Bemis Junior High School

Summary:

Bemis Junior High School is a public middle school located in Sterling Heights, Michigan, serving grades 7-8 with a total enrollment of 805 students. The school is part of the Utica Community Schools district, which is ranked 166 out of 610 districts in Michigan and has a 4-star rating from SchoolDigger.

Bemis Junior High School consistently outperforms the Utica Community Schools district and the state of Michigan in standardized test scores across various subjects and grade levels. In 2023-2024, 50.4% of 7th graders at Bemis were proficient or better in English Language Arts, compared to 46.9% for the district and 37.9% for the state. In Math, 41.3% of 7th graders at Bemis were proficient or better, compared to 39.3% for the district and 32.1% for the state. Bemis also outperforms the district and state in 8th grade Science and Social Studies assessments, and its PSAT performance is particularly strong, with 76.6% of 8th graders proficient or better in English Language Arts and 42.6% in Mathematics in 2023-2024. The school has a more diverse student population compared to some nearby schools, with 79.5% White, 8.32% African American, 4.22% Hispanic, and 4.1% Asian students in the 2022-2023 school year.

Despite having a significant population of students from low socioeconomic backgrounds, with 43.48% of students qualifying for free or reduced-price lunch in 2022-2023, Bemis Junior High School's academic performance remains strong. However, the school has experienced a notable increase in chronic absenteeism, rising from 12.3% in 2018-2019 to 19.9% in 2022-2023, which may require targeted interventions. Bemis generally outperforms nearby schools in the Utica Community Schools district, such as Shelby Junior High School and Frank Jeannette Junior High School, but some nearby schools in the Chippewa Valley Schools district, such as Iroquois Middle School and Heritage Junior High School, also demonstrate strong academic performance.


Detail:

Public 7-8

 12500 19 Mile Rd
       Sterling Heights, MI  48313-2682


(586) 797-2500

District: Utica Community Schools

SchoolDigger Rank:
151st of 897 Michigan Middle Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures:  $13,334 Help


Students who attend Bemis Junior High School usually attend:

High:    Henry Ford II High School

Feeder schools for Bemis Junior High School:

Elementary:    Browning Elementary School
    Dresden Elementary School
    Floyd Ebeling Elementary School
    Graebner Elementary School
    More...

Student/teacher ratio:  21.1 Help
Number of students:  805

Racial breakdown:

White:
79.5%
African American:
8.3%
Hispanic:
4.2%
more

Free/discounted lunch recipients:  43.5% Help


 See top rated Michigan middle schools

 Compare Bemis Junior High School to nearby middle schools!

Performance Trends
Help
Compare Details Bemis Junior High School ranks better than 83.2% of middle schools in Michigan. It also ranks 3rd among 7 ranked middle schools in the Utica Community Schools District. (See more...)
Help
Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 77.36. (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
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Compare Details Racial makeup is: White (79.5%), African American (8.3%), Hispanic (4.2%). (See more...)
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Compare Details 43.5% of students are receiving a free or discounted lunch. (See more...)
Teachers
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Compare Details The student/teacher ratio at Bemis Junior High School is 21.1. 4 middle schools in the Utica Community Schools District have better student/teacher ratios. (See more...)
Help
Compare Bemis Junior High School employs 38 full-time teachers.
Finance
Help
Compare Details The average total spent per student at Bemis Junior High School is $13,334. 4 middle schools in the Utica Community Schools District spend more per student.
Schooldigger 2024 Rankings:

Bemis Junior High School:

SchoolDigger ranks Bemis Junior High School 151st of 897 Michigan public middle schools. (See Bemis Junior High School in the ranking list.)

Middle School Test Score Ratings by Student Subgroup:


Multi-racial students:
English Language Learner students:
Special Education students:
Low Socio Economic Status students:
Female students:
Male students:
Asian students:
African American students:
Hispanic students:
White students:


Utica Community Schools:

SchoolDigger ranks Utica Community Schools 166th of 610 Michigan school districts. (See district ranking list.)


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Rank History for Bemis Junior High School

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Compare

Rank History for all students at Bemis Junior High School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Middle Schools MI State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2006 81.38 103rd 806 87.2%
2007 79.61 124th 823 84.9%
2008 75.91 181st 839 78.4%
2009 74.55 197th 847 76.7%
2010 75.85 180th 851 78.8%
2011 78.99 129th 858 85.0%
2012 74.08 197th 900 78.1%
2013 70.71 224th 919 75.6%
2014 72.07 215th 921 76.7%
2015 58.67 354th 919 61.5%
2016 61.74 308th 894 65.5%
2017 67.42 207th 821 74.8%
2018 75.24 182nd 838 78.3%
2019 76.76 140th 792 82.3%
2021 67.88 164th 675 75.7%
2022 72.11 157th 776 79.8%
2023 72.59 185th 883 79.0%
2024 77.36 151st 897 83.2%
See the entire list of Michigan Middle School Rankings!

Rank History for Multi-racial students at Bemis Junior High School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Middle Schools MI State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2023 54.46 65th 163 60.1%
2024 53.77 75th 176 57.4%
See the entire list of Best Michigan Middle Schools for Multi-racial Students!

Rank History for English Language Learner students at Bemis Junior High School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Middle Schools MI State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 27.96 117th 154 24.0%
2019 38.10 28th 46 39.1%
2023 45.11 33rd 72 54.2%
2024 44.59 44th 88 50.0%
See the entire list of Best Michigan Middle Schools for English Language Learner Students!

Rank History for Special Education students at Bemis Junior High School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Middle Schools MI State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 51.36 140th 377 62.9%
2019 32.66 56th 76 26.3%
2022 38.69 36th 70 48.6%
2023 25.00 161st 199 19.1%
2024 40.90 106th 201 47.3%
See the entire list of Best Michigan Middle Schools for Special Education Students!

Rank History for Low Socio Economic Status students at Bemis Junior High School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Middle Schools MI State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 56.13 325th 815 60.1%
2019 64.30 181st 672 73.1%
2021 62.07 146th 523 72.1%
2022 71.26 123rd 691 82.2%
2023 68.27 172nd 825 79.2%
2024 78.70 89th 836 89.4%
See the entire list of Best Michigan Middle Schools for Low Socio Economic Status Students!

Rank History for Female students at Bemis Junior High School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Middle Schools MI State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 70.05 205th 794 74.2%
2019 75.89 122nd 658 81.5%
2021 57.80 159th 521 69.5%
2022 63.26 182nd 657 72.3%
2023 69.50 176th 770 77.1%
2024 78.68 107th 771 86.1%
See the entire list of Best Michigan Middle Schools for Female Students!

Rank History for Male students at Bemis Junior High School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Middle Schools MI State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 76.12 151st 797 81.1%
2019 70.91 144th 639 77.5%
2021 68.03 123rd 540 77.2%
2022 72.17 127th 658 80.7%
2023 66.78 191st 776 75.4%
2024 68.97 182nd 786 76.8%
See the entire list of Best Michigan Middle Schools for Male Students!

Rank History for Asian students at Bemis Junior High School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Middle Schools MI State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 62.44 41st 104 60.6%
2023 48.13 52nd 87 40.2%
2024 50.58 51st 88 42.0%
See the entire list of Best Michigan Middle Schools for Asian Students!

Rank History for African American students at Bemis Junior High School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Middle Schools MI State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 74.85 65th 366 82.2%
2019 68.23 46th 196 76.5%
2022 53.47 65th 182 64.3%
2023 42.53 158th 310 49.0%
2024 58.25 95th 300 68.3%
See the entire list of Best Michigan Middle Schools for African American Students!

Rank History for Hispanic students at Bemis Junior High School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Middle Schools MI State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2023 72.75 48th 246 80.5%
2024 83.10 28th 257 89.1%
See the entire list of Best Michigan Middle Schools for Hispanic Students!

Rank History for White students at Bemis Junior High School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Middle Schools MI State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 62.54 214th 678 68.4%
2019 68.62 161st 624 74.2%
2021 65.13 160th 577 72.3%
2022 66.48 168th 638 73.7%
2023 64.85 195th 688 71.7%
2024 67.32 179th 701 74.5%
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.

Bemis Junior High School Test Scores
Tests: 
  
Grades: 
  
Years: 
  
Group by: 
District Scores:
State Scores:    
  
Subgroup: 




Data source: Michigan Department of Education

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Enrollment information for Bemis Junior High School

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Year White African American Asian Hispanic American Indian Pacific Islander Two or More Races Not Specified Total
1988 698 0 6 5 0 n/a n/a 0 709
1989 668 1 6 2 1 n/a n/a 0 678
1990 765 3 12 0 0 n/a n/a 0 780
1991 695 5 12 4 1 n/a n/a 0 717
1992 707 1 2 1 5 n/a n/a 0 716
1993 696 6 12 4 4 n/a n/a 0 722
1994 708 2 7 7 4 n/a n/a 0 728
1995 716 6 9 3 3 n/a n/a 0 737
1996 716 6 9 3 3 n/a n/a 0 737
1997 679 5 4 5 1 n/a n/a 0 694
1998 701 4 8 2 4 n/a n/a 0 719
1999 674 5 5 0 8 n/a n/a 0 692
2000 798 9 11 7 0 n/a n/a 0 825
2001 844 7 18 16 2 n/a n/a 0 887
2002 904 17 11 5 0 n/a n/a 1 938
2003 904 17 11 5 0 n/a n/a 1 938
2004 937 28 17 7 0 n/a n/a 0 989
2005 961 27 21 13 1 n/a n/a 0 1023
2006 917 40 29 5 3 n/a n/a 0 994
2007 934 43 28 5 2 n/a n/a 5 1017
2008 957 39 27 6 n/a n/a n/a 3 1032
2009 936 60 24 6 1 n/a n/a 2 1029
2010 872 47 29 15 0 n/a n/a 7 970
2011 826 51 23 23 1 3 6 0 933
2012 831 53 20 24 0 5 12 0 945
2013 896 66 23 17 0 4 8 0 1014
2014 886 70 19 16 0 5 10 0 1006
2015 835 60 18 17 1 4 21 0 956
2016 815 65 25 20 1 1 16 0 943
2017 811 69 28 23 2 5 20 0 958
2018 724 57 34 23 1 4 21 0 864
2019 682 51 41 31 0 2 26 0 833
2020 683 62 34 31 0 2 33 0 845
2021 668 50 33 28 1 0 33 0 813
2022 636 58 26 28 0 0 27 0 775
2023 640 67 33 34 1 1 29 0 805

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 Bemis Junior High School

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Compare
Year # Students Full-time Teachers Student/Teacher ratio % Free/Discounted Lunch
1988 709 n/a n/a n/a
1989 678 n/a n/a 2.5
1990 780 42.0 18.5 2.6
1991 717 n/a n/a n/a
1992 716 n/a n/a 4.7
1993 722 n/a 0.0 4.2
1994 728 32.0 22.8 4.1
1995 737 36.0 20.5 6.2
1996 737 36.0 20.5 6.2
1997 694 34.0 20.4 5
1998 719 34.0 21.1 4.2
1999 692 34.0 20.4 4.6
2000 825 37.0 22.3 5.3
2001 887 39.1 22.7 4.7
2002 938 42.6 22.0 8.9
2003 938 42.6 22.0 8.9
2004 989 46.6 21.2 10
2005 1023 46.8 21.9 9.5
2006 994 46.6 21.3 11.3
2007 1017 46.9 21.7 12.5
2008 1032 45.4 22.7 12.9
2009 1029 47.1 21.8 17.8
2010 970 44.5 21.8 22.8
2011 933 45.2 20.6 23.4
2012 945 39.9 23.6 29.1
2013 1014 44.5 22.7 30
2014 1006 44.2 22.7 26.7
2015 956 43.0 22.2 28.9
2016 943 44.0 21.4 29.7
2017 958 43.4 22.0 30.8
2018 864 41.2 20.9 33.7
2019 833 42.4 19.6 36
2020 845 38.8 21.7 38.5
2021 813 37.2 21.8 37.9
2022 775 38.0 20.3 40.1
2023 805 38.0 21.1 43.5

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 Bemis Junior High School

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Compare
Year # Students Full-time Teachers Student/Teacher ratio % Free/Discounted Lunch
1988 709 n/a n/a n/a
1989 678 n/a n/a 2.5
1990 780 42.0 18.5 2.6
1991 717 n/a n/a n/a
1992 716 n/a n/a 4.7
1993 722 n/a 0.0 4.2
1994 728 32.0 22.8 4.1
1995 737 36.0 20.5 6.2
1996 737 36.0 20.5 6.2
1997 694 34.0 20.4 5
1998 719 34.0 21.1 4.2
1999 692 34.0 20.4 4.6
2000 825 37.0 22.3 5.3
2001 887 39.1 22.7 4.7
2002 938 42.6 22.0 8.9
2003 938 42.6 22.0 8.9
2004 989 46.6 21.2 10
2005 1023 46.8 21.9 9.5
2006 994 46.6 21.3 11.3
2007 1017 46.9 21.7 12.5
2008 1032 45.4 22.7 12.9
2009 1029 47.1 21.8 17.8
2010 970 44.5 21.8 22.8
2011 933 45.2 20.6 23.4
2012 945 39.9 23.6 29.1
2013 1014 44.5 22.7 30
2014 1006 44.2 22.7 26.7
2015 956 43.0 22.2 28.9
2016 943 44.0 21.4 29.7
2017 958 43.4 22.0 30.8
2018 864 41.2 20.9 33.7
2019 833 42.4 19.6 36
2020 845 38.8 21.7 38.5
2021 813 37.2 21.8 37.9
2022 775 38.0 20.3 40.1
2023 805 38.0 21.1 43.5

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 Bemis Junior High School

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YearExpenditures from Federal FundsExpenditures from State and Local FundsTotal Expenditures Per Pupil (All Funds)
2019 $422 (4.2%) $9,682 (95.8%) $10,104
2020 $450 (4.5%) $9,626 (95.5%) $10,076
2021 $906 (8.3%) $10,033 (91.7%) $10,939
2022 $1,196 (9.8%) $11,017 (90.2%) $12,213
2023 $1,025 (7.7%) $12,310 (92.3%) $13,334

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

Impact of COVID-19 on Bemis Junior High 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 140th of 792 Middle schoolsRanks 185th of 883 Middle schools
 3.3%

Test Scores

% proficient
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)
% proficient
Post pandemic (2022-2023)
Change (%)
7th Grade English Language Arts (Bemis Junior High School)51.849.6
 2.2%
   7th Grade English Language Arts (Utica Community Schools)5247
 5%
   7th Grade English Language Arts (Michigan)42.736.9
 5.8%
7th Grade Math (Bemis Junior High School)47.842
 5.8%
   7th Grade Math (Utica Community Schools)48.840.9
 7.9%
   7th Grade Math (Michigan)35.731
 4.7%
8th Grade Social Studies (Bemis Junior High School)4032
 8%
   8th Grade Social Studies (Utica Community Schools)38.332.5
 5.8%
   8th Grade Social Studies (Michigan)2826.7
 1.3%
8th Grade English Language Arts (Bemis Junior High School)75.468.1
 7.3%
   8th Grade English Language Arts (Utica Community Schools)72.468.9
 3.5%
   8th Grade English Language Arts (Michigan)61.959.7
 2.2%
8th Grade Mathematics (Bemis Junior High School)50.144.3
 5.8%
   8th Grade Mathematics (Utica Community Schools)52.247.6
 4.6%
   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 Students833805
 3.4%
African American5167
 31.4%
American Indian01
Asian4133
 19.5%
Hispanic3134
 9.7%
Pacific Islander21
 50%
White682640
 6.2%
Two or More Races2629
 11.5%
% Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients36%43.5%
 7.5%


Schools Near Bemis Junior High School









Frequently Asked Questions about Bemis Junior High School

Students at Bemis Junior High School are 80% White, 8% African American, 4% Hispanic, 4% Asian, 4% Two or more races.

Students who attend Bemis Junior High School usually go on to attend Henry Ford II High School

In the 2022-23 school year, 805 students attended Bemis Junior High School.

Bemis Junior High School ranks 151st of 897 Michigan middle schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.


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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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