schoolsbycounty

Iron County Schools & Education

School Score

73/100

Percentile-style score

Score Band

Higher Signal

Graduation Rate

93.1%

National avg 87.5%

Education Statistics

Graduation Rate

93.1%

National avg 87.5%

State avg 82.5%

Per-Pupil Spending

$8,347

National avg $13,239

State avg $7,394

School Score

73/100

Percentile-style score

State avg 35/100

State Score Position

#4

of 83 counties by score

Education Data Brief: Iron County

Measured School Summary

Iron County has a higher measured school signal with a school score of 73/100 and a graduation rate of 93.1%, based on available NCES graduation-rate and school-score inputs.

Funding Context

Iron County spends $8,347 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 109% above the Michigan average, and its graduation rate exceeds the state average by 10.6 percentage points, while per-pupil spending is 13% higher than the state norm.

School Data Brief

How to read Iron 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

3 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

73/100

Higher measured signal. Ranks #4 of 83 Michigan counties with school score data.

Completion

93.1%

10.6 pts above the state average

Funding context

$8,347

$953 above the state average

School coverage

3

2 districts represented in the county school list.

Start with measured county context

This county screens well on the combined school metrics available here. Compare the score, graduation rate, and spending together rather than treating any single metric as final.

Check the local school mix

Iron County has 3 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.

Parent decision brief

What Iron 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

Iron 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

#4

of 83 Michigan counties with school score data. The county score is 38 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.

West Iron County Public Schools

Elementary and high visible

846 students

Elementary 1Middle 0High 1Other 0

2 listed schools in this county slice.

Forest Park School District

Other grade structure

479 students

Elementary 0Middle 0High 0Other 1

1 listed school in this county slice.

District reality check

West Iron County Public Schools is the largest listed district slice, with 2 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 Iron County?

Do the neighborhoods we like fall inside the same district, or are we comparing different Iron County district systems?

Where do students transition after the visible grade band, and is that next school inside the same district path?

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 Iron 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.

Upper Peninsula Excellence in Education

Iron County provides a streamlined education system with just 3 public schools serving 1,325 students. These facilities are managed by 2 districts, ensuring a highly localized approach to student development.

Dedicated Local Public Districts

West Iron County Public Schools is the larger district, serving 846 students across two campuses. Forest Park School District manages the remaining 479 students in a single K-12 facility, and no charter schools operate in the county.

Community Connection in Small Classes

The schools are located in town and rural settings, with an average enrollment of 442 students per school. The largest campus is Forest Park School, which serves 479 students in a versatile PK-12 setting.

School Overview

Total Schools

3

in Iron County

Reported Enrollment

1,325

3 schools reporting

School Districts

2

districts

Charter Schools

0

0% of total

School Level Breakdown

Elementary1
Middle0
High1
Other1

2 School Districts in Iron County

West Iron County Public Schools

2 schools
846 students

Forest Park School District

1 school
479 students

3 Public Schools in Iron 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 3 of 3 matching schools

Forest Park School

Forest Park School District

CRYSTAL FALLS, 49920 / Rural: Remote

RecordPK–12Other479 students

West Iron County Middle High School

West Iron County Public Schools

IRON RIVER, 49935 / Town: Remote

Record6–12High469 students

Stambaugh Elementary School

West Iron County Public Schools

IRON RIVER, 49935 / Town: Remote

RecordPK–6Primary377 students

Education Funding Detail

Annual Per-Pupil Expenditure

$8,347

State avg $7,394

Compare Nearby Counties

Review Iron 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.

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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 Iron County?
Iron County has a school score of 73/100, which is a higher 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 Iron County?
The high school graduation rate in Iron County is 93.1%, which is above 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 Iron County spend per student?
Iron County spends $8,347 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 Iron County, Michigan — FAQ

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

Iron County provides a streamlined education system with just 3 public schools serving 1,325 students. These facilities are managed by 2 districts, ensuring a highly localized approach to student development.

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

West Iron County Public Schools is the larger district, serving 846 students across two campuses. Forest Park School District manages the remaining 479 students in a single K-12 facility, and no charter schools operate in the county.

What is the school experience like in Iron County?

The schools are located in town and rural settings, with an average enrollment of 442 students per school. The largest campus is Forest Park School, which serves 479 students in a versatile PK-12 setting.

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.