schoolsbycounty

Chippewa County Schools & Education

School Score

38/100

Percentile-style score

Score Band

Lower Signal

Graduation Rate

80.9%

National avg 87.5%

Education Statistics

Graduation Rate

80.9%

National avg 87.5%

State avg 82.5%

Per-Pupil Spending

$8,031

National avg $13,239

State avg $7,394

School Score

38/100

Percentile-style score

State avg 35/100

State Score Position

#31

of 83 counties by score

Education Data Brief: Chippewa County

Measured School Summary

Chippewa County faces educational challenges with a school score of 38/100 and a graduation rate of 80.9%, falling below typical benchmarks.

Funding Context

Chippewa County spends $8,031 per student, which is on the lower end of adequate and may require careful resource allocation to maintain quality.

Neighbor Context

Its school score is 8% above the Michigan average, and its graduation rate trails the state average by 1.6 percentage points, while per-pupil spending is 9% higher than the state norm.

School Data Brief

How to read Chippewa 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

21 public schools and 12 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

38/100

Lower measured signal. Ranks #31 of 83 Michigan counties with school score data.

Completion

80.9%

1.6 pts below the state average

Funding context

$8,031

$637 above the state average

School coverage

21

12 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

Chippewa County has 21 public schools across 12 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.

Parent decision brief

What Chippewa 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

Chippewa 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

#31

of 83 Michigan counties with school score data. The county score is 3 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.

Sault Ste. Marie Area Schools

Elementary to high school visible

1,935 students

Elementary 2Middle 1High 3Other 0

6 listed schools in this county slice.

Rudyard Area Schools

Other grade structure

603 students

Elementary 0Middle 0High 0Other 1

1 listed school in this county slice.

Joseph K. Lumsden Bahweting Anishnabe Academy

Elementary school only in this slice

596 students

Elementary 1Middle 0High 0Other 0

1 listed school in this county slice.

Pickford Public Schools

Other grade structure

463 students

Elementary 0Middle 0High 0Other 1

1 listed school in this county slice.

District reality check

Sault Ste. Marie Area 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 Chippewa County?

Do the neighborhoods we like fall inside the same district, or are we comparing different Chippewa 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 Chippewa 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.

A Vast Network Serving the Eastern Upper Peninsula

Chippewa County maintains an extensive educational infrastructure with 21 public schools managed by 12 different districts. The system serves 4,653 students through a mix of five elementary, one middle, and eight high schools. This decentralized model ensures coverage across a large geographic area, providing localized learning environments for northern Michigan families.

Sault Ste. Marie Leads a Diverse District Mix

Sault Ste. Marie Area Schools serves as the county's primary district, educating 1,935 students across six schools. Charter schools play a significant role here, representing 19% of all local schools. The Joseph K Lumsden Bahweting Anishnabe Academy is a major charter institution, providing primary education to 596 students.

Small Classes in a Distinctly Rural Setting

With 16 of its 21 schools located in rural settings, education here feels personal and close-knit. Schools average just 259 students each, far smaller than typical suburban campuses. Facilities range from the 716-student Sault Area High School to tiny remote campuses like DeTour Area Schools.

School Overview

Total Schools

21

in Chippewa County

Reported Enrollment

4,653

21 schools reporting

School Districts

12

districts

Charter Schools

4

19% of total

School Level Breakdown

Elementary5
Middle1
High8
Other7

12 School Districts in Chippewa County

Sault Ste. Marie Area Schools

6 schools
1,935 students

Rudyard Area Schools

1 school
603 students

Joseph K. Lumsden Bahweting Anishnabe Academy

1 school
596 students

Pickford Public Schools

1 school
463 students

Brimley Area Schools

1 school
460 students

Engadine Consolidated Schools

2 schools
338 students

Ojibwe Charter School

1 school
144 students

DeTour Area Schools

2 schools
93 students

Lake Superior Academy

1 school
85 students

DeTour Arts and Technology Academy

1 school
67 students

21 Public Schools in Chippewa 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 data

Level

Showing 20 of 21 matching schools

Sault Area High School

Sault Ste. Marie Area Schools

SAULT SAINTE MARIE, 49783 / Rural: Fringe

Record8–12High716 students

Rudyard Area Schools

Rudyard Area Schools

RUDYARD, 49780 / Rural: Distant

RecordPK–12Other603 students

Joseph K Lumsden Bahweting Anishnabe Academy

Joseph K. Lumsden Bahweting Anishnabe Academy

SAULT SAINTE MARIE, 49783 / Rural: Fringe

RecordPK–8Charter596 students

Sault Area Middle School

Sault Ste. Marie Area Schools

SAULT SAINTE MARIE, 49783 / Rural: Fringe

Record5–10Middle533 students

Pickford Public Schools

Pickford Public Schools

Pickford, 49774 / Rural: Distant

RecordPK–12Other463 students

Brimley Area School

Brimley Area Schools

BRIMLEY, 49715 / Rural: Distant

RecordPK–12Other460 students

Lincoln School

Sault Ste. Marie Area Schools

SAULT SAINTE MARIE, 49783 / Town: Remote

RecordPK–7Primary352 students

Washington Elementary School

Sault Ste. Marie Area Schools

SAULT SAINTE MARIE, 49783 / Town: Remote

RecordKG–1Primary246 students

Ojibwe Charter School

Ojibwe Charter School

BRIMLEY, 49715 / Rural: Distant

RecordKG–12Charter144 students

Malcolm High School

Sault Ste. Marie Area Schools

SAULT S MARIE, 49783 / Rural: Fringe

Record9–12Alternative88 students

Consolidated Community School Services

Engadine Consolidated Schools

KINCHELOE, 49788 / Town: Remote

Record5–12Alternative87 students

Lake Superior Academy

Lake Superior Academy

SAULT S MARIE, 49783 / Rural: Distant

RecordKG–6Charter85 students

DeTour Arts and Technology Academy

DeTour Arts and Technology Academy

DE TOUR VILLAGE, 49725 / Rural: Remote

RecordPK–12Charter67 students

Whitefish Township School

Whitefish Township Schools

PARADISE, 49768 / Rural: Remote

RecordPK–12Other63 students

EUPISD Learning Center

Eastern Upper Peninsula ISD

RUDYARD, 49780 / Rural: Distant

RecordPK–12Special Education55 students

DeTour High School

DeTour Area Schools

DeTour Village, 49725 / Rural: Remote

Record7–12High48 students

Drummond Island Elem School

DeTour Area Schools

Drummond Island, 49726 / Rural: Remote

RecordKG–8Primary45 students

EUPISD Project Search

Eastern Upper Peninsula ISD

SAULT S MARIE, 49783 / Town: Remote

Record12Special Education2 students

Chippewa Correctional Facility

Michigan Department of Corrections

KINCHELOE, 49788 / Town: Remote

Record9–12Alternative0 students

Kinross Correctional Facility

Michigan Department of Corrections

KINCHELOE, 49788 / Rural: Fringe

Record9–12Alternative0 students

Education Funding Detail

Annual Per-Pupil Expenditure

$8,031

State avg $7,394

Compare Nearby Counties

Review Chippewa County against other counties using the same NCES-backed metrics.

Open Compare

Browse Public Schools

See school-level enrollment, grade ranges, school type, and district affiliation.

View Schools

Frequently Asked Questions

Which Michigan counties have the highest graduation rates?
Alcona County (95.0%), Alger County (95.0%), and Schoolcraft County (95.0%) currently lead Michigan among counties with available NCES four-year adjusted cohort graduation-rate data. This answer is generated from the same dataset used in the county table and can change when federal data refreshes.
What is per-pupil spending like in Michigan?
Across Michigan counties with available NCES district-finance data, average per-pupil spending is $7,394. The highest current county values are Keweenaw County ($18,000), Lake County ($10,369), and Leelanau County ($9,877). Compare counties in the table before treating the statewide average as representative of a local district.
How should I read the school score in Chippewa County?
Chippewa County has a school score of 38/100, which is a lower measured signal in this county-level index. This score is calculated from available NCES graduation-rate and school-finance data, with school-level records shown separately below.
What is the graduation rate in Chippewa County?
The high school graduation rate in Chippewa County is 80.9%, which is below the national average of 87.5%. This figure is based on NCES district-level data for public high schools in the county.
How much does Chippewa County spend per student?
Chippewa County spends $8,031 per pupil annually on public education, based on NCES district finance data. Current operating spending per fall enrollment, including instruction, support services, administration, transportation, and operations. It excludes capital outlays and debt service in the SchoolsByCounty methodology.

Frequently Asked Questions

Schools in Chippewa County, Michigan — FAQ

What does the school system look like in Chippewa County, Michigan?

Chippewa County maintains an extensive educational infrastructure with 21 public schools managed by 12 different districts. The system serves 4,653 students through a mix of five elementary, one middle, and eight high schools. This decentralized model ensures coverage across a large geographic area, providing localized learning environments for northern Michigan families.

What are the major school districts in Chippewa County, Michigan?

Sault Ste. Marie Area Schools serves as the county's primary district, educating 1,935 students across six schools. Charter schools play a significant role here, representing 19% of all local schools. The Joseph K Lumsden Bahweting Anishnabe Academy is a major charter institution, providing primary education to 596 students.

What is the school experience like in Chippewa County?

With 16 of its 21 schools located in rural settings, education here feels personal and close-knit. Schools average just 259 students each, far smaller than typical suburban campuses. Facilities range from the 716-student Sault Area High School to tiny remote campuses like DeTour Area Schools.

Counties with Similar School Profile

By Evan Brooks, Data EditorUpdated Reviewed by Evan Brooks, Data Editor

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.