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    UCS Building Configurations

    Questions and Answers
    October 23, 2025

    What is being considered?

    Currently, Utica Community Schools grade configurations are elementary schools that include early childhood, kindergarten and young fives through 6th grade, junior high schools 7th through 9th grade, and 10th through 12th grade being taught at our high schools. The only exception is Henry Ford II High School covering 9th through 12th grade and Bemis Junior High School teaching 7th and 8th grade.  

    The district is initiating a process that will consider elementary schools with early childhood, kindergarten and young fives through 5th grade, middle schools with 6th through 8th grade, and high schools 9th through 12th grade.  

    Why is a change being considered?

    The current grade configurations were originally created based on the district’s capacity to meet its enrollment needs. With changes to its enrollment, Utica Community Schools now has the overall capacity to consider a change.

    There are a number of compelling reasons why this is the right time to consider changing grade configurations: 

    • UCS and Michigan curriculum and assessment standards are organized in a K-5, 6-8, and 9-12 format. This change would better align our schools to successfully meet those expectations. 
    • We can increase the rigor and course offerings to 6th and 9th grade students and their access to co-curricular activities by changing grade configurations.  
    • We would have an opportunity to reimagine how a middle school experience can support the unique needs of students in 6th through 8th grade and support a successful transition to high school in the 9th grade.  
    • The timing is consistent with the current work of our Enrollment Distribution Advisory Committee (EDAC), which is engaged in long-range planning and review of our attendance areas.

     

    What is the process being used to consider this change?

    The district will be supported by Hanover Research, which also served as a resource for the development of the UCS Empowered Strategic Plan. The process will include consideration of best practices and research, current UCS building utilization, the academic and mental health needs of students, and timeline.

    How would a change impact capacity and class sizes?

    The district’s Enrollment Distribution Advisory Committee (EDAC) is currently involved in a districtwide review of attendance areas. Through this process, the capacity levels of schools would be identified for all levels for a possible grade configuration change. The process will include recent and projected student population declines and their impact on future enrollment at each school. 

    For our high schools, the additional grade would mean a return to the enrollment that they had about 15 years ago prior to the declines in student enrollment. At the junior high level, all schools would maintain a similar enrollment with the exception of Bemis Junior High which would inherit a third grade level, a change that UCS would need to investigate further.

    Class sizes would not change; the adjustment would be to the amount of classes being run at any one time in a building.

    What is the timeline for implementation?

    The timeline will be determined as this process moves forward. Given the amount of planning that would be required for a possible change, implementation would not occur at least until the 2027-28 school year. It is possible to go beyond that date based on the level of planning involved for a successful transition.

    How will the mental health needs of students be considered?

    Utica Community Schools is committed to meeting the needs of the whole child.  Through the Culture of Caring in our UCS Empowered Strategic Plan, resources are made available to support the safety and security, social, emotional and nutritional needs of students. A consideration of building changes will prioritize the resources, research and structures that would support a successful transition for students.

    This includes proactive outreach to families, student engagement opportunities, and a continued focus on creating school environments that address unique developmental and emotional needs.

    Where can I get more information?

    Updates will be posted regularly at this site: https://mi50010997.schoolwires.net/buildingforthefuture.