Arenac County Schools & Education
Arenac County, Michigan
NCES 2022-23 public school data and FY 2022 school-finance dataSchool Score
34/100
Percentile-style score
Score Band
Lower Signal
Graduation Rate
87.6%
National avg 87.5%
Education Statistics
Graduation Rate
87.6%
National avg 87.5%
State avg 82.5%
Per-Pupil Spending
$6,734
National avg $13,239
State avg $7,394
School Score
34/100
Percentile-style score
State avg 35/100
State Score Position
#38
of 83 counties by score
Education Data Brief: Arenac County
Measured School Summary
Arenac County faces educational challenges with a school score of 34/100 and a graduation rate of 87.6%, falling below typical benchmarks.
Funding Context
At $6,734 per pupil, Arenac County operates with limited funding, which may constrain staffing, materials, and extracurricular offerings.
Neighbor Context
Its school score is 2% below the Michigan average, and its graduation rate exceeds the state average by 5.1 percentage points, while per-pupil spending is 9% lower than the state norm.
School Data Brief
How to read Arenac 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
6 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
34/100
Lower measured signal. Ranks #38 of 83 Michigan counties with school score data.
Completion
87.6%
5.1 pts above the state average
Funding context
$6,734
$660 below the state average
School coverage
6
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
Arenac County has 6 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 Arenac 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.
Small-system county
Arenac County has a compact public-school footprint. A single school change, boundary rule, or district update can move the lived experience more than the county score suggests.
State position
#38
of 83 Michigan counties with school score data. The county score is roughly in line with 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.
Standish-Sterling Community Schools
Elementary and high visible
1,505 students
3 listed schools in this county slice.
Au Gres-Sims School District
Elementary to high school visible
416 students
3 listed schools in this county slice.
District reality check
Au Gres-Sims School District is the largest listed district slice, with 3 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 Arenac County?
Do the neighborhoods we like fall inside the same district, or are we comparing different Arenac 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 Arenac 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.
Focused Schooling in East Michigan
Arenac County operates six public schools that serve 1,921 students across two main districts. The county maintains three elementary schools and two high schools to support its student population.
Exceeding State and National Benchmarks
The county's graduation rate of 87.6% beats both the Michigan average and the national benchmark. This success is maintained despite a per-pupil expenditure of $6,734, demonstrating high efficiency in local educational spending.
Standish-Sterling and Au Gres-Sims
Standish-Sterling Community Schools is the largest district, educating 1,505 students across three schools. Au Gres-Sims School District serves the remaining students, with no charter schools operating within the county.
A Purely Rural Educational Experience
Every school in Arenac County is located in a rural setting, fostering a tight-knit community feel. Standish-Sterling Central Jr/Sr High is the largest facility with 694 students, while Au Gres-Sims High remains small and intimate with just 141 students.
School Overview
Total Schools
6
in Arenac County
Reported Enrollment
1,921
6 schools reporting
School Districts
2
districts
Charter Schools
0
0% of total
School Level Breakdown
2 School Districts in Arenac County
Standish-Sterling Community Schools
Au Gres-Sims School District
6 Public Schools in Arenac County
Sorted by reported enrollment. Every NCES public school remains listed here; no school-level profile pages are included in the current generated coverage for this county.
NCES 2022-23 public school data and FY 2022 school-finance dataLevel
Showing 6 of 6 matching schools
| School Name | Profile | District | Location | Grades | Type / Flags | Reported Enrollment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| StandishSterling Central JrSr High School | Record | Standish-Sterling Community Schools | STANDISH, 48658Rural: Distant | 7–12 | High | 694 |
| StandishSterling Central Elementary School | Record | Standish-Sterling Community Schools | STANDISH, 48658Rural: Distant | PK–6 | Primary | 636 |
| Au GresSims Elementary School | Record | Au Gres-Sims School District | Au Gres, 48703Rural: Remote | PK–5 | Primary | 180 |
| Sterling Elementary School | Record | Standish-Sterling Community Schools | STERLING, 48659Rural: Distant | PK–5 | Primary | 175 |
| Au GresSims High School | Record | Au Gres-Sims School District | Au Gres, 48703Rural: Remote | 9–12 | High | 141 |
| Au GresSims Middle School | Record | Au Gres-Sims School District | Au Gres, 48703Rural: Remote | 6–8 | Middle | 95 |
StandishSterling Central JrSr High School
Standish-Sterling Community Schools
STANDISH, 48658 / Rural: Distant
StandishSterling Central Elementary School
Standish-Sterling Community Schools
STANDISH, 48658 / Rural: Distant
Au GresSims Elementary School
Au Gres-Sims School District
Au Gres, 48703 / Rural: Remote
Sterling Elementary School
Standish-Sterling Community Schools
STERLING, 48659 / Rural: Distant
Au GresSims High School
Au Gres-Sims School District
Au Gres, 48703 / Rural: Remote
Au GresSims Middle School
Au Gres-Sims School District
Au Gres, 48703 / Rural: Remote
Education Funding Detail
Annual Per-Pupil Expenditure
$6,734
State avg $7,394
Compare Nearby Counties
Review Arenac 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 Arenac County?
What is the graduation rate in Arenac County?
How much does Arenac County spend per student?
Frequently Asked Questions
Schools in Arenac County, Michigan — FAQ
What does the school system look like in Arenac County, Michigan?
Arenac County operates six public schools that serve 1,921 students across two main districts. The county maintains three elementary schools and two high schools to support its student population.
How do schools in Arenac County perform academically?
The county's graduation rate of 87.6% beats both the Michigan average and the national benchmark. This success is maintained despite a per-pupil expenditure of $6,734, demonstrating high efficiency in local educational spending.
What are the major school districts in Arenac County, Michigan?
Standish-Sterling Community Schools is the largest district, educating 1,505 students across three schools. Au Gres-Sims School District serves the remaining students, with no charter schools operating within the county.
What is the school experience like in Arenac County?
Every school in Arenac County is located in a rural setting, fostering a tight-knit community feel. Standish-Sterling Central Jr/Sr High is the largest facility with 694 students, while Au Gres-Sims High remains small and intimate with just 141 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.