The top reported proficiency rate is 56% in Math. The lowest is 30% in English language arts.
Original Research by School Decision on Box Elder Middle
Box Elder Middle serves eighth and ninth graders in Brigham City, the seat of Box Elder County. The school is part of the Box Elder District and occupies a separate campus, as is typical for schools in this community. The student body, according to available enrollment data, is predominantly white, with a smaller share of Hispanic students and a modest presence of other racial and ethnic groups. About one-third of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, placing the school in a middle range on this measure of economic need.
Academically, the state’s RISE assessments, which are given in grades three through eight, provide the main testing picture for this school. On the math assessment, a majority of students scored at or above the proficient level. Science proficiency also landed near the majority mark. English language arts results, however, were markedly lower, with roughly three in ten students meeting the proficiency benchmark. This gap between math and science on one hand and ELA on the other is a clear pattern in the data. A family considering Box Elder Middle should note this disparity and may want to ask the school about how reading and writing instruction is structured and how students who are below proficiency receive support.
Compared with other districts in Box Elder County, the school’s overall proficiency across tested subjects and grade levels placed it in the top quartile. That comparison set is small—only two districts operate in the county—so the ranking says more about the limited local field than about broad statewide standing. Still, it indicates that Box Elder Middle’s test outcomes are above the middle point of the county.
The school does not report a graduation rate, which is expected since it does not serve the grade levels where that metric is calculated. Discipline data, chronic absenteeism rates, staffing ratios, and course access information were not available in the provided data. A parent who wants to understand school climate or how the school supports students who struggle academically or behaviorally will need to reach out to the school directly, as those dimensions are not captured here.
Brigham City presents itself as a small-town manufacturing and government hub at the foot of the Wellsville Mountains. The downtown historic Main Street hosts a farmers market, evening events with food trucks, and an annual art festival. The city’s largest employers are manufacturing and defense-related firms such as Northrop Grumman, Autoliv, and Post Consumer Brands. The housing market in the area shows home values roughly in line with national medians, and the monthly mortgage payment is higher than typical rent, which is common in many markets at present. The population has grown modestly in recent years, and the city is actively planning for further growth, including infrastructure projects and energy development. Brigham City has a historic downtown core, but the school is on its own campus rather than integrated into that downtown walkable area. The median commute is short, suggesting many residents work locally or in nearby Ogden.
Box Elder District, according to publicly reported information, had no major recent lasting-impact changes that could be confirmed. A parent considering this school is looking at a middle school that serves a narrow two-grade span. The standout academic concern is the large gap between math and science proficiency, which are around the majority mark, and English language arts proficiency, which falls well below. A family whose child is a strong reader or who is ready for a school where the peer group shows a wide range of literacy attainment would want to understand how the school differentiates instruction and what interventions are in place. The school is located in a growing but still small-town community with a manufacturing and defense employment base, stable housing costs relative to national norms, and a historic downtown that functions as the city’s civic and cultural center.
See more original research from School Decision →