When did "junior high school" become "middle school" and why?

(Apologies to those who were raised/educated outside of the USA - this is about our educational system.)

A VERY long time ago, when I was in the 7th, 8th and 9th grades our school building clearly had the words JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL on the outside near the front gate. When I drive by the same building today, it reads MIDDLE SCHOOL. I'm guessing it changed some time in the 1990's, but does anyone actually remember when this started to change? Was anyone at that grade level when the change was made? Do you remember what reasons were given?

The only story I've ever heard about this was that first-generation immigrant families (especially among Asians) found the term "junior" confusing. It was like they thought that "junior" high school was for those kids who weren't good enough for high school. They would come charging into registration offices saying, "My kid's not going to junior high school," and someone working there would have to patiently explain that junior high school was the next level after elementary school and before high school. Changing the designation to "middle" school supposedly made it easier to understand. Has anyone else heard this?