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

No. Use the Jackson 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 Jackson 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 Jackson County?

Start with the 68 listed public schools and 17 district entries, then compare similar grade bands and confirm the address-level rules locally.

Jackson County Schools & Education

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

Jackson County, Michigan

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

School Score

23/100

Percentile-style score

Score Band

Lower Signal

Graduation Rate

78.0%

National avg 87.5%

Education Statistics

Graduation Rate

78.0%

National avg 87.5%

State avg 82.5%

Per-Pupil Spending

$6,966

National avg $13,239

State avg $7,394

School Score

23/100

Percentile-style score

State avg 35/100

State Score Position

#67

of 83 counties by score

Education Data Brief: Jackson County

Measured School Summary

Jackson County faces educational challenges with a school score of 23/100 and a graduation rate of 78.0%, falling below typical benchmarks.

Funding Context

At $6,966 per pupil, Jackson County operates with limited funding, which may constrain staffing, materials, and extracurricular offerings.

Neighbor Context

Its school score is 35% below the Michigan average, and its graduation rate trails the state average by 4.5 percentage points, while per-pupil spending is 6% lower than the state norm.

School Data Brief

How to read Jackson 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

68 public schools and 17 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

23/100

Lower measured signal. Ranks #67 of 83 Michigan counties with school score data.

Completion

78.0%

4.5 pts below the state average

Funding context

$6,966

$428 below the state average

School coverage

17 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

Jackson County has 68 public schools across 17 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 Jackson 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.

Large multi-district county

Jackson County has many school records across many districts. County averages are only the opening screen; neighborhood-level assignment and grade-band fit matter more here.

State position

#67

of 83 Michigan counties with school score data. The county score is 12 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.

Jackson Public Schools

Elementary to high school visible

4,486 students

Elementary 7Middle 2High 3Other 1

13 listed schools in this county slice.

Northwest Community Schools

Elementary to high school visible

3,560 students

Elementary 2Middle 1High 2Other 0

5 listed schools in this county slice.

Western School District

Elementary to high school visible

2,757 students

Elementary 3Middle 1High 2Other 0

6 listed schools in this county slice.

Columbia School District

Elementary and high visible

1,485 students

Elementary 2Middle 0High 2Other 0

4 listed schools in this county slice.

District reality check

Jackson Public Schools is the largest listed district slice, with 13 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 Jackson County?

Do the neighborhoods we like fall inside the same district, or are we comparing different Jackson 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 Jackson 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 Large Scale Education Network

Jackson County supports 68 public schools and 22,237 students within its 17 school districts. The system is well-distributed with 27 elementary and 27 high schools, plus 9 middle schools.

Investing in Countywide Achievement

Jackson's graduation rate is 78.0%, supported by a per-pupil expenditure of $6,966. While these figures fall below national averages, the county’s scale allows for 16 alternative schools and 3 specialized education facilities.

Public and Charter Diversity

Jackson Public Schools is the largest district with 4,486 students, followed closely by Northwest Community Schools. Five charter schools operate here, representing about 7.4% of the county's educational landscape.

From Suburbs to Rural Landscapes

The locale mix is balanced, featuring 28 rural schools and 26 suburban campuses. Most students attend schools with an average size of 359, though Jackson High School serves over 1,000 learners.

School Overview

Total Schools

in Jackson County

Reported Enrollment

22,237

68 schools reporting

School Districts

districts

Charter Schools

7% of total

School Level Breakdown

Elementary27

Middle9

High27

Other5

17 School Districts in Jackson County

Jackson Public Schools

Northwest Community Schools

Western School District

6 schools

2,757 students

Columbia School District

4 schools

1,485 students

Napoleon Community Schools

4 schools

1,320 students

Michigan Center School District

3 schools

1,316 students

Grass Lake Community Schools

3 schools

1,315 students

Hanover-Horton School District

3 schools

1,023 students

Springport Public Schools

3 schools

1,010 students

East Jackson Community Schools

3 schools

778 students

68 Public Schools in Jackson County

Sorted by reported enrollment. Dedicated profile pages are available for 2 high-enrollment schools; every NCES public school remains listed here.

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

Search schools

Level

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Showing 20 of 68 matching schools

Public schools in Jackson County, including district, location, profile availability, grades, type, and enrollment.
School Name	Profile	District	Location	Grades	Type / Flags	Reported Enrollment
Jackson High School	Profile	Jackson Public Schools	JACKSON, 49201City: Small	9–12	High	1,056
Northwest High School	Profile	Northwest Community Schools	JACKSON, 49201Rural: Fringe	9–12	High	972
Northwest Early Elementary School	Record	Northwest Community Schools	JACKSON, 49202Suburb: Small	KG–2	Primary	869
Western High School	Record	Western School District	PARMA, 49269Rural: Fringe	9–12	High	846
Northwest Kidder Middle School	Record	Northwest Community Schools	JACKSON, 49201Suburb: Small	6–8	Middle	790
Northwest Elementary School	Record	Northwest Community Schools	JACKSON, 49202Suburb: Small	3–5	Primary	778
Middle School at Parkside	Record	Jackson Public Schools	JACKSON, 49203City: Small	6–8	Middle	766
Columbia Central High School	Record	Columbia School District	BROOKLYN, 49230Rural: Fringe	7–12	High	654
George Long Elementary School	Record	Grass Lake Community Schools	GRASS LAKE, 49240Rural: Fringe	KG–5	Primary	638
Paragon Charter Academy	Record	Paragon Charter Academy	JACKSON, 49201Suburb: Small	PK–8	Charter	620
Western Middle School	Record	Western School District	PARMA, 49269Rural: Fringe	6–8	Middle	586
Michigan Center JrSr High School	Record	Michigan Center School District	MICHIGAN CENTER, 49254Suburb: Small	7–12	High	580
Ezra Eby Elementary School	Record	Napoleon Community Schools	Napoleon, 49261Rural: Fringe	PK–5	Primary	559
HanoverHorton Elementary School	Record	Hanover-Horton School District	HANOVER, 49241Rural: Distant	PK–5	Primary	498
Northeast Elementary School	Record	Jackson Public Schools	JACKSON, 49202City: Small	KG–5	Primary	481
Springport Elementary School	Record	Springport Public Schools	SPRINGPORT, 49284Rural: Distant	KG–5	Primary	476
Cascades Elementary School	Record	Jackson Public Schools	JACKSON, 49203City: Small	PK–5	Primary	447
Columbia Upper Elementary School	Record	Columbia School District	BROOKLYN, 49230Town: Fringe	3–6	Primary	420
South Central Michigan Virtual	Record	Jackson Public Schools	JACKSON, 49202Suburb: Small	KG–12	Virtual	411
Bean Elementary School	Record	Western School District	SPRING ARBOR, 49283Suburb: Small	KG–5	Primary	402

Jackson High School

Jackson Public Schools

JACKSON, 49201 / City: Small

Profile9–12High1,056 students

Northwest High School

Northwest Community Schools

JACKSON, 49201 / Rural: Fringe

Profile9–12High972 students

Northwest Early Elementary School

Northwest Community Schools

JACKSON, 49202 / Suburb: Small

RecordKG–2Primary869 students

Western High School

Western School District

PARMA, 49269 / Rural: Fringe

Record9–12High846 students

Northwest Kidder Middle School

Northwest Community Schools

JACKSON, 49201 / Suburb: Small

Record6–8Middle790 students

Northwest Elementary School

Northwest Community Schools

JACKSON, 49202 / Suburb: Small

Record3–5Primary778 students

Middle School at Parkside

Jackson Public Schools

JACKSON, 49203 / City: Small

Record6–8Middle766 students

Columbia Central High School

Columbia School District

BROOKLYN, 49230 / Rural: Fringe

Record7–12High654 students

George Long Elementary School

Grass Lake Community Schools

GRASS LAKE, 49240 / Rural: Fringe

RecordKG–5Primary638 students

Paragon Charter Academy

JACKSON, 49201 / Suburb: Small

RecordPK–8Charter620 students

Western Middle School

Western School District

PARMA, 49269 / Rural: Fringe

Record6–8Middle586 students

Michigan Center JrSr High School

Michigan Center School District

MICHIGAN CENTER, 49254 / Suburb: Small

Record7–12High580 students

Ezra Eby Elementary School

Napoleon Community Schools

Napoleon, 49261 / Rural: Fringe

RecordPK–5Primary559 students

HanoverHorton Elementary School

Hanover-Horton School District

HANOVER, 49241 / Rural: Distant

RecordPK–5Primary498 students

Northeast Elementary School

Jackson Public Schools

JACKSON, 49202 / City: Small

RecordKG–5Primary481 students

Springport Elementary School

Springport Public Schools

SPRINGPORT, 49284 / Rural: Distant

RecordKG–5Primary476 students

Cascades Elementary School

Jackson Public Schools

JACKSON, 49203 / City: Small

RecordPK–5Primary447 students

Columbia Upper Elementary School

Columbia School District

BROOKLYN, 49230 / Town: Fringe

Record3–6Primary420 students

South Central Michigan Virtual

Jackson Public Schools

JACKSON, 49202 / Suburb: Small

RecordKG–12Virtual411 students

Bean Elementary School

Western School District

SPRING ARBOR, 49283 / Suburb: Small

RecordKG–5Primary402 students

Education Funding Detail

Annual Per-Pupil Expenditure

$6,966

State avg $7,394

Compare Nearby Counties

Review Jackson 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 Jackson County?

Jackson County has a school score of 23/100, 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 Jackson County?

The high school graduation rate in Jackson County is 78.0%, 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 Jackson County spend per student?

Jackson County spends $6,966 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 Jackson County, Michigan — FAQ

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

Jackson County supports 68 public schools and 22,237 students within its 17 school districts. The system is well-distributed with 27 elementary and 27 high schools, plus 9 middle schools.

How do schools in Jackson County perform academically?

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

What is the school experience like in Jackson County?

The locale mix is balanced, featuring 28 rural schools and 26 suburban campuses. Most students attend schools with an average size of 359, though Jackson High School serves over 1,000 learners.

Counties with Similar School Profile

Eaton County

Michigan

-0 pts

23/100

School score

Menominee County

Michigan

-0 pts

22/100

School score

Saginaw County

Michigan

+0 pts

23/100

School score

By Evan Brooks, Data EditorUpdated May 13, 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.

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