Alpena County Schools & Education
Alpena County, Michigan
NCES 2022-23 public school data and FY 2022 school-finance dataSchool Score
21/100
Percentile-style score
Score Band
Lower Signal
Graduation Rate
83.0%
National avg 87.5%
Education Statistics
Graduation Rate
83.0%
National avg 87.5%
State avg 82.5%
Per-Pupil Spending
$6,471
National avg $13,239
State avg $7,394
School Score
21/100
Percentile-style score
State avg 35/100
State Score Position
#72
of 83 counties by score
Education Data Brief: Alpena County
Measured School Summary
Alpena County faces educational challenges with a school score of 21/100 and a graduation rate of 83.0%, falling below typical benchmarks.
Funding Context
At $6,471 per pupil, Alpena County operates with limited funding, which may constrain staffing, materials, and extracurricular offerings.
Neighbor Context
Its school score is 39% below the Michigan average, and its graduation rate exceeds the state average by 0.5 percentage points, while per-pupil spending is 12% lower than the state norm.
School Data Brief
How to read Alpena County before comparing districts
County-level education data is best used as a screening layer. It summarizes the local school environment, then points you toward the district and school records that matter for local review.
Local context that changes the interpretation
10 public schools and 2 districts are represented below. Use those school and district records to confirm whether the county-level context fits the neighborhoods you are actually considering.
Overall screen
21/100
Lower measured signal. Ranks #72 of 83 Michigan counties with school score data.
Completion
83.0%
0.5 pts above the state average
Funding context
$6,471
$923 below the state average
School coverage
10
2 districts represented in the county school list.
Start with measured county context
The county-level signal is lower, so review individual schools and local records before interpreting the score. Compare the score, graduation rate, and spending together rather than treating any single metric as final.
Check the local school mix
Alpena County has 10 public schools across 2 districts, so school-level fit can vary inside the county.
Verify local rules
Use this page as county-level context, then confirm attendance zones, transportation, special programs, and current school boundaries with local districts.
What Alpena County school data means before you move
County averages are useful for screening, but parents choose addresses, grade pathways, and district rules. This brief turns the public data into the checks that matter before you sign a lease or mortgage.
Dominant-district county
Alpena Public Schools carries most of the listed public-school system, with 9 of 10 schools. Start there, then verify whether your target address sits inside that district slice.
State position
#72
of 83 Michigan counties with school score data. The county score is 14 points below the state average.
Data confidence
Usable
3 of 5 county signals are present, and 100% of listed schools report enrollment. Compare schools, then verify missing fields locally.
K-12 continuity check
These are the largest visible district slices in the county data. They show whether elementary, middle, and high school records appear together or whether a family needs to investigate transition points.
Alpena Public Schools
Elementary to high school visible
3,672 students
9 listed schools in this county slice.
Alpena-Montmorency-Alcona ESD
Other grade structure
38 students
1 listed school in this county slice.
District reality check
Alpena Public Schools is the largest listed district slice, with 9 schools. County pages do not prove address assignment, so verify boundaries with local district tools.
What the data cannot tell you
NCES records do not confirm current attendance zones, private-school options, transfer approvals, program capacity, transportation, or whether a listed school is available to a specific address.
Questions to ask before choosing an address
Which district actually serves the addresses we are considering in Alpena County?
Do the neighborhoods we like fall inside the same district, or are we comparing different Alpena County district systems?
What changes at the elementary-to-middle and middle-to-high transitions in the district pathway we would likely use?
If we need a program not visible in the NCES flags, which district office can confirm current offerings?
Are the largest listed schools the ones our address can actually attend, or are they only county-level context?
Education Overview
About Schools in Alpena County, Michigan
This context is screened for neutral school-data wording and should be read alongside the current metrics on this page. It is not school advice.
Centralized Education in Northern Michigan
Alpena County services 3,710 students through 10 public schools, almost entirely managed by a single large district. The infrastructure includes six elementary schools and Alpena High School, one of the region's largest facilities.
Solid Performance Above State Standards
The county maintains an 83% graduation rate, which edges out the Michigan state average of 82.5%. While the per-pupil spending of $6,471 is lower than the state average, the county continues to support a large student population effectively.
The Dominance of Alpena Public Schools
Alpena Public Schools is the primary educational driver, enrolling 3,672 of the county's 3,710 total students. There are no charter schools in the county, as the community centers its resources on the traditional public school model.
Large Campus Feel in a Regional Hub
Alpena High School is a major regional center with 1,101 students, creating a more diverse environment than typical rural schools. The county splits its schools evenly between town and rural locales, with an average school size of 371 students.
School Overview
Total Schools
10
in Alpena County
Reported Enrollment
3,710
10 schools reporting
School Districts
2
districts
Charter Schools
0
0% of total
School Level Breakdown
2 School Districts in Alpena County
Alpena Public Schools
GuideAlpena-Montmorency-Alcona ESD
10 Public Schools in Alpena County
Sorted by reported enrollment. Dedicated profile pages are available for 1 high-enrollment school; every NCES public school remains listed here.
NCES 2022-23 public school data and FY 2022 school-finance dataLevel
Showing 10 of 10 matching schools
| School Name | Profile | District | Location | Grades | Type / Flags | Reported Enrollment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alpena High School | Profile | Alpena Public Schools | ALPENA, 49707Town: Remote | 8–12 | High | 1,101 |
| Thunder Bay Junior High School | Record | Alpena Public Schools | ALPENA, 49707Rural: Fringe | 6–8 | Middle | 844 |
| Ella M White Elementary | Record | Alpena Public Schools | ALPENA, 49707Town: Remote | KG–5 | Primary | 472 |
| Besser Elementary School | Record | Alpena Public Schools | ALPENA, 49707Town: Remote | KG–5 | Primary | 456 |
| Wilson Elementary | Record | Alpena Public Schools | HERRON, 49744Rural: Distant | KG–5 | Primary | 260 |
| Sanborn Elementary | Record | Alpena Public Schools | OSSINEKE, 49766Rural: Distant | KG–5 | Primary | 195 |
| Hinks Elementary | Record | Alpena Public Schools | ALPENA, 49707Rural: Distant | KG–5 | Primary | 137 |
| Lincoln Elementary | Record | Alpena Public Schools | ALPENA, 49707Town: Remote | KG–5 | Primary | 137 |
| ACES Academy | Record | Alpena Public Schools | ALPENA, 49707Town: Remote | 7–12 | Alternative | 70 |
| Pied Piper School | Record | Alpena-Montmorency-Alcona ESD | ALPENA, 49707Rural: Fringe | PK–12 | Special Education | 38 |
Alpena High School
Alpena Public Schools
ALPENA, 49707 / Town: Remote
Thunder Bay Junior High School
Alpena Public Schools
ALPENA, 49707 / Rural: Fringe
Ella M White Elementary
Alpena Public Schools
ALPENA, 49707 / Town: Remote
Besser Elementary School
Alpena Public Schools
ALPENA, 49707 / Town: Remote
Sanborn Elementary
Alpena Public Schools
OSSINEKE, 49766 / Rural: Distant
Pied Piper School
Alpena-Montmorency-Alcona ESD
ALPENA, 49707 / Rural: Fringe
Education Funding Detail
Annual Per-Pupil Expenditure
$6,471
State avg $7,394
Compare Nearby Counties
Review Alpena County against other counties using the same NCES-backed metrics.
Open CompareBrowse Public Schools
See school-level enrollment, grade ranges, school type, and district affiliation.
View SchoolsFrequently Asked Questions
Which Michigan counties have the highest graduation rates?
What is per-pupil spending like in Michigan?
How should I read the school score in Alpena County?
What is the graduation rate in Alpena County?
How much does Alpena County spend per student?
Frequently Asked Questions
Schools in Alpena County, Michigan — FAQ
What does the school system look like in Alpena County, Michigan?
Alpena County services 3,710 students through 10 public schools, almost entirely managed by a single large district. The infrastructure includes six elementary schools and Alpena High School, one of the region's largest facilities.
How do schools in Alpena County perform academically?
The county maintains an 83% graduation rate, which edges out the Michigan state average of 82.5%. While the per-pupil spending of $6,471 is lower than the state average, the county continues to support a large student population effectively.
What are the major school districts in Alpena County, Michigan?
Alpena Public Schools is the primary educational driver, enrolling 3,672 of the county's 3,710 total students. There are no charter schools in the county, as the community centers its resources on the traditional public school model.
What is the school experience like in Alpena County?
Alpena High School is a major regional center with 1,101 students, creating a more diverse environment than typical rural schools. The county splits its schools evenly between town and rural locales, with an average school size of 371 students.
Counties with Similar School Profile
Data Sources
Education data sourced from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) Common Core of Data and School District Finance Survey. School scores are derived composite metrics based on available NCES graduation-rate and school-finance signals.
Data is informational only. Coverage varies by county and reporting year. Not for use as the sole basis for educational decisions.