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Brethren Middle School

Summary:

Brethren Middle School is a public middle school in Brethren, Michigan, serving grades 7-8 with a total enrollment of 73 students. The school is part of the Kaleva Norman Dickson School District, which is ranked 403 out of 610 school districts in Michigan and has a 2-star rating from SchoolDigger.

Brethren Middle School's student population is predominantly white, with 83.56% white students, which is higher than the state average. The school also has a significant Native American student population, at 10.96%, much higher than the state average. Academically, the school's performance on M-Step and PSAT tests is generally below the state averages in most subject areas and grade levels, with proficiency rates ranging from 23.1% in 7th-grade math to 60% in 8th-grade English Language Arts. The school has also experienced a concerning increase in chronic absenteeism, rising from 22.8% in 2019-2020 to 55.7% in 2021-2022.

Brethren Middle School serves a population with significant economic challenges, with 75.34% of students qualifying for free or reduced-price lunch, significantly higher than the state average. The school has seen an increase in per-student spending, from $12,202 in 2019-2020 to $17,155 in 2022-2023, and the student-teacher ratio has fluctuated, ranging from 13.8 in 2021-2022 to 19.7 in 2020-2021. Addressing the academic challenges, chronic absenteeism, and socioeconomic factors will be crucial for improving student outcomes and providing a more equitable and supportive learning environment at Brethren Middle School.


Detail:

Public 7-8

 4400 N High Bridge Rd
       Brethren, MI  49619

(231) 477-5353

District: Kaleva Norman Dickson School District

SchoolDigger Rank:
476th of 897 Michigan Middle Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures:  $17,155 Help


Students who attend Brethren Middle School usually attend:

High:    Brethren High School

Feeder schools for Brethren Middle School:

Elementary:    KND Elementary

Student/teacher ratio:  15.3 Help
Number of students:  81

Racial breakdown:

White:
90.1%
American Indian:
6.2%
Hispanic:
2.5%
more

Free/discounted lunch recipients:  64.2% Help


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Performance Trends
Help
Compare Details Brethren Middle School ranks worse than 53.1% of middle schools in Michigan. (See more...)
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Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 43.52. (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 (90.1%), American Indian (6.2%), Hispanic (2.5%). (See more...)
Help
Compare Details 64.2% of students are receiving a free or discounted lunch. (See more...)
Teachers
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Compare Details The student/teacher ratio at Brethren Middle School is 15.3. (See more...)
Help
Compare Brethren Middle School employs 5.2 full-time teachers.
Finance
Help
Compare Details The average total spent per student at Brethren Middle School is $17,155.
Schooldigger 2024 Rankings:

Brethren Middle School:

SchoolDigger ranks Brethren Middle School 476th of 897 Michigan public middle schools. (See Brethren 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:


Kaleva Norman Dickson School District:

SchoolDigger ranks Kaleva Norman Dickson School District 403rd of 610 Michigan school districts. (See district ranking list.)


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Rank History for Brethren Middle School

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Compare

Rank History for all students at Brethren Middle School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Middle Schools MI State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2006 43.30 590th 806 26.8%
2007 47.44 559th 823 32.1%
2008 57.65 469th 839 44.1%
2009 33.38 679th 847 19.8%
2010 47.40 597th 851 29.8%
2011 62.83 389th 858 54.7%
2012 41.20 575th 900 36.1%
2013 38.68 603rd 919 34.4%
2014 42.37 578th 921 37.2%
2015 36.01 608th 919 33.8%
2016 31.27 625th 894 30.1%
2017 21.11 648th 821 21.1%
2018 31.19 612th 838 27.0%
2019 25.60 605th 792 23.6%
2021 33.23 448th 675 33.6%
2022 47.75 368th 776 52.6%
2023 46.72 435th 883 50.7%
2024 43.52 476th 897 46.9%
See the entire list of Michigan Middle School Rankings!

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

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Middle Schools MI State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 37.31 549th 815 32.6%
2019 24.93 546th 672 18.8%
2022 64.44 170th 691 75.4%
2023 62.40 234th 825 71.6%
2024 42.45 456th 836 45.5%
See the entire list of Best Michigan Middle Schools for Low Socio Economic Status Students!

Rank History for Female students at Brethren Middle School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Middle Schools MI State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 30.71 568th 794 28.5%
2019 23.56 526th 658 20.1%
2022 52.15 258th 657 60.7%
2023 47.19 366th 770 52.5%
2024 43.58 402nd 771 47.9%
See the entire list of Best Michigan Middle Schools for Female Students!

Rank History for Male students at Brethren Middle School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Middle Schools MI State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 30.67 565th 797 29.1%
2019 24.79 500th 639 21.8%
2021 31.45 367th 540 32.0%
2022 54.51 265th 658 59.7%
2023 48.06 349th 776 55.0%
2024 34.29 520th 786 33.8%
See the entire list of Best Michigan Middle Schools for Male Students!

Rank History for White students at Brethren Middle School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Middle Schools MI State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 16.35 604th 678 10.9%
2019 12.76 581st 624 6.9%
2021 34.55 376th 577 34.8%
2022 42.97 339th 638 46.9%
2023 39.04 397th 688 42.3%
2024 31.89 492nd 701 29.8%
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.

Brethren Middle School Test Scores
Tests: 
  
Grades: 
  
Years: 
  
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District Scores:
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Data source: Michigan Department of Education

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Enrollment information for Brethren Middle School

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Compare
Year White African American Asian Hispanic American Indian Pacific Islander Two or More Races Not Specified Total
2000 204 1 2 5 7 n/a n/a 0 219
2001 186 2 4 4 8 n/a n/a 0 204
2002 232 0 0 0 0 n/a n/a 0 232
2003 232 0 0 0 0 n/a n/a 0 232
2004 223 4 1 7 7 n/a n/a 0 242
2005 143 2 1 0 10 n/a n/a 0 156
2006 115 3 0 10 5 n/a n/a 0 133
2007 119 1 0 8 4 n/a n/a 0 132
2008 134 5 n/a 4 1 n/a n/a 1 145
2009 189 3 0 7 2 n/a n/a 1 202
2010 160 5 0 6 4 n/a n/a 1 176
2011 125 3 0 4 2 0 1 0 135
2012 114 4 0 5 1 0 2 0 126
2013 130 2 0 4 3 0 3 0 142
2014 125 5 0 4 2 0 2 0 138
2015 116 0 0 3 2 0 2 0 123
2016 69 0 0 2 1 0 2 0 74
2017 63 0 0 2 0 0 2 0 67
2018 68 1 0 5 1 2 2 0 79
2019 87 1 0 4 1 1 4 0 98
2020 74 2 0 2 6 2 6 0 92
2021 77 2 0 9 1 1 3 0 93
2022 70 0 0 7 4 0 1 0 82
2023 61 1 0 3 8 0 0 0 73
2024 73 0 0 2 5 0 1 0 81

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 Brethren Middle School

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Compare
Year # Students Full-time Teachers Student/Teacher ratio % Free/Discounted Lunch
2000 219 14.5 15.1 49.3
2001 204 13.9 14.7 48.5
2002 232 12.8 18.1 57.8
2003 232 12.8 18.1 57.8
2004 242 13.3 18.2 65.7
2005 156 10.8 14.4 66.7
2006 133 12.3 10.8 69.2
2007 132 9.7 13.6 65.9
2008 145 9.2 15.8 63.9
2009 202 10.2 19.8 69.7
2010 176 8.4 20.9 70.9
2011 135 7.4 18.0 72.6
2012 126 8.1 15.4 71.4
2013 142 7.4 19.0 71.8
2014 138 5.9 23.0 69.6
2015 123 6.0 20.5 66.7
2016 74 3.0 24.6 73
2017 67 3.0 22.1 82.1
2018 79 3.1 25.1 81
2019 98 4.0 24.1 72.4
2020 92 4.3 21.1 71.7
2021 93 4.7 19.7 79.6
2022 82 5.9 13.8 82.9
2023 73 4.8 14.9 75.3
2024 81 5.2 15.3 64.2

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 Brethren Middle School

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Compare
Year # Students Full-time Teachers Student/Teacher ratio % Free/Discounted Lunch
2000 219 14.5 15.1 49.3
2001 204 13.9 14.7 48.5
2002 232 12.8 18.1 57.8
2003 232 12.8 18.1 57.8
2004 242 13.3 18.2 65.7
2005 156 10.8 14.4 66.7
2006 133 12.3 10.8 69.2
2007 132 9.7 13.6 65.9
2008 145 9.2 15.8 63.9
2009 202 10.2 19.8 69.7
2010 176 8.4 20.9 70.9
2011 135 7.4 18.0 72.6
2012 126 8.1 15.4 71.4
2013 142 7.4 19.0 71.8
2014 138 5.9 23.0 69.6
2015 123 6.0 20.5 66.7
2016 74 3.0 24.6 73
2017 67 3.0 22.1 82.1
2018 79 3.1 25.1 81
2019 98 4.0 24.1 72.4
2020 92 4.3 21.1 71.7
2021 93 4.7 19.7 79.6
2022 82 5.9 13.8 82.9
2023 73 4.8 14.9 75.3
2024 81 5.2 15.3 64.2

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 Brethren Middle School

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YearExpenditures from Federal FundsExpenditures from State and Local FundsTotal Expenditures Per Pupil (All Funds)
2019 $823 (7.2%) $10,542 (92.8%) $11,364
2020 $996 (8.2%) $11,206 (91.8%) $12,202
2021 $1,546 (11.6%) $11,826 (88.4%) $13,372
2022 $1,195 (8.5%) $12,941 (91.5%) $14,136
2023 $2,281 (13.3%) $14,874 (86.7%) $17,155

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

Impact of COVID-19 on Brethren 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 605th of 792 Middle schoolsRanks 435th of 883 Middle schools
 27.1%

Test Scores

% proficient
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)		 % proficient
Post pandemic (2022-2023)		 Change (%)
7th Grade English Language Arts (Brethren Middle School)34.838.5
 3.7%
   7th Grade English Language Arts (Kaleva Norman Dickson School District)34.838.5
 3.7%
   7th Grade English Language Arts (Michigan)42.736.9
 5.8%
7th Grade Math (Brethren Middle School)21.725.6
 3.9%
   7th Grade Math (Kaleva Norman Dickson School District)21.725.6
 3.9%
   7th Grade Math (Michigan)35.731
 4.7%
8th Grade Social Studies (Brethren Middle School)17.812.1
 5.7%
   8th Grade Social Studies (Kaleva Norman Dickson School District)17.812.1
 5.7%
   8th Grade Social Studies (Michigan)2826.7
 1.3%
8th Grade English Language Arts (Brethren Middle School)44.459.4
 15%
   8th Grade English Language Arts (Kaleva Norman Dickson School District)44.459.4
 15%
   8th Grade English Language Arts (Michigan)61.959.7
 2.2%
8th Grade Mathematics (Brethren Middle School)26.728.1
 1.4%
   8th Grade Mathematics (Kaleva Norman Dickson School District)26.728.1
 1.4%
   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 Students9873
 25.5%
African American11
American Indian18
 700%
Asian00
Hispanic43
 25%
Pacific Islander10
 100%
White8761
 29.9%
Two or More Races40
 100%
% Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients72.4%75.3%
 2.9%

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Frequently Asked Questions about Brethren Middle School

In the 2023-24 school year, 81 students attended Brethren Middle School.

Brethren Middle School ranks 476th of 897 Michigan middle schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

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

Students at Brethren Middle School are 90% White, 6% American Indian, 2% Hispanic, 1% Two or more races.


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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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