• Our school was opened in the 1950s during a period of extensive growth for our school district, when enrollment in Utica Community Schools quadrupled. The school opened as Sterling Junior High and was part of a bond issue that also created Wiley, Dresden, and West Utica elementary schools.

    Our school's name was changed in the mid-80s to honor Donald L. Bemis, a superintendent of Utica Community Schools. In addition to serving as superintendent, he also served as a teacher and counselor at Sterling Junior High School and was the State Superintendent of Public Instruction. He and his wife Chelsea are still active members in the UCS community.

    Today, Bemis Junior High School is a national and state Blue Ribbon School that serves more than 800 students in grades 7 and 8. It is the feeder school to Henry Ford II High School.

    Bemis Junior High School is a national exemplary school. This is the most prestigious honor that can be awarded to a U.S. school. The Program sets a standard of excellence for all schools striving for the highest level of achievement. These are schools ranked among each state's highe