Can I use Isabella County's school score to choose a house?

No. Use the Isabella County school score as a first-pass county screen, then verify the exact district, attendance boundary, transfer rules, and grade pathway for any address you are considering.

Does SchoolsByCounty confirm school attendance boundaries in Isabella County?

No. SchoolsByCounty publishes NCES and Census-backed public-school records. Attendance zones, magnet eligibility, charter lotteries, transportation, and transfer rules must be confirmed with local districts.

How should parents compare public schools in Isabella County?

Start with the 21 listed public schools and 6 district entries, then compare similar grade bands and confirm the address-level rules locally.

Isabella County Schools & Education

Name: Isabella County, Michigan Education Data
Creator: National Center for Education Statistics (NCES)
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/

Isabella County, Michigan

NCES 2022-23 public school data and FY 2022 school-finance data

School Score

28/100

Percentile-style score

Score Band

Lower Signal

Graduation Rate

78.9%

National avg 87.5%

Education Statistics

Graduation Rate

78.9%

National avg 87.5%

State avg 82.5%

Per-Pupil Spending

$7,280

National avg $13,239

State avg $7,394

School Score

28/100

Percentile-style score

State avg 35/100

State Score Position

#53

of 83 counties by score

Education Data Brief: Isabella County

Measured School Summary

Isabella County faces educational challenges with a school score of 28/100 and a graduation rate of 78.9%, falling below typical benchmarks.

Funding Context

At $7,280 per pupil, Isabella County operates with limited funding, which may constrain staffing, materials, and extracurricular offerings.

Neighbor Context

Its school score is 21% below the Michigan average, and its graduation rate trails the state average by 3.6 percentage points, while per-pupil spending is 2% lower than the state norm.

School Data Brief

How to read Isabella 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 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

28/100

Lower measured signal. Ranks #53 of 83 Michigan counties with school score data.

Completion

78.9%

3.6 pts below the state average

Funding context

$7,280

$114 below the state average

School coverage

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

Isabella County has 21 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.

View Public Schools Compare Counties

Parent decision brief

What Isabella 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

Isabella 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

#53

of 83 Michigan counties with school score data. The county score is 7 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.

Mt. Pleasant City School District

Elementary to high school visible

3,378 students

Elementary 5Middle 1High 4Other 0

10 listed schools in this county slice.

Shepherd Public Schools

Elementary to high school visible

1,785 students

Elementary 2Middle 1High 2Other 0

5 listed schools in this county slice.

Beal City Public Schools

Elementary and high visible

654 students

Elementary 1Middle 0High 1Other 0

2 listed schools in this county slice.

Renaissance Public School Academy

Elementary school only in this slice

426 students

Elementary 1Middle 0High 0Other 0

1 listed school in this county slice.

District reality check

Mt. Pleasant City School District is the largest listed district slice, with 10 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 Isabella County?

Do the neighborhoods we like fall inside the same district, or are we comparing different Isabella 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?

Data Story

Per-Pupil Spending in Isabella County Remains Below State Average

Education data brief for Isabella County, Michigan.

By Evan Brooks, Data EditorPublished Jul 7, 2026Reviewed by Evan Brooks, Data Editor

Lead metric:Per-pupil spending

Isabella County reports a per-pupil expenditure of $7,280, which is nearly $6,000 below the national average of $13,000 and slightly below the Michigan state average of $7,394. The county’s district structure is notable for its consolidation, where the Mt. Pleasant City School District manages 3,378 students—approximately half of the county's total enrollment of 6,739. The county contains 21 public schools, including two charter schools that represent 9.5% of the total facilities. The graduation rate is 78.9%, trailing the national average of 87% and the state average of 82.5%. The composite school score is 27.5, compared to the state average of 35.1 and the national median of 50.0. Schools in Isabella County are located primarily in town and rural settings, with Mt. Pleasant Senior High School being the largest individual campus with 1,058 students. See the NCES Common Core of Data for school-level records.

Sources

NCES Common Core of Data
U.S. Census Bureau ACS

School Overview

Total Schools

in Isabella County

Reported Enrollment

6,739

21 schools reporting

School Districts

districts

Charter Schools

10% of total

School Level Breakdown

Elementary10

Middle2

High8

Other1

6 School Districts in Isabella County

Mt. Pleasant City School District

Shepherd Public Schools

5 schools

1,785 students

Beal City Public Schools

2 schools

654 students

Renaissance Public School Academy

1 school

426 students

Gratiot-Isabella RESD

1 school

162 students

Flextech High School Shepherd

1 school

71 students

21 Public Schools in Isabella 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 data

Search schools

Level

Sort

Showing 20 of 21 matching schools

Public schools in Isabella County, including district, location, profile availability, grades, type, and enrollment.
School Name	Profile	District	Location	Grades	Type / Flags	Reported Enrollment
Mt Pleasant Senior High School	Profile	Mt. Pleasant City School District	MOUNT PLEASANT, 48858Town: Distant	9–12	High	1,058
Mt Pleasant Middle School	Record	Mt. Pleasant City School District	MT PLEASANT, 48858Town: Distant	6–8	Middle	702
Shepherd Elementary School	Record	Shepherd Public Schools	SHEPHERD, 48883Rural: Distant	KG–5	Primary	658
Shepherd High School	Record	Shepherd Public Schools	SHEPHERD, 48883Rural: Distant	9–12	High	519
Renaissance Public School Academy	Record	Renaissance Public School Academy	MOUNT PLEASANT, 48858Town: Distant	KG–8	Charter	426
Shepherd Middle School	Record	Shepherd Public Schools	SHEPHERD, 48883Rural: Distant	6–8	Middle	417
Fancher School	Record	Mt. Pleasant City School District	MOUNT PLEASANT, 48858Town: Distant	3–5	Primary	406
Beal City High School	Record	Beal City Public Schools	MOUNT PLEASANT, 48858Rural: Distant	6–12	High	397
Pullen Elementary School	Record	Mt. Pleasant City School District	MOUNT PLEASANT, 48858Town: Distant	PK–2	Primary	327
Mary McGuire School	Record	Mt. Pleasant City School District	MOUNT PLEASANT, 48858Town: Distant	3–5	Primary	273
Weidman Elementary School	Record	Chippewa Hills School District	WEIDMAN, 48893Rural: Distant	PK–4	Primary	263
Beal City Elementary School	Record	Beal City Public Schools	MT PLEASANT, 48858Rural: Distant	KG–5	Primary	257
Ganiard School	Record	Mt. Pleasant City School District	MOUNT PLEASANT, 48858Town: Distant	PK–2	Primary	250
Vowles School	Record	Mt. Pleasant City School District	MOUNT PLEASANT, 48858Town: Distant	PK–2	Primary	228
GIRESD Center Programs	Record	Gratiot-Isabella RESD	ITHACA, 48847Town: Distant	PK–12	Special Education	162
WAY Oasis	Record	Mt. Pleasant City School District	MOUNT PLEASANT, 48858Town: Distant	6–12	Alternative	129
Winn Elementary School	Record	Shepherd Public Schools	Winn, 48896Rural: Distant	KG–5	Primary	112
Odyssey MiddleHigh School	Record	Shepherd Public Schools	MOUNT PLEASANT, 48858Rural: Fringe	7–12	Alternative	79
Flextech High School Shepherd	Record	Flextech High School Shepherd	SHEPHERD, 48883Rural: Distant	8–12	Charter	71
Isabella Day Treatment	Record	Mt. Pleasant City School District	MOUNT PLEASANT, 48858Town: Distant	7–12	Alternative	5

Mt Pleasant Senior High School

Mt. Pleasant City School District

MOUNT PLEASANT, 48858 / Town: Distant

Profile9–12High1,058 students

Mt Pleasant Middle School

Mt. Pleasant City School District

MT PLEASANT, 48858 / Town: Distant

Record6–8Middle702 students

Shepherd Elementary School

Shepherd Public Schools

SHEPHERD, 48883 / Rural: Distant

RecordKG–5Primary658 students

Shepherd High School

Shepherd Public Schools

SHEPHERD, 48883 / Rural: Distant

Record9–12High519 students

Renaissance Public School Academy

MOUNT PLEASANT, 48858 / Town: Distant

RecordKG–8Charter426 students

Shepherd Middle School

Shepherd Public Schools

SHEPHERD, 48883 / Rural: Distant

Record6–8Middle417 students

Fancher School

Mt. Pleasant City School District

MOUNT PLEASANT, 48858 / Town: Distant

Record3–5Primary406 students

Beal City High School

Beal City Public Schools

MOUNT PLEASANT, 48858 / Rural: Distant

Record6–12High397 students

Pullen Elementary School

Mt. Pleasant City School District

MOUNT PLEASANT, 48858 / Town: Distant

RecordPK–2Primary327 students

Mary McGuire School

Mt. Pleasant City School District

MOUNT PLEASANT, 48858 / Town: Distant

Record3–5Primary273 students

Weidman Elementary School

Chippewa Hills School District

WEIDMAN, 48893 / Rural: Distant

RecordPK–4Primary263 students

Beal City Elementary School

Beal City Public Schools

MT PLEASANT, 48858 / Rural: Distant

RecordKG–5Primary257 students

Ganiard School

Mt. Pleasant City School District

MOUNT PLEASANT, 48858 / Town: Distant

RecordPK–2Primary250 students

Vowles School

Mt. Pleasant City School District

MOUNT PLEASANT, 48858 / Town: Distant

RecordPK–2Primary228 students

GIRESD Center Programs

Gratiot-Isabella RESD

ITHACA, 48847 / Town: Distant

RecordPK–12Special Education162 students

WAY Oasis

Mt. Pleasant City School District

MOUNT PLEASANT, 48858 / Town: Distant

Record6–12Alternative129 students

Winn Elementary School

Shepherd Public Schools

Winn, 48896 / Rural: Distant

RecordKG–5Primary112 students

Odyssey MiddleHigh School

Shepherd Public Schools

MOUNT PLEASANT, 48858 / Rural: Fringe

Record7–12Alternative79 students

Flextech High School Shepherd

SHEPHERD, 48883 / Rural: Distant

Record8–12Charter71 students

Isabella Day Treatment

Mt. Pleasant City School District

MOUNT PLEASANT, 48858 / Town: Distant

Record7–12Alternative5 students

Education Funding Detail

Annual Per-Pupil Expenditure

$7,280

State avg $7,394

Compare Nearby Counties

Review Isabella 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 Isabella County?

Isabella County has a school score of 28/100, 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 Isabella County?

The high school graduation rate in Isabella County is 78.9%, 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 Isabella County spend per student?

Isabella County spends $7,280 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.

Counties with Similar School Profile

Delta County

Michigan

-0 pts

27/100

School score

St. Joseph County

Michigan

+1 pts

28/100

School score

Calhoun County

Michigan

+1 pts

28/100

School score

By Evan Brooks, Data EditorUpdated Jul 7, 2026Reviewed 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.

Explore more data for Isabella County

Property Tax Cost of Living Crime Rate Income Health Disaster Risk Water Quality Weather County Score