The top reported proficiency rate is 71% in Social studies. The lowest is 41% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on Kenneth T Beagle Middle School
Kenneth T. Beagle Middle School serves seventh and eighth graders in Grand Ledge, Michigan, part of the Grand Ledge Public Schools district. It became the district's middle school in the 2021-22 school year, when the district reconfigured its grade levels and shifted Beagle from an elementary building to its current role. That restructuring also moved kindergarten into the elementary schools and turned Hayes into a fifth- and sixth-grade intermediate school, so Beagle now sits as the bridge between Hayes and Grand Ledge High School. A family moving into the area would find a clear two-year pathway here, with the wider district having recently invested in facilities through a multi-phase bond that produced a new Wacousta Elementary, a track and field complex, a weight room, and a performing arts addition at the high school.
Academically, Beagle's state assessment results from the most recent school year paint a picture of generally solid performance, with a clear split between subjects. English language arts is the school's strongest area. Eighth-grade ELA proficiency is notably high, with roughly three quarters of tested students reaching proficiency on the PSAT-based measure. Seventh-grade ELA is also above the midpoint, with a majority of students proficient. Social studies stands out as well, with a strong majority of eighth graders proficient. Science proficiency among eighth graders sits just above the halfway mark. Mathematics is the softer area. Seventh-grade math proficiency is near the middle of the range, while eighth-grade math drops to a lower level, with roughly a third of tested students proficient. A parent may want to look into this further with the school, particularly how math instruction and support are structured across the two grades.
Measured against districts in Eaton County, Beagle's overall proficiency across tested subjects and grades places it in the top quartile. This is a strong relative position and reflects the school's solid showing in ELA, social studies, and science, even with the math dip pulling the composite down somewhat.
The school's enrollment is sizable for a two-grade middle school. The student body is predominantly white, with a Hispanic population representing the next largest group, followed by smaller Asian, Black, and multiracial populations. About a third of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. Data on special education and English learner populations was not available, so those figures are not characterized here. Information on Title I status, staffing ratios, course access, discipline, and attendance was also not provided, and chronic absenteeism and graduation rate metrics do not apply to a middle school serving only seventh and eighth grades.
Grand Ledge itself is a small city along the Grand River, roughly a short drive west of downtown Lansing. It has a compact historic downtown centered on Bridge Street, with the restored Opera House serving as a community gathering space. The city takes its name from sandstone ledges rising above the river, and Fitzgerald Park and Island Park provide riverside green space. The broader school district stretches well beyond the city limits into Delta Township and the communities of Delta Mills, Mulliken, Wacousta, and Eagle, so families at Beagle may come from varied settings, from the walkable downtown core to more car-dependent peripheral areas.
Housing in the school's zip code sits above the state benchmark for typical home values but below the national one, and rents are moderate relative to incomes. The local market has seen modest recent appreciation. With current mortgage rates, buying costs run somewhat higher than renting, which may factor into housing decisions for families considering the area. The district's high school has the largest enrollment in the Lansing area, and a publicly reported distance learning program serves grades seven through twelve alongside the traditional buildings.
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