Is Meridian Junior High School a good school?

Meridian Junior High School ranks 374 th of 897 Michigan middle schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

How many students attend Meridian Junior High School?

In the 2023-24 school year, 400 students attended Meridian Junior High School.

What is the racial makeup of Meridian Junior High School?

Students at Meridian Junior High School are 92% White, 5% Two or more races, 3% Hispanic.

What high school do graduates of Meridian Junior High School attend?

Students who attend Meridian Junior High School usually go on to attend Meridian Early College High School

Meridian Junior High School

Summary:

Meridian Junior High School is a public middle school located in Sanford, Michigan, serving grades 5-8 with a student population of 396. The school is part of the Meridian Public Schools district, which is ranked 245 out of 610 districts in Michigan and has a 3-star rating from SchoolDigger.

Meridian Junior High School faces several challenges, including a significantly higher percentage of white students (93.18%) compared to nearby schools, a concerning increase in chronic absenteeism (from 7.7% to 16.6%), and lower test scores than the state averages and nearby schools like Gladwin Junior High School and Western Middle School. The school also has a relatively high percentage of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch, ranging from 46.47% to 53.83%, which is higher than some nearby schools such as Jefferson Middle School (26.69%).

Despite the increase in spending per student at Meridian Junior High School, from $10,847 in 2019-2020 to $13,450 in 2022-2023, the school's performance has not seen a commensurate improvement, as evidenced by its declining statewide ranking, from 271 out of 838 Michigan middle schools in 2017-2018 to 374 out of 897 in 2023-2024. This suggests that the school may need to implement targeted interventions and strategies to address the specific needs of its student population and improve its overall educational outcomes.

Detail:

Public 5-8

3475 N Meridian Rd
Sanford, MI 48657-9161

(989) 687-3360

District: Meridian Public Schools

SchoolDigger Rank:
374^th of 897 Michigan Middle Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures: $13,450

Students who attend Meridian Junior High School usually attend:

High:

Meridian Early College High School

Feeder schools for Meridian Junior High School:

Elementary:

Meridian Elementary School

Student/teacher ratio: 16.2

Number of students: 400

Racial breakdown:

White:

91.8%

Two or more races:

4.5%

Hispanic:

3.0%

Free/discounted lunch recipients: 47.8%

See top rated Michigan middle schools

Compare Meridian Junior High School to nearby middle schools!

Performance Trends

Compare Details Meridian Junior High School ranks better than 58.3% of middle schools in Michigan. (See more...)

Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 52.33. (See more...)

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

Compare Details Racial makeup is: White (91.8%), two or more races (4.5%), Hispanic (3%). (See more...)

Compare Details 47.8% of students are receiving a free or discounted lunch. (See more...)

Teachers

Compare Details The student/teacher ratio at Meridian Junior High School is 16.2. (See more...)

Compare Meridian Junior High School employs 24.6 full-time teachers.

Finance

Compare Details The average total spent per student at Meridian Junior High School is $13,450.

Schooldigger 2024 Rankings:

Meridian Junior High School:

SchoolDigger ranks Meridian Junior High School 374^th of 897 Michigan public middle schools. (See Meridian Junior High School in the ranking list.)

Middle School Test Score Ratings by Student Subgroup:

Low Socio Economic Status students:

Female students:

Male students:

White students:

Meridian Public Schools:

SchoolDigger ranks Meridian Public Schools 245^th of 610 Michigan school districts. (See district ranking list.)

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Rank History for Meridian Junior High School

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Rank History for all students at Meridian Junior High School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Middle Schools	MI State Percentile
2006	56.76	440^th	806	45.4%
2007	67.43	296^th	823	64.0%
2008	64.03	364^th	839	56.6%
2009	70.68	268^th	847	68.4%
2010	65.35	376^th	851	55.8%
2011	69.80	270^th	858	68.5%
2012	72.88	209^th	900	76.8%
2013	56.80	379^th	919	58.8%
2014	49.00	499^th	921	45.8%
2015	62.45	313^th	919	65.9%
2016	57.07	358^th	894	60.0%
2017	57.65	294^th	821	64.2%
2018	66.25	271^st	838	67.7%
2019	46.64	393^rd	792	50.4%
2021	33.29	446^th	675	33.9%
2022	41.36	437^th	776	43.7%
2023	44.53	462^nd	883	47.7%
2024	52.33	374^th	897	58.3%

See the entire list of Michigan Middle School Rankings!

Rank History for Special Education students at Meridian Junior High School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Middle Schools	MI State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2018	65.97	76^th	377	79.8%
2023	45.63	95^th	199	52.3%

See the entire list of Best Michigan Middle Schools for Special Education Students!

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

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Middle Schools	MI State Percentile
2018	60.60	280^th	815	65.6%
2019	50.46	318^th	672	52.7%
2021	29.17	402^nd	523	23.1%
2022	50.87	303^rd	691	56.2%
2023	31.52	575^th	825	30.3%
2024	59.62	263^rd	836	68.5%

See the entire list of Best Michigan Middle Schools for Low Socio Economic Status Students!

Rank History for Female students at Meridian Junior High School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Middle Schools	MI State Percentile
2018	70.20	201^st	794	74.7%
2019	44.54	349^th	658	47.0%
2021	32.05	370^th	521	29.0%
2022	35.25	418^th	657	36.4%
2023	42.08	420^th	770	45.5%
2024	50.51	321^st	771	58.4%

See the entire list of Best Michigan Middle Schools for Female Students!

Rank History for Male students at Meridian Junior High School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Middle Schools	MI State Percentile
2018	58.84	306^th	797	61.6%
2019	40.24	369^th	639	42.3%
2021	26.26	414^th	540	23.3%
2022	38.63	385^th	658	41.5%
2023	42.86	422^nd	776	45.6%
2024	45.36	411^th	786	47.7%

See the entire list of Best Michigan Middle Schools for Male Students!

Rank History for White students at Meridian Junior High School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Middle Schools	MI State Percentile
2018	51.30	314^th	678	53.7%
2019	35.06	403^rd	624	35.4%
2021	24.99	445^th	577	22.9%
2022	32.39	434^th	638	32.0%
2023	29.90	499^th	688	27.5%
2024	38.33	422^nd	701	39.8%

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.

Data source: Michigan Department of Education

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Enrollment information for Meridian Junior High School

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Year	White	African American	Asian	Hispanic	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Total
1988	261	0	0	0	0	n/a	n/a	261
1989	271	0	3	0	0	n/a	n/a	274
1990	287	1	0	2	0	n/a	n/a	290
1991	272	2	0	0	0	n/a	n/a	274
1992	247	1	0	0	0	n/a	n/a	248
1993	254	2	0	2	0	n/a	n/a	258
1994	259	3	0	0	0	n/a	n/a	262
1995	244	1	1	0	0	n/a	n/a	246
1996	244	1	1	0	0	n/a	n/a	246
1997	252	2	1	1	0	n/a	n/a	256
1998	254	0	0	0	1	n/a	n/a	255
1999	234	0	0	0	0	n/a	n/a	234
2000	250	2	0	0	0	n/a	n/a	252
2001	270	2	1	0	0	n/a	n/a	273
2002	365	2	2	4	1	n/a	n/a	374
2003	365	2	2	4	1	n/a	n/a	374
2004	412	2	2	3	2	n/a	n/a	421
2005	412	2	2	5	2	n/a	n/a	423
2006	397	2	1	5	2	n/a	n/a	407
2007	460	4	2	6	3	n/a	n/a	475
2008	419	6	1	6	2	n/a	n/a	434
2009	400	9	1	8	2	n/a	n/a	420
2010	394	6	1	7	0	n/a	n/a	408
2011	370	6	1	6	1	0	0	384
2012	396	3	0	3	1	0	0	403
2013	370	3	1	4	1	0	0	379
2014	402	5	1	2	1	0	0	411
2015	402	7	2	3	0	0	0	414
2016	391	9	2	1	0	0	0	403
2017	403	5	0	1	0	0	1	410
2018	407	6	1	4	0	0	5	423
2019	370	3	1	6	0	0	6	386
2020	392	5	2	8	0	0	8	415
2021	358	6	3	4	0	0	8	379
2022	344	5	1	5	0	0	13	368
2023	369	5	1	6	0	0	15	396
2024	367	3	0	12	0	0	18	400

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 Meridian Junior High School

Compare

Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
1988	261	n/a	n/a	n/a
1989	274	n/a	n/a	21.5
1990	290	19.0	15.2	14.5
1991	274	n/a	n/a	n/a
1992	248	n/a	n/a	n/a
1993	258	n/a	0.0	23.3
1994	262	12.6	20.8	18.3
1995	246	15.6	15.8	24.4
1996	246	15.6	15.8	24.4
1997	256	17.0	15.1	25
1998	255	17.0	15.0	23.1
1999	234	17.0	13.8	24.8
2000	252	17.1	14.7	35.3
2001	273	17.0	16.1	35.9
2002	374	n/a	n/a	35.8
2003	374	n/a	n/a	35.8
2004	421	21.0	20.0	37.1
2005	423	21.0	20.1	38.5
2006	407	21.3	19.1	39.8
2007	475	25.3	18.8	36.6
2008	434	24.3	17.9	35.5
2009	420	21.1	19.9	41
2010	408	20.6	19.7	45.1
2011	384	20.8	18.4	44
2012	403	20.2	19.9	44.9
2013	379	18.7	20.2	46.7
2014	411	20.6	19.9	45.3
2015	414	23.0	18.0	48.8
2016	403	22.0	18.3	48.9
2017	410	23.2	17.6	46.6
2018	423	23.8	17.7	49.9
2019	386	22.0	17.5	50.8
2020	415	22.2	18.6	49.4
2021	379	23.7	15.9	53.8
2022	368	23.1	15.9	46.5
2023	396	23.8	16.5	47.5
2024	400	24.6	16.2	47.8

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 Meridian Junior High School

Compare

Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
1988	261	n/a	n/a	n/a
1989	274	n/a	n/a	21.5
1990	290	19.0	15.2	14.5
1991	274	n/a	n/a	n/a
1992	248	n/a	n/a	n/a
1993	258	n/a	0.0	23.3
1994	262	12.6	20.8	18.3
1995	246	15.6	15.8	24.4
1996	246	15.6	15.8	24.4
1997	256	17.0	15.1	25
1998	255	17.0	15.0	23.1
1999	234	17.0	13.8	24.8
2000	252	17.1	14.7	35.3
2001	273	17.0	16.1	35.9
2002	374	n/a	n/a	35.8
2003	374	n/a	n/a	35.8
2004	421	21.0	20.0	37.1
2005	423	21.0	20.1	38.5
2006	407	21.3	19.1	39.8
2007	475	25.3	18.8	36.6
2008	434	24.3	17.9	35.5
2009	420	21.1	19.9	41
2010	408	20.6	19.7	45.1
2011	384	20.8	18.4	44
2012	403	20.2	19.9	44.9
2013	379	18.7	20.2	46.7
2014	411	20.6	19.9	45.3
2015	414	23.0	18.0	48.8
2016	403	22.0	18.3	48.9
2017	410	23.2	17.6	46.6
2018	423	23.8	17.7	49.9
2019	386	22.0	17.5	50.8
2020	415	22.2	18.6	49.4
2021	379	23.7	15.9	53.8
2022	368	23.1	15.9	46.5
2023	396	23.8	16.5	47.5
2024	400	24.6	16.2	47.8

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 Meridian Junior High School

Year	Expenditures from Federal Funds	Expenditures from State and Local Funds	Total Expenditures Per Pupil (All Funds)
2019	$550 (4.9%)	$10,676 (95.1%)	$11,226
2020	$612 (5.6%)	$10,235 (94.4%)	$10,847
2021	$1,211 (10.3%)	$10,561 (89.7%)	$11,772
2022	$1,620 (12.3%)	$11,512 (87.7%)	$13,132
2023	$1,419 (10.6%)	$12,031 (89.4%)	$13,450

Data source: Michigan Department of Education

Pre and Post Pandemic Data

Impact of COVID-19 on Meridian 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 393^rd of 792 Middle schools	Ranks 462^nd of 883 Middle schools	2.7%

Test Scores

	% proficient Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	% proficient Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
5th Grade English Language Arts (Meridian Junior High School)	51.3	47.3	4%
5th Grade English Language Arts (Meridian Public Schools)	51.3	47.3	4%
5th Grade English Language Arts (Michigan)	46.2	43.9	2.3%
5th Grade Math (Meridian Junior High School)	21.3	24.5	3.2%
5th Grade Math (Meridian Public Schools)	21.3	24.5	3.2%
5th Grade Math (Michigan)	34.8	31.5	3.3%
5th Grade Social Studies (Meridian Junior High School)	11.3	20	8.7%
5th Grade Social Studies (Meridian Public Schools)	11.3	20	8.7%
5th Grade Social Studies (Michigan)	17.4	18.6	1.2%
6th Grade English Language Arts (Meridian Junior High School)	34.2	37.5	3.3%
6th Grade English Language Arts (Meridian Public Schools)	34.2	37.5	3.3%
6th Grade English Language Arts (Michigan)	41.7	37.5	4.2%
6th Grade Math (Meridian Junior High School)	31.5	21.9	9.6%
6th Grade Math (Meridian Public Schools)	31.5	21.9	9.6%
6th Grade Math (Michigan)	35.1	29.6	5.5%
7th Grade English Language Arts (Meridian Junior High School)	47.5	34.2	13.3%
7th Grade English Language Arts (Meridian Public Schools)	47.5	34.2	13.3%
7th Grade English Language Arts (Michigan)	42.7	36.9	5.8%
7th Grade Math (Meridian Junior High School)	42.2	29.1	13.1%
7th Grade Math (Meridian Public Schools)	42.2	29.1	13.1%
7th Grade Math (Michigan)	35.7	31	4.7%
8th Grade Social Studies (Meridian Junior High School)	25.6	15.4	10.2%
8th Grade Social Studies (Meridian Public Schools)	25.6	15.4	10.2%
8th Grade Social Studies (Michigan)	28	26.7	1.3%
8th Grade English Language Arts (Meridian Junior High School)	58.2	59.6	1.4%
8th Grade English Language Arts (Meridian Public Schools)	58.2	59.6	1.4%
8th Grade English Language Arts (Michigan)	61.9	59.7	2.2%
8th Grade Mathematics (Meridian Junior High School)	26.4	31.7	5.3%
8th Grade Mathematics (Meridian Public Schools)	26.4	31.7	5.3%
8th Grade Mathematics (Michigan)	41.4	36.3	5.1%

Student Body

	Number of students Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	Number of students Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
Total Students	386	396	2.6%
African American	3	5	66.7%
American Indian	0	0
Asian	1	1
Hispanic	6	6
Pacific Islander	0	0
White	370	369	0.3%
Two or More Races	6	15	150%
% Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	50.8%	47.5%	3.3%

Schools Near Meridian Junior High School

Choose columns to see: Summary School Students/Teachers Ranking Test Scores Finance All

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2024)				Ranking (2023)				PSAT English Language Arts (2024)	PSAT Mathematics (2024)	M-Step English Language Arts (2024)			M-Step Math (2024)			M-Step Science (2024)		M-Step Social Studies (2024)		Per Pupil Expenditures (2023)
Name	Type	Grades	Address	City	Zip	County	District	Is Charter	Is Magnet	Is Virtual	Is Title I	Phone	Enrollment	Full-time Teachers	Student/ Teacher Ratio	Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	White	Black	Hispanic	Asian	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Average Standard Score (2024)	Statewide Rank (2024)	State Percentile (2024)	SchoolDigger Rating (2024)	Average Standard Score (2023)	Statewide Rank (2023)	State Percentile (2023)	Rank Change from Previous Year	PSAT English Language Arts 8th Grade	PSAT Mathematics 8th Grade	M-Step English Language Arts 5th Grade	M-Step English Language Arts 6th Grade	M-Step English Language Arts 7th Grade	M-Step Math 5th Grade	M-Step Math 6th Grade	M-Step Math 7th Grade	M-Step Science 5th Grade	M-Step Science 8th Grade	M-Step Social Studies 5th Grade	M-Step Social Studies 8th Grade	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
Meridian Junior High School	Public	5-8	3475 N Meridian Rd	Sanford	48657	Midland County	Meridian Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(989) 687-3360	400	25	16.2	47.8%	367 (91.8%)	3 (0.8%)	12 (3.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	18 (4.5%)	52.3	374^th of 897 public middle schools	58.3%		44.5	462^nd of 883 public middle schools	47.7%	88	73.8	36.9	41.4	35.1	35.4	30.3	27.2	36.5	41.4	29.8	13.1	23.8	$13,450	$1,419	$12,031
Jefferson Middle School	Public	6-8	800 W Chapel Ln	Midland	48640	Midland County	Midland Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(989) 923-5873	906	51	17.7	26.2%	750 (82.8%)	19 (2.1%)	41 (4.5%)	57 (6.3%)	1 (0.1%)	2 (0.2%)	36 (4.0%)	94.5	34^th of 897 public middle schools	96.2%		94.2	36^th of 883 public middle schools	95.9%	2	87.6	65.0		62.2	65.2		49.7	57.6		71.7		57.0	$12,957	$708	$12,249
Bullock Creek Middle School	Public	6-8	644 S Badour Rd	Midland	48640	Midland County	Bullock Creek School District	No	No	No	No	(989) 631-9260	359	23	15.4	46.8%	331 (92.2%)	3 (0.8%)	12 (3.3%)	2 (0.6%)	3 (0.8%)	1 (0.3%)	7 (1.9%)	60.2	284^th of 897 public middle schools	68.3%		69.6	212^th of 883 public middle schools	76.0%	72	59.3	35.6		35.6	51.4		23.9	47.7		37.6		35.0	$13,665	$868	$12,797
Northeast Middle School	Public	6-8	1305 E Sugnet Rd	Midland	48642	Midland County	Midland Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(989) 923-5772	808	52	15.5	47.8%	692 (85.6%)	23 (2.8%)	41 (5.1%)	11 (1.4%)	2 (0.2%)	2 (0.2%)	37 (4.6%)	79.9	132^nd of 897 public middle schools	85.3%		82.4	116^th of 883 public middle schools	86.9%	16	77.6	37.8		53.5	52.4		38.9	41.0		58.1		48.8	$13,178	$781	$12,398
Western Middle School	Public	6-8	500 W Midland Rd	Auburn	48611	Bay County	Bay City School District	No	No	No	No	(989) 662-4489	714	35	20.5	40.2%	623 (87.3%)	6 (0.8%)	44 (6.2%)	4 (0.6%)	5 (0.7%)	1 (0.1%)	31 (4.3%)	65	247^th of 897 public middle schools	72.5%		54.2	338^th of 883 public middle schools	61.7%	91	70.6	42.4		39.6	48.1		26.5	34.0		43.6		35.7	$13,755	$2,158	$11,597
Gladwin Junior High School	Public	6-8	401 N Bowery Ave	Gladwin	48624	Gladwin County	Gladwin Community Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(989) 426-3808	336	17	19.7	56.5%	313 (93.2%)	1 (0.3%)	15 (4.5%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	7 (2.1%)	57.9	303^rd of 897 public middle schools	66.2%		53.5	345^th of 883 public middle schools	60.9%	42	70.5	35.2		41.6	40.8		30.1	32.0		45.9		20.5	$13,265	$3,209	$10,056

Meridian Junior High School

Meridian Junior High School:

Middle School Test Score Ratings by Student Subgroup:

Meridian Public Schools:

What do you think?

Rank History for Meridian Junior High School

Rank History for all students at Meridian Junior High School

Rank History for Special Education students at Meridian Junior High School

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

Rank History for Female students at Meridian Junior High School

Rank History for Male students at Meridian Junior High School

Rank History for White students at Meridian Junior High School

Enrollment information for Meridian Junior High School

Students eligible for free or discounted lunch at Meridian Junior High School

Student/Teacher Ratio Meridian Junior High School

Per Pupil Expenditures for Meridian Junior High School

Impact of COVID-19 on Meridian Junior High School

Rankings

Test Scores

Student Body

Schools Near Meridian Junior High School