The top reported proficiency rate is 12% in English language arts. The lowest is 5% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on Ypsilanti Community Middle School
Ypsilanti Community Middle School serves grades five through eight as a regular public school in the Ypsilanti Community Schools district. The listed grade span includes fifth grade, but the current enrollment is concentrated in sixth through eighth, with no fifth graders enrolled at this time. The school sits on Emerick Street in Ypsilanti, a small city in Washtenaw County shaped heavily by Eastern Michigan University. The campus is close to the city's historic downtown and Depot Town districts, both built around turn-of-the-century buildings, with the Huron River running nearby and the Border-to-Border Trail providing a regional recreational path through town.
The student body is predominantly Black, with a substantial Hispanic population and smaller white, multiracial, Asian, and American Indian or Alaska Native groups. A very large share of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, reflecting the economic profile of the surrounding neighborhoods. Data on English learners and special education enrollment was not available, so those populations cannot be characterized here. The school is neither a charter nor a magnet, and its Title I status was not reported.
On state assessments, proficiency is low across every tested subject and grade. Sixth-grade math proficiency falls in the lowest reported band, with no students reaching proficiency. Seventh-grade math and eighth-grade math show only a small fraction of test-takers meeting the standard, and the same pattern holds for English language arts in sixth and seventh grades. Eighth-grade ELA, taken via the PSAT, is the relative bright spot, with roughly a quarter of students reaching proficiency. Science and social studies results for eighth grade are also low. When placed against other districts in Washtenaw County, the school's overall proficiency sits in the bottom quartile. Washtenaw County includes Ann Arbor and other communities with typically strong academic outcomes, which sets a high regional bar, but the school's results are well below the county median regardless. A parent considering this school may want to ask administration directly about what academic improvement plans are in place and how the school supports students performing below grade level.
Because this is a middle school, there is no graduation rate to report. Chronic absenteeism data was not available. Information on course offerings, extracurricular programs, staffing levels, discipline practices, and attendance was not provided, so those dimensions of school life cannot be described here. The district brief for Ypsilanti Community Schools did not surface any parent-relevant changes with lasting impact from recent district decisions, so there is nothing to report on that front.
The housing market around the school is relatively affordable compared with the rest of the state and considerably below national benchmarks. Home values in the school's zip code sit well under the state benchmark, and rents are modest. The price-to-income ratio suggests that homeownership is within reach for many local families relative to national norms, though mortgage rates remain elevated. The rental market has seen slightly stronger year-over-year price growth than home values. For families renting, monthly costs are lower than estimated mortgage payments, which may matter for households deciding between renting and buying.
Ypsilanti itself is a city in transition. Eastern Michigan University is the dominant employer and gives the city its college-town character, with student-oriented dining and nightlife along West Cross Street and civic life anchored by the downtown and Depot Town districts. The city has the second-largest contiguous historic district in Michigan, and its compact grid layout supports walkability in the core areas. At the same time, Ypsilanti has lost major manufacturing employers over the decades, and the city's master plan addresses vacant properties and redevelopment. The Water Street Redevelopment Area near downtown represents an effort to put former industrial land back to productive use. The city's proximity to Ann Arbor and Detroit, with convenient interstate access, positions it for continued revitalization, though that transition is ongoing.
For a family weighing this school, the community offers historic character, riverfront recreation, and a relatively affordable cost of living in a region where many neighboring communities are more expensive. The academic data, though, is a central consideration. The proficiency numbers are low across subjects and grades, and the school's standing within Washtenaw County reflects that. A parent would want to engage directly with school leadership about instructional approach, intervention supports, and the trajectory the school is on before making a decision.
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