The top reported proficiency rate is 51% in Math. The lowest is 41% in English language arts.
Original Research by School Decision on Union Middle
Union Middle is a regular public school serving grades six through eight in the city of Union, the Franklin County seat. It is part of the Union R-XI school district. The school’s enrollment is about what one would expect for a middle school of this grade band, and the student body is predominantly white, with a small share of Hispanic students and a modest number of students identifying as two or more races. Nearly half of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, a share that reflects the economic mix of the community.
On state assessments, proficiency rates vary by subject and grade. In math, sixth and seventh graders reached a level that is roughly comparable to the midpoint among school districts in Franklin County, while eighth-grade math was weaker. In English language arts, proficiency across all three grades was moderate, with the highest share of students meeting the bar in seventh and eighth grade. Science is tested only in eighth grade, and about half of students demonstrated proficiency there. Overall, the school’s combined proficiency across tested subjects and grades sits above the midpoint when placed relative to other districts in Franklin County. A parent may want to look into how the school supports students whose performance trails, particularly in eighth-grade math, where the drop-off is notable.
Data on chronic absenteeism, discipline, and course offerings were not available in the source material, so a full picture of school climate and academic access is incomplete. Because Union Middle is not a high school, there is no graduation rate to report.
The district is in a period of active change. In 2024, voters approved a bond issue that will fund a new elementary school and renovations to Union Middle itself, a response to steady enrollment growth. The district also recently shifted to a structured literacy curriculum aligned with the science of reading for elementary grades, launched a full-day preschool, and adopted standards-based grading for kindergarten through fifth grade. These moves signal a district that is investing in early learning and adjusting its instructional approach, though it is too soon to see how these changes will affect outcomes at the middle school level.
Union itself is a growing county seat with a mix of residential subdivisions, commercial corridors, and light industry. The city’s largest employers include manufacturing firms, Franklin County government, the school district, and East Central College. Housing values are in line with state averages, and the population has been climbing steadily. The built environment is car-dependent, with a traditional downtown government cluster and schools on separate campuses. The city describes itself as combining new developments with farmland and forest, and the median age is young, reinforcing a family-oriented feel.
For a family considering Union Middle, the school offers a standard academic program in a district that is actively building and revising its approach. Academic results are mixed, with some bright spots in middle grades math and a middle-of-the-pack position among county peers. The surrounding community provides a stable, growing setting with a range of local employers and a clear civic center. The lack of publicly reported data on absenteeism, discipline, and program access means some dimensions of school life are not visible from the available information, and a parent may wish to ask the school directly about those areas.
See more original research from School Decision →