Clare County Schools & Education
Clare 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
78.8%
National avg 87.5%
Education Statistics
Graduation Rate
78.8%
National avg 87.5%
State avg 82.5%
Per-Pupil Spending
$7,010
National avg $13,239
State avg $7,394
School Score
24/100
Percentile-style score
State avg 35/100
State Score Position
#63
of 83 counties by score
Education Data Brief: Clare County
Measured School Summary
Clare County faces educational challenges with a school score of 24/100 and a graduation rate of 78.8%, falling below typical benchmarks.
Funding Context
At $7,010 per pupil, Clare County operates with limited funding, which may constrain staffing, materials, and extracurricular offerings.
Neighbor Context
Its school score is 32% below the Michigan average, and its graduation rate trails the state average by 3.7 percentage points, while per-pupil spending is 5% lower than the state norm.
School Data Brief
How to read Clare 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
13 public schools and 4 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 #63 of 83 Michigan counties with school score data.
Completion
78.8%
3.7 pts below the state average
Funding context
$7,010
$384 below the state average
School coverage
13
4 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
Clare County has 13 public schools across 4 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 Clare 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
Clare 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
#63
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.
Clare Public Schools
Elementary to high school visible
1,605 students
4 listed schools in this county slice.
Harrison Community Schools
Elementary to high school visible
1,260 students
4 listed schools in this county slice.
Farwell Area Schools
Elementary to high school visible
1,008 students
4 listed schools in this county slice.
Clare-Gladwin Regional Education Service District
Other grade structure
49 students
1 listed school in this county slice.
District reality check
Clare Public Schools is the largest listed district slice, with 4 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 Clare County?
Do the neighborhoods we like fall inside the same district, or are we comparing different Clare 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 Clare 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-Town Districts Support Central Michigan
Clare County operates 13 public schools across four districts, serving a total of 3,922 students. The landscape is evenly distributed among three elementary, three middle, and five high schools. This structure focuses on traditional public education, as there are currently no charter schools operating within the county.
Clare and Harrison Lead the Way
Clare Public Schools is the largest provider in the area, enrolling 1,605 students across four facilities. Harrison Community Schools follows closely, serving 1,260 students and managing the 606-student Robert M Larson Elementary. Farwell Area Schools rounds out the major districts, providing vital services to over 1,000 students in the region.
A Town-Centric Education Experience
Ten of the county's 13 schools are located in town settings, giving the area a centralized, community-oriented feel. The average school size is 302 students, ensuring that teachers and administrators know their pupils well. Large primary schools like Clare Primary and Robert M Larson Elementary serve as major hubs for the county's youngest learners.
School Overview
Total Schools
13
in Clare County
Reported Enrollment
3,922
13 schools reporting
School Districts
4
districts
Charter Schools
0
0% of total
School Level Breakdown
4 School Districts in Clare County
Clare Public Schools
Harrison Community Schools
Farwell Area Schools
Clare-Gladwin Regional Education Service District
13 Public Schools in Clare 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 13 of 13 matching schools
| School Name | Profile | District | Location | Grades | Type / Flags | Reported Enrollment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Clare Primary School | Record | Clare Public Schools | CLARE, 48617Town: Distant | KG–4 | Primary | 606 |
| Robert M Larson Elementary School | Record | Harrison Community Schools | Harrison, 48625Town: Distant | KG–5 | Primary | 606 |
| Clare Middle School | Record | Clare Public Schools | CLARE, 48617Town: Distant | 5–8 | Middle | 489 |
| Clare High School | Record | Clare Public Schools | CLARE, 48617Town: Distant | 9–12 | High | 465 |
| Harrison Community High School | Record | Harrison Community Schools | Harrison, 48625Town: Distant | 9–12 | High | 341 |
| Farwell High School | Record | Farwell Area Schools | FARWELL, 48622Town: Distant | 8–12 | High | 335 |
| Farwell Elementary School | Record | Farwell Area Schools | FARWELL, 48622Town: Distant | PK–3 | Primary | 329 |
| Farwell Middle School | Record | Farwell Area Schools | FARWELL, 48622Town: Distant | 4–7 | Middle | 300 |
| Harrison Middle School | Record | Harrison Community Schools | Harrison, 48625Town: Distant | 6–8 | Middle | 282 |
| ClareGladwin Area School | Record | Clare-Gladwin Regional Education Service District | CLARE, 48617Rural: Distant | PK–12 | Special Education | 49 |
| Clare Pioneer High School | Record | Clare Public Schools | CLARE, 48617Rural: Fringe | 9–12 | Alternative | 45 |
| Farwell Timberland Alternative High School | Record | Farwell Area Schools | FARWELL, 48622Rural: Fringe | 8–12 | Alternative | 44 |
| Harrison Alternative Education | Record | Harrison Community Schools | Harrison, 48625Town: Distant | 8–11 | Alternative | 31 |
Robert M Larson Elementary School
Harrison Community Schools
Harrison, 48625 / Town: Distant
Harrison Community High School
Harrison Community Schools
Harrison, 48625 / Town: Distant
Farwell Elementary School
Farwell Area Schools
FARWELL, 48622 / Town: Distant
Harrison Middle School
Harrison Community Schools
Harrison, 48625 / Town: Distant
ClareGladwin Area School
Clare-Gladwin Regional Education Service District
CLARE, 48617 / Rural: Distant
Clare Pioneer High School
Clare Public Schools
CLARE, 48617 / Rural: Fringe
Farwell Timberland Alternative High School
Farwell Area Schools
FARWELL, 48622 / Rural: Fringe
Harrison Alternative Education
Harrison Community Schools
Harrison, 48625 / Town: Distant
Education Funding Detail
Annual Per-Pupil Expenditure
$7,010
State avg $7,394
Compare Nearby Counties
Review Clare 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 Clare County?
What is the graduation rate in Clare County?
How much does Clare County spend per student?
Frequently Asked Questions
Schools in Clare County, Michigan — FAQ
What does the school system look like in Clare County, Michigan?
Clare County operates 13 public schools across four districts, serving a total of 3,922 students. The landscape is evenly distributed among three elementary, three middle, and five high schools. This structure focuses on traditional public education, as there are currently no charter schools operating within the county.
What are the major school districts in Clare County, Michigan?
Clare Public Schools is the largest provider in the area, enrolling 1,605 students across four facilities. Harrison Community Schools follows closely, serving 1,260 students and managing the 606-student Robert M Larson Elementary. Farwell Area Schools rounds out the major districts, providing vital services to over 1,000 students in the region.
What is the school experience like in Clare County?
Ten of the county's 13 schools are located in town settings, giving the area a centralized, community-oriented feel. The average school size is 302 students, ensuring that teachers and administrators know their pupils well. Large primary schools like Clare Primary and Robert M Larson Elementary serve as major hubs for the county's youngest learners.
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.