Michigan Schools & Education
School quality and education data for all 83 counties.
Avg Graduation Rate
82.5%
Avg Per-Pupil Spending
$7,394
Avg School Score
35/100
Total Schools
3,506
890 districts
State Overview
About Schools in Michigan
Michigan Lags National Averages in Spending and Graduation
Michigan’s 82.5% average graduation rate trails the national benchmark of 87.0%. The state also spends significantly less per pupil at $7,394, nearly 43% below the national average of $13,000.
Wide Performance Gaps Across Michigan's 82 Counties
Education quality varies wildly, with graduation rates swinging from 95.0% in Alcona County to just 49.7% in Montcalm County. While the state's average school score of 50.3 sits near the national median, local outcomes range from a high of 64.0 to a low of 30.6.
High Investment Drives Performance in Selective Districts
Michigan's modest average spending yields mixed results, but top-tier performance often tracks with higher investment. Keweenaw County leads the state with an $18,000 per-pupil expenditure, while the lowest-performing counties like Manistee struggle with a budget of just $5,655 per student.
Upper Peninsula Counties Lead State Performance
Keweenaw, Alger, and Iron counties secure the top three spots, with Alger boasting a stellar 95.0% graduation rate. These leaders benefit from localized investment and strong outcomes, even though specific graduation data for Keweenaw remains unavailable.
A State of Contrasts for Michigan Families
Michigan offers competitive educational pockets, particularly in its northern counties, but struggles with consistency and overall funding levels. Families seeking the best outcomes should look toward high-scoring districts in Alger or Iron counties where graduation rates exceed 93%.
Top Performing School Counties
All Michigan Counties
— = data pending from NCES pipeline.
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Data Sources
Education data sourced from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) and the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey. School scores are derived composite metrics.
Data is informational only. Coverage varies by county and reporting year. Not for use as the sole basis for educational decisions.