Branch County Schools & Education
Branch County, Michigan
NCES 2022-23 public school data and FY 2022 school-finance dataSchool Score
24/100
Percentile-style score
Score Band
Lower Signal
Graduation Rate
83.7%
National avg 87.5%
Education Statistics
Graduation Rate
83.7%
National avg 87.5%
State avg 82.5%
Per-Pupil Spending
$6,648
National avg $13,239
State avg $7,394
School Score
24/100
Percentile-style score
State avg 35/100
State Score Position
#61
of 83 counties by score
Education Data Brief: Branch County
Measured School Summary
Branch County faces educational challenges with a school score of 24/100 and a graduation rate of 83.7%, falling below typical benchmarks.
Funding Context
At $6,648 per pupil, Branch County operates with limited funding, which may constrain staffing, materials, and extracurricular offerings.
Neighbor Context
Its school score is 31% below the Michigan average, and its graduation rate exceeds the state average by 1.2 percentage points, while per-pupil spending is 10% lower than the state norm.
School Data Brief
How to read Branch 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
18 public schools and 6 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
24/100
Lower measured signal. Ranks #61 of 83 Michigan counties with school score data.
Completion
83.7%
1.2 pts above the state average
Funding context
$6,648
$746 below the state average
School coverage
18
6 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
Branch County has 18 public schools across 6 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 Branch 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.
Review-carefully county
Branch County has a lower measured county-level school signal. Use the school table to look for specific districts or grade bands that may differ from the county average.
State position
#61
of 83 Michigan counties with school score data. The county score is 11 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.
Coldwater Community Schools
Elementary to high school visible
2,756 students
5 listed schools in this county slice.
Quincy Community Schools
Elementary to high school visible
1,149 students
3 listed schools in this county slice.
Bronson Community School District
Elementary and high visible
993 students
3 listed schools in this county slice.
Union City Community Schools
Elementary to high school visible
922 students
3 listed schools in this county slice.
District reality check
Coldwater Community Schools is the largest listed district slice, with 5 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 Branch County?
Do the neighborhoods we like fall inside the same district, or are we comparing different Branch County district systems?
What changes at the elementary-to-middle and middle-to-high transitions in the district pathway we would likely use?
Which charter, magnet, or virtual options require a lottery, application window, separate transportation plan, or address eligibility check?
Are the largest listed schools the ones our address can actually attend, or are they only county-level context?
Education Overview
About Schools in Branch 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.
Cohesive Schooling in Branch County
Branch County manages 18 public schools across six districts, educating a total of 6,507 students. The landscape features seven elementary schools and six high schools, providing a balanced pipeline from primary through secondary education.
Strong Graduation Rates and Efficient Spending
Branch County achieves a graduation rate of 83.7%, successfully surpassing the Michigan state average of 82.5%. This is accomplished with a per-pupil expenditure of $6,648, demonstrating a focused use of resources compared to the $7,394 state average.
Coldwater Leads Local Education
Coldwater Community Schools is the dominant district, serving 2,756 students across five schools. The county includes one charter option, Pansophia Academy, which serves 433 students across grades KG-12.
Town-Centered Learning Environments
The majority of schools—12 out of 18—are located in town settings, with the remainder in rural areas. Coldwater High School is the largest in the county with 944 students, while the overall average school size remains a comfortable 407 students.
School Overview
Total Schools
18
in Branch County
Reported Enrollment
6,507
18 schools reporting
School Districts
6
districts
Charter Schools
1
6% of total
School Level Breakdown
6 School Districts in Branch County
Coldwater Community Schools
Quincy Community Schools
Bronson Community School District
Union City Community Schools
Pansophia Academy
Branch ISD
18 Public Schools in Branch 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 18 of 18 matching schools
| School Name | Profile | District | Location | Grades | Type / Flags | Reported Enrollment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Coldwater High School | Profile | Coldwater Community Schools | COLDWATER, 49036Town: Distant | 9–12 | High | 944 |
| Legg Middle School | Record | Coldwater Community Schools | COLDWATER, 49036Town: Distant | 6–8 | Middle | 653 |
| Bronson JrSr High School | Record | Bronson Community School District | BRONSON, 49028Rural: Distant | 6–12 | High | 544 |
| Jennings Elementary School | Record | Quincy Community Schools | QUINCY, 49082Town: Distant | PK–5 | Primary | 435 |
| Pansophia Academy | Record | Pansophia Academy | COLDWATER, 49036Town: Distant | KG–12 | Charter | 433 |
| Larsen Elementary School | Record | Coldwater Community Schools | COLDWATER, 49036Town: Distant | PK–1 | Primary | 416 |
| Quincy High School | Record | Quincy Community Schools | QUINCY, 49082Town: Distant | 7–12 | High | 391 |
| Lakeland Elementary School | Record | Coldwater Community Schools | COLDWATER, 49036Town: Distant | 4–5 | Primary | 373 |
| Jefferson Elementary School | Record | Coldwater Community Schools | COLDWATER, 49036Town: Distant | 2–3 | Primary | 370 |
| Union City Elementary School | Record | Union City Community Schools | UNION CITY, 49094Rural: Distant | PK–4 | Primary | 353 |
| Quincy Middle School | Record | Quincy Community Schools | QUINCY, 49082Town: Distant | 5–8 | Middle | 323 |
| Union City High School | Record | Union City Community Schools | UNION CITY, 49094Rural: Distant | 9–12 | High | 293 |
| Union City Middle School | Record | Union City Community Schools | UNION CITY, 49094Rural: Distant | 5–8 | Middle | 276 |
| Waldron Learning Center | Record | Branch ISD | COLDWATER, 49036Town: Distant | PK–12 | Special Education | 254 |
| Ryan Elementary School | Record | Bronson Community School District | BRONSON, 49028Rural: Distant | 3–5 | Primary | 229 |
| Anderson Elementary School | Record | Bronson Community School District | BRONSON, 49028Rural: Distant | KG–2 | Primary | 220 |
| Branch Area Careers Center | Record | Branch ISD | COLDWATER, 49036Town: Distant | 11–12 | Vocational | 0 |
| Lakeland Correctional Facility | Record | Michigan Department of Corrections | COLDWATER, 49036Town: Distant | 9–12 | Alternative | 0 |
Coldwater High School
Coldwater Community Schools
COLDWATER, 49036 / Town: Distant
Legg Middle School
Coldwater Community Schools
COLDWATER, 49036 / Town: Distant
Bronson JrSr High School
Bronson Community School District
BRONSON, 49028 / Rural: Distant
Jennings Elementary School
Quincy Community Schools
QUINCY, 49082 / Town: Distant
Larsen Elementary School
Coldwater Community Schools
COLDWATER, 49036 / Town: Distant
Lakeland Elementary School
Coldwater Community Schools
COLDWATER, 49036 / Town: Distant
Jefferson Elementary School
Coldwater Community Schools
COLDWATER, 49036 / Town: Distant
Union City Elementary School
Union City Community Schools
UNION CITY, 49094 / Rural: Distant
Quincy Middle School
Quincy Community Schools
QUINCY, 49082 / Town: Distant
Union City High School
Union City Community Schools
UNION CITY, 49094 / Rural: Distant
Union City Middle School
Union City Community Schools
UNION CITY, 49094 / Rural: Distant
Waldron Learning Center
Branch ISD
COLDWATER, 49036 / Town: Distant
Ryan Elementary School
Bronson Community School District
BRONSON, 49028 / Rural: Distant
Anderson Elementary School
Bronson Community School District
BRONSON, 49028 / Rural: Distant
Lakeland Correctional Facility
Michigan Department of Corrections
COLDWATER, 49036 / Town: Distant
Education Funding Detail
Annual Per-Pupil Expenditure
$6,648
State avg $7,394
Compare Nearby Counties
Review Branch 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 Branch County?
What is the graduation rate in Branch County?
How much does Branch County spend per student?
Frequently Asked Questions
Schools in Branch County, Michigan — FAQ
What does the school system look like in Branch County, Michigan?
Branch County manages 18 public schools across six districts, educating a total of 6,507 students. The landscape features seven elementary schools and six high schools, providing a balanced pipeline from primary through secondary education.
How do schools in Branch County perform academically?
Branch County achieves a graduation rate of 83.7%, successfully surpassing the Michigan state average of 82.5%. This is accomplished with a per-pupil expenditure of $6,648, demonstrating a focused use of resources compared to the $7,394 state average.
What are the major school districts in Branch County, Michigan?
Coldwater Community Schools is the dominant district, serving 2,756 students across five schools. The county includes one charter option, Pansophia Academy, which serves 433 students across grades KG-12.
What is the school experience like in Branch County?
The majority of schools—12 out of 18—are located in town settings, with the remainder in rural areas. Coldwater High School is the largest in the county with 944 students, while the overall average school size remains a comfortable 407 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.