Benzie County Schools & Education
Benzie County, Michigan
NCES 2022-23 public school data and FY 2022 school-finance dataSchool Score
39/100
Percentile-style score
Score Band
Lower Signal
Graduation Rate
85.4%
National avg 87.5%
Education Statistics
Graduation Rate
85.4%
National avg 87.5%
State avg 82.5%
Per-Pupil Spending
$7,495
National avg $13,239
State avg $7,394
School Score
39/100
Percentile-style score
State avg 35/100
State Score Position
#28
of 83 counties by score
Education Data Brief: Benzie County
Measured School Summary
Benzie County faces educational challenges with a school score of 39/100 and a graduation rate of 85.4%, falling below typical benchmarks.
Funding Context
At $7,495 per pupil, Benzie County operates with limited funding, which may constrain staffing, materials, and extracurricular offerings.
Neighbor Context
Its school score is 11% above the Michigan average, and its graduation rate exceeds the state average by 2.9 percentage points, while per-pupil spending is 1% higher than the state norm.
School Data Brief
How to read Benzie 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
7 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
39/100
Lower measured signal. Ranks #28 of 83 Michigan counties with school score data.
Completion
85.4%
2.9 pts above the state average
Funding context
$7,495
$101 above the state average
School coverage
7
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
Benzie County has 7 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 Benzie 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
Benzie 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
#28
of 83 Michigan counties with school score data. The county score is 4 points above 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.
Benzie County Central Schools
Elementary to high school visible
1,094 students
5 listed schools in this county slice.
Frankfort-Elberta Area Schools
Elementary and high visible
477 students
2 listed schools in this county slice.
District reality check
Benzie County Central Schools is the largest listed district slice, with 6 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 Benzie County?
Do the neighborhoods we like fall inside the same district, or are we comparing different Benzie 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 Benzie 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.
Small-Scale Education in Benzie County
Benzie County maintains a focused education system with just seven public schools serving a total of 1,571 students. These facilities are divided between two districts, consisting of three elementary schools, one middle school, and three high schools.
Strong Graduation Rates and Local Investment
Benzie County outperforms the state average with an 85.4% graduation rate, nearing the national target of 87.0%. Educational investment is healthy for the region, with per-pupil spending at $7,495, slightly exceeding Michigan’s state average of $7,394.
Focusing on Local District Strengths
Benzie County Central Schools is the primary district, managing six schools and 1,230 students. Unlike many neighboring areas, Benzie County operates no charter schools, keeping its entire student population within traditional public district boundaries.
A Purely Rural Educational Environment
All seven schools in the county are classified as rural, reflecting the area's natural landscape and tight-knit community feel. Learning environments are intimate, with an average school size of only 224 students, ranging from Lake Ann Elementary to the 348-student Benzie Central Senior High.
School Overview
Total Schools
7
in Benzie County
Reported Enrollment
1,571
7 schools reporting
School Districts
2
districts
Charter Schools
0
0% of total
School Level Breakdown
2 School Districts in Benzie County
Benzie County Central Schools
Frankfort-Elberta Area Schools
7 Public Schools in Benzie 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 7 of 7 matching schools
| School Name | Profile | District | Location | Grades | Type / Flags | Reported Enrollment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Benzie Central Sr High School | Record | Benzie County Central Schools | BENZONIA, 49616Rural: Remote | 9–12 | High | 348 |
| Benzie Central Middle School | Record | Benzie County Central Schools | BENZONIA, 49616Rural: Remote | 6–8 | Middle | 264 |
| Frankfort Elementary School | Record | Frankfort-Elberta Area Schools | FRANKFORT, 49635Rural: Remote | PK–6 | Primary | 262 |
| Frankfort High School | Record | Frankfort-Elberta Area Schools | FRANKFORT, 49635Rural: Remote | 7–12 | High | 215 |
| Lake Ann Elementary School | Record | Benzie County Central Schools | INTERLOCHEN, 49643Rural: Distant | PK–5 | Primary | 210 |
| Crystal Lake Elementary School | Record | Benzie County Central Schools | BENZONIA, 49616Rural: Remote | PK–5 | Primary | 202 |
| Benzie Academy | Record | Benzie County Central Schools | BENZONIA, 49616Rural: Remote | 6–12 | High | 70 |
Benzie Central Sr High School
Benzie County Central Schools
BENZONIA, 49616 / Rural: Remote
Benzie Central Middle School
Benzie County Central Schools
BENZONIA, 49616 / Rural: Remote
Frankfort Elementary School
Frankfort-Elberta Area Schools
FRANKFORT, 49635 / Rural: Remote
Frankfort High School
Frankfort-Elberta Area Schools
FRANKFORT, 49635 / Rural: Remote
Lake Ann Elementary School
Benzie County Central Schools
INTERLOCHEN, 49643 / Rural: Distant
Crystal Lake Elementary School
Benzie County Central Schools
BENZONIA, 49616 / Rural: Remote
Education Funding Detail
Annual Per-Pupil Expenditure
$7,495
State avg $7,394
Compare Nearby Counties
Review Benzie 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 Benzie County?
What is the graduation rate in Benzie County?
How much does Benzie County spend per student?
Frequently Asked Questions
Schools in Benzie County, Michigan — FAQ
What does the school system look like in Benzie County, Michigan?
Benzie County maintains a focused education system with just seven public schools serving a total of 1,571 students. These facilities are divided between two districts, consisting of three elementary schools, one middle school, and three high schools.
How do schools in Benzie County perform academically?
Benzie County outperforms the state average with an 85.4% graduation rate, nearing the national target of 87.0%. Educational investment is healthy for the region, with per-pupil spending at $7,495, slightly exceeding Michigan’s state average of $7,394.
What are the major school districts in Benzie County, Michigan?
Benzie County Central Schools is the primary district, managing six schools and 1,230 students. Unlike many neighboring areas, Benzie County operates no charter schools, keeping its entire student population within traditional public district boundaries.
What is the school experience like in Benzie County?
All seven schools in the county are classified as rural, reflecting the area's natural landscape and tight-knit community feel. Learning environments are intimate, with an average school size of only 224 students, ranging from Lake Ann Elementary to the 348-student Benzie Central Senior High.
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.