819 47.6 17.2 14.8
2004 832 46.6 17.9 18.1
2005 843 47.4 17.8 21.9
2006 841 46.9 17.9 20.2
2007 793 47.7 16.6 25.8
2008 839 46.5 18.0 26.4
2009 803 45.4 17.7 28.2
2010 787 38.8 20.2 38.6
2011 800 39.3 20.3 45.1
2012 825 39.8 20.7 49.3
2013 875 41.5 21.0 49.5
2014 877 42.4 20.6 45.8
2015 849 43.0 19.7 44.5
2016 820 43.0 19.0 40.7
2017 871 44.0 19.7 39.4
2018 860 44.8 19.1 44
2019 830 45.0 18.4 44.7
2020 789 43.0 18.3 44.9
2021 748 39.6 18.8 53.2
2022 772 36.5 21.1 44.9
2023 765 40.8 18.7 50.8
2024 730 43.5 16.7 50.3

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 Richards Middle School

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Compare
Year # Students Full-time Teachers Student/Teacher ratio % Free/Discounted Lunch
1988 749 n/a n/a n/a
1989 712 n/a n/a 8
1990 706 48.0 14.7 6.4
1991 711 n/a n/a n/a
1992 664 n/a n/a 14
1993 685 n/a 0.0 13
1994 703 0.0 n/a 10.5
1995 752 37.5 20.1 11.7
1996 752 37.5 20.1 11.7
1997 745 39.0 19.1 10.6
1998 719 40.0 18.0 9
1999 725 40.0 18.1 11
2000 726 41.8 17.4 13.5
2001 686 41.4 16.6 15.5
2002 819 47.6 17.2 14.8
2003 819 47.6 17.2 14.8
2004 832 46.6 17.9 18.1
2005 843 47.4 17.8 21.9
2006 841 46.9 17.9 20.2
2007 793 47.7 16.6 25.8
2008 839 46.5 18.0 26.4
2009 803 45.4 17.7 28.2
2010 787 38.8 20.2 38.6
2011 800 39.3 20.3 45.1
2012 825 39.8 20.7 49.3
2013 875 41.5 21.0 49.5
2014 877 42.4 20.6 45.8
2015 849 43.0 19.7 44.5
2016 820 43.0 19.0 40.7
2017 871 44.0 19.7 39.4
2018 860 44.8 19.1 44
2019 830 45.0 18.4 44.7
2020 789 43.0 18.3 44.9
2021 748 39.6 18.8 53.2
2022 772 36.5 21.1 44.9
2023 765 40.8 18.7 50.8
2024 730 43.5 16.7 50.3

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 Richards Middle School

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YearExpenditures from Federal FundsExpenditures from State and Local FundsTotal Expenditures Per Pupil (All Funds)
2019 $661 (5.9%) $10,637 (94.1%) $11,298
2020 $599 (5.1%) $11,144 (94.9%) $11,744
2021 $784 (6.2%) $11,802 (93.8%) $12,585
2022 $2,469 (18.4%) $10,980 (81.6%) $13,450
2023 $1,366 (10.1%) $12,134 (89.9%) $13,500

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

Impact of COVID-19 on Richards 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 217th of 792 Middle schoolsRanks 295th of 883 Middle schools
 6%

Test Scores

% proficient
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)
% proficient
Post pandemic (2022-2023)
Change (%)
7th Grade English Language Arts (Richards Middle School)55.839.4
 16.4%
   7th Grade English Language Arts (Fraser Public Schools)55.839.4
 16.4%
   7th Grade English Language Arts (Michigan)42.736.9
 5.8%
7th Grade Math (Richards Middle School)47.341
 6.3%
   7th Grade Math (Fraser Public Schools)47.341
 6.3%
   7th Grade Math (Michigan)35.731
 4.7%
8th Grade Social Studies (Richards Middle School)26.825.9
 0.9%
   8th Grade Social Studies (Fraser Public Schools)26.825.9
 0.9%
   8th Grade Social Studies (Michigan)2826.7
 1.3%
8th Grade English Language Arts (Richards Middle School)66.457.4
 9%
   8th Grade English Language Arts (Fraser Public Schools)66.457.4
 9%
   8th Grade English Language Arts (Michigan)61.959.7
 2.2%
8th Grade Mathematics (Richards Middle School)43.833
 10.8%
   8th Grade Mathematics (Fraser Public Schools)43.833
 10.8%
   8th Grade Mathematics (Michigan)41.436.3
 5.1%

Student Body

Number of students
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)
Number of students
Post pandemic (2022-2023)
Change (%)
Total Students830765
 7.8%
African American119135
 13.4%
American Indian21
 50%
Asian1811
 38.9%
Hispanic2420
 16.7%
Pacific Islander00
White628538
 14.3%
Two or More Races3960
 53.8%
% Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients44.7%50.8%
 6.2%


Schools Near Richards Middle School









Frequently Asked Questions about Richards Middle School

Richards Middle School ranks 297th of 897 Michigan middle schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

Students who attend Richards Middle School usually go on to attend Fraser High School

Students at Richards Middle School are 70% White, 18% African American, 8% Two or more races, 3% Hispanic, 1% Asian.

In the 2023-24 school year, 730 students attended Richards Middle School.


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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.





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