Union City Community Schools (Michigan)
| Union City Community Schools | |
|---|---|
| Address | |
430 St. Joseph Street[1]
, Branch County, Michigan, 49094United States | |
| District information | |
| Grades | PreKindergarten–12[1] |
| Superintendent | Dr. Patrick McKerr[2] |
| Schools | 3[1] |
| Budget | $13,619,000 2021-2022 expenditures[3] |
| NCES District ID | 2634410[3] |
| Students and staff | |
| Students | 909 (2024-2025)[3] |
| Teachers | 64.11 (on an FTE basis) (2024-2025)[3] |
| Staff | 133.96 FTE (2024-2025)[3] |
| Student–teacher ratio | 14.18 (2024-2025)[3] |
| District mascot | Chargers[1] |
| Other information | |
| Website | www |
Union City Community Schools is a public school district in Southern Michigan. In Branch County, it serves Union City, Sherwood, and parts of the townships of Batavia, Girard, Matteson, Sherwood, and Union.[4] In Calhoun County, it serves Burlington and parts of the townships of Athens, Burlington, Fredonia, Newton, and Tekonsha.[5]
History
Union City Elementary opened in fall 1953.[6] In fall 1961, the first students used the current high school, although the building was completed during that school year.[7]
The former Union City school building was built in the 1870s, and one hundred years later, it was still being used as the district's middle school.[8] In 1975, a new middle school opened, and the former middle school on Ellen Street was closed after it was deemed beyond repair to comply with state fire safety codes.[9]
The middle school was considered inadequate by 1997, but bond issues to fund improvements failed that year. The school was overcrowded, and students called it the "cardboard box school" because of its thin walls. The elementary school was also crowded, and a wing of modular classrooms that had been installed in 1970 was still in use.[10][11][12]
No further bond issues passed in the district until 2025, when voters approved $19.1 million to improve the district's facilities. Combined with a state grant of $23.6 million, the money will fund demolition of most of the middle school, an addition of a middle school wing at the high school, and renovations at the high school and elementary schools.[13][14][15]
On March 6, 2026, a tornado struck Union City, killing three. The schools sustained only minor damage, and the high school was used as a shelter for tornado victims and as the central hub for donations and recovery efforts.[16]
Schools
| School | Address | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Union City High School | 430 St. Joseph Street, Union City | Grades 9–12. Built 1961.[7] |
| Union City Middle School | 435 St. Joseph Street, Union City | Grades 5–8. Built 1975.[9] |
| Union City Elementary | 601 Walnut Lane, Union City | Grades PreK-4. Built 1953.[6] |
References
- ^ a b c d e Union City Community Schools. "Union City Community Schools". Retrieved March 11, 2026.
- ^ Union City Community Schools. "Administration". Retrieved March 11, 2026.
- ^ a b c d e f g "Search for Public School Districts – District Detail for Union City Community Schools". National Center for Education Statistics. Institute of Education Sciences.
- ^ Michigan Department of Technology, Management and Budget. Branch County School Districts (PDF) (Map). Scale not given. Lansing: Michigan Department of Technology, Management and Budget. Retrieved March 11, 2026.
- ^ Michigan Department of Technology, Management and Budget. Calhoun County School Districts (PDF) (Map). Scale not given. Lansing: Michigan Department of Technology, Management and Budget. Retrieved March 11, 2026.
- ^ a b "Finishing new school". Battle Creek Enquirer. July 30, 1953. p. 14.
- ^ a b "Open house slated Feb. at new Union City High School". Jackson Citizen Patriot (Jackson, Mich.). January 6, 1961. p. 10.
- ^ "Bids to be opened April 27 for new Union City school". Battle Creek Enquirer. March 13, 1973. p. A2.
- ^ a b "Union City classes postponed again". Battle Creek Enquirer. September 10, 1975. p. A3.
- ^ Wyat, Liz (June 2, 1997). "Union City: The walls do talk". Battle Creek Enquirer. p. 6A.
- ^ Pena, Xochitl (December 1, 1997). "Voting on millage again". Battle Creek Enquirer. p. 5A.
- ^ "Work together to find solution for U.C. schools". Battle Creek Enquirer. December 12, 1997. p. 6.
- ^ Altavena, Lily (April 27, 2025). "$75 million grant will help 3 Michigan school districts consolidate". Detroit Free Press. p. 11A.
- ^ Measel, Jim (August 5, 2025). "Union City school district voters pass $19.11 million 30-year bond". WTVB.
- ^ Union City Community Schools. "2025 Bond Project Overview". Retrieved March 11, 2026.
- ^ Thompson, Carol (March 8, 2026). "This school is the epicenter of Union City tornado recovery effort". Detroit News.