Utica Community Schools (UCS) will implement a new K-12 school configuration starting in the 2027-28 academic year, fundamentally changing how students progress through the education system. This initiative aims to enhance educational opportunities and streamline the learning experience across the district.
Currently, UCS operates with two distinct building configurations. The schools serving Utica, Eisenhower, and Stevenson High School follow a model where elementary schools cater to kindergarten through sixth grade, junior high schools serve seventh through ninth grades, and high schools include grades ten through twelve. In contrast, the Henry Ford II High School and its feeder schools have a different setup, with elementary schools for kindergarten through sixth grade, a junior high for seventh and eighth grades, and a high school accommodating grades nine through twelve.
Beginning in fall 2027, all UCS facilities will adopt a unified model comprising kindergarten through fifth grade at the elementary level, sixth through eighth grade at middle schools, and ninth through twelfth grade at high schools. This change was approved by the school board during its meeting on December 15, 2023.
Superintendent Robert Monroe expressed the district’s commitment to academic achievement and student success through this transition. “Our work to address grade configurations in UCS reflects everything we are about as a district – driving academic achievement, creating even more opportunities and choices for our students, and empowering our graduates for success,” he stated in a press release.
The new grade structure is expected to bring several benefits to students and the district:
1. **Expanded Access to Coursework and Activities**: Students in sixth and ninth grades will have increased options for advanced courses, including Advanced Placement (AP) and Career and Technical Education (CTE), alongside enhanced opportunities in arts and athletics.
2. **Consistency Across Grade Levels**: The new configuration ensures that all UCS schools will follow the same grade structure, aligning the curriculum and assessment standards with the state of Michigan’s educational framework.
3. **Enhanced Middle School Experience**: The new structure aims to meet the unique needs of students in the sixth through eighth grades, facilitating a smoother transition to high school.
4. **Improved Resource Allocation**: The changes will lead to better facility management and resource distribution, allowing the district to focus more on classroom needs.
Monroe remarked, “Traditionally, UCS grade structures have been based on our ability to accommodate students. With the enrollment and facility changes occurring in our schools, we now have the opportunity to create a structure based on students and their success.”
As part of the transition, teams at UCS are meticulously planning the curriculum, student support systems, and the framework for the new middle school model. This transformation is a crucial aspect of the district’s long-term strategic planning effort, dubbed UCS Empowered, which the school board adopted in 2023.
UCS holds the distinction of having the largest enrollment of any public school system in Macomb County and ranks as the second largest in the state of Michigan. Its schools stretch from Metropolitan Parkway in Sterling Heights to Washington Township, demonstrating a broad geographic reach and commitment to serving a diverse student population.
As these changes unfold, the district aims to build on its legacy of educational excellence, ensuring that all students are well-prepared for their future endeavors.
