Utica Community Schools

Utica Community Schools is in the process of addressing long-term issues with attendance areas.  

The adjustments focus on neighborhood schools that would strengthen communities and create greater access for students to improved facilities.  The changes also ensure UCS students from each reviewed elementary school will continue as a group to the same junior high school and high school.

By building, renovating and innovating, we are able to provide more students access to facilities that are being redesigned with a vision that encourages growth and achievement.

What are the adjustments?

The plan includes changes to each of the following schools reviewed by our Enrollment Distribution Advisory Committee. These adjustments are effective for the fall of 2028:

• Harvey Elementary School - Dresden Elementary students will be consolidated with the existing Harvey Elementary attendance areas east of Van Dyke.  The district’s Auxiliary Services Department is evaluating Harvey Elementary to determine the facility improvements that will support the change. A portion of the school’s attendance area in Shelby Township will be merged with an adjacent Flickinger Elementary neighborhood.
• Schwarzkoff Elementary School - The Plumbrook Elementary attendance area east of Van Dyke will be consolidated with Schwarzkoff Elementary and DeKeyser Elementary. The district’s Auxiliary Services Department is evaluating Schwarzkoff Elementary to determine the facility improvements that will support the change. Also, through a partnership with the Macomb Intermediate School District (MISD), improvements will be made to the facility to meet the unique needs of the Physically or Otherwise Health Impaired (POHI) program. In addition, a remote section of Schwarzkoff Elementary attendance area west of Van Dyke will be consolidated with adjoining Schuchard Elementary neighborhoods.
• Dresden Elementary School - Dresden Elementary will be consolidated into neighboring school communities. The southern portion of Dresden Elementary will be merged with an improved Harvey Elementary facility. In Shelby Township, remote portions of the attendance areas will be merged with adjacent Ebeling Elementary and Monfort Elementary attendance areas.
• Plumbrook Elementary School - Plumbrook Elementary will be consolidated into neighboring school communities. The attendance area east of Van Dyke and west of Dodge Park will be merged with Schwarzkoff Elementary, including the relocation of the countywide Physically or Otherwise Health Impaired (POHI) program.  Working in partnership with the Macomb Intermediate School District, a space will be created to specifically meet the unique needs of POHI students. The portion east of Dodge Park will be merged with an adjoining DeKeyser Elementary neighborhood. The remote portion of the school boundaries west of Van Dyke will be merged with the adjourning Burr Elementary attendance areas.
• Burr Elementary School - A remote portion of the Burr Elementary boundaries between the Conrail Rail System and Van Dyke will be merged with an adjacent Harvey Elementary attendance area.
• DeKeyser Elementary School - A remote section of the DeKeyser Elementary attendance area west of Van Dyke will be merged with Burr Elementary. The attendance area is in close proximity to the Burr Elementary property.
• Oakbrook Elementary School - A small attendance area off Plumbrook Road, east of Dodge Park, will be consolidated with the adjacent DeKeyser Elementary attendance area.
• Monfort Elementary School - A portion of the school’s attendance area that was embedded into Dresden Elementary’s boundaries will merge with neighboring Ebeling Elementary. This neighborhood is northeast of Schoenherr and 22 Mile Road. This neighborhood will also become part of the Bemis Junior High School and Henry Ford II High School feeder pattern. 
• Schuchard Elementary School - Portions of the Schwarzkoff Elementary attendance area west of Van Dyke will be merged with adjoining Schuchard Elementary.

The following change will be scheduled for fall of 2027:

• West Utica Elementary School - All West Utica Elementary students will feed into Eppler Junior High School. Previously, West Utica Elementary students attended Jeannette Junior High School, which largely feeds into Stevenson High School. This change will establish a pattern of West Utica Elementary School, Eppler Junior High School, and Utica High School, which is consistent with schools in this area. 

Elementary Attendance Area Adjustments

Click here for a downloadable file that compares current and adjusted attendance areas

Junior High School Attendance Area Adjustments

High School Attendance Area Adjustments

How does this change impact secondary feeder patterns?

Under these changes, all students in these attendance areas will attend the same junior high schools and high schools. Previously, many elementary schools in this area had students being split into two and even through junior high schools and high schools.

What are the improvement plans for Schwarzkoff and Harvey Elementary Schools?

The UCS Auxiliary Services department is evaluating both schools to determine the scope of improvements necessary to support attendance area changes and meet the new design standards of the district. More information on these improvements will be shared over the next few months.

In addition, the district is partnering with the Macomb Intermediate School District for improvements at Schwarzkoff  Elementary that will specifically meet the unique needs of Physical and Other Health Impaired (POHI) students.

What criteria was used to develop this plan?

The evaluation of the facilities is based on safety, age, and design of the facility and enrollment trends.

Why are attendance areas being reviewed?

UCS attendance areas were largely established when schools first opened more than 50 years ago. They represented the best plan to accommodate student enrollment based on existing residential developments. 

Our community has undergone significant housing growth over the past 50 years. As a result, our elementary enrollment patterns have a number of subdivisions that are geographically disconnected from other neighborhoods that serve the same school. In addition, the district attendance areas have several sections that do not use major landmarks and roadways as boundary lines.  

Additionally, there are several elementary schools where communities become divided as students advance into secondary schools. Students from the same elementary schools attend up to three different junior high schools or are served by two high schools.  

How will the attendance area review process support neighborhood schools?

A focus is to better serve families so elementary students attend schools within their larger neighborhood and can advance together with their peers to secondary schools.  

A greater sense of community is maintained as students attend a school with their friends and their friends’ families.  At every level – from elementary, to junior high to high school – we want students and their families to feel a sense of consistency, community and belonging.  

How was community input sought for the plan?

The district works closely with the Enrollment Distribution Advisory Committee (EDAC), which is comprised of representatives from each school. EDAC’s purpose is to review enrollment projections and facility utilization within UCS and provide the district with feedback regarding potential amendments to existing educational programs and pathways.

I currently live in an attendance area that is being consolidated into an adjoining attendance area. The school my child currently attends is not being closed. Can I apply for my child to remain at the current school?

Yes. The district is committed to addressing requests from current students – and younger siblings of current students – to remain at their current schools.  These students will receive priority for available spaces. Please note that transportation is not available for families choosing to enroll through the inter-district transfer process. More information will be share with families the school year prior to the implementation of adjusted attendance areas.

How will this plan impact Transportation, Class Sizes, and School Start/End Times ?

• Transportation – Transportation will be offered to all eligible students based on the existing guidelines. Students at the elementary level are eligible for transportation if the family resides more than 1.5 miles from their school.
• Class Sizes – Class sizes will not be impacted by the plan as teachers and support staff will generally follow the students to their new school. Overall, maximum class sizes are established through the contractual agreement with the Utica Education Association.
• School Start/End Times – The district annually reviews start/end times to evaluate the possibility of having all elementary schools on the same school schedule. The ability to consolidate times is based largely on available bus drivers, which the district continues to aggressively seek. Any impact on school hours will be determined prior to the 2028-2029 school year based on the evaluation.

How will the adjustments impact building enrollments?

Below is a chart that uses current enrollment.  

Please note that the numbers are expected to change based on projected enrollment declines and procedural changes related to Schools of Choice and Inter-District Transfer requests. In addition, numbers are based on future changes to UCS building configurations.

How does the district project enrollment?

The district contracts the services of Plante Moran Realpoint, an industry standard recognized by the Michigan Department of Treasury for its accuracy and evaluation of school district enrollment trends. The service projects enrollment using district demographic data, the number of births in Macomb County and the historical student retention rate of our schools. Its annual projection is typically within one percent of actual enrollment.

You can view the latest enrollment report at this link.

When will the attendance area changes take effect?

Pending consideration by the Board of Education at its December 15, 2025 meeting, the changes will be effective for the 2028-2029 school year. This timeline will allow for the improvements to Harvey Elementary and Schwarzkoff Elementary.

What is the status of a review of attendance areas for schools in the northern part of our district?

Beginning in the spring, the Enrollment Distribution Advisory Committee will begin to evaluate attendance areas in the northern part of our district. This work will continue into the next school year.  

What are the future plans for Plumbrook Elementary and Dresden Elementary school properties?

The district will study future uses of the school and its property over the next two years. Traditionally, the district has either used the assets for other needs (community education center, housing students during bond reconstruction, etc.) or sold the property.

How can I share my feedback or ask a question about the adjustments?

Please use this form. There is an opportunity to leave your name and contact information if you would like a personal response.