Manistee County Schools & Education
Manistee County, Michigan
NCES 2022-23 public school data and FY 2022 school-finance dataSchool Score
4/100
Percentile-style score
Score Band
Lower Signal
Graduation Rate
58.9%
National avg 87.5%
Education Statistics
Graduation Rate
58.9%
National avg 87.5%
State avg 82.5%
Per-Pupil Spending
$5,655
National avg $13,239
State avg $7,394
School Score
4/100
Percentile-style score
State avg 35/100
State Score Position
#83
of 83 counties by score
Education Data Brief: Manistee County
Measured School Summary
Manistee County faces educational challenges with a school score of 4/100 and a graduation rate of 58.9%, falling below typical benchmarks.
Funding Context
At $5,655 per pupil, Manistee County operates with limited funding, which may constrain staffing, materials, and extracurricular offerings.
Neighbor Context
Its school score is 89% below the Michigan average, and its graduation rate trails the state average by 23.6 percentage points, while per-pupil spending is 24% lower than the state norm.
School Data Brief
How to read Manistee 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
14 public schools and 7 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
4/100
Lower measured signal. Ranks #83 of 83 Michigan counties with school score data.
Completion
58.9%
23.6 pts below the state average
Funding context
$5,655
$1,739 below the state average
School coverage
14
7 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
Manistee County has 14 public schools across 7 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 Manistee 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
Manistee 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
#83
of 83 Michigan counties with school score data. The county score is 31 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.
Michigan Great Lakes Virtual Academy
Other grade structure
3,389 students
1 listed school in this county slice.
Manistee Area Public Schools
Elementary and high visible
1,225 students
3 listed schools in this county slice.
Kaleva Norman Dickson School District
Elementary to high school visible
539 students
3 listed schools in this county slice.
Onekama Consolidated Schools
Other grade structure
304 students
1 listed school in this county slice.
District reality check
Kaleva Norman Dickson School District is the largest listed district slice, with 3 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 Manistee County?
Do the neighborhoods we like fall inside the same district, or are we comparing different Manistee 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 Manistee 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 Diverse Mix of Local and Virtual Schools
Manistee County hosts 14 public schools serving 5,994 students through seven distinct districts. The landscape includes five elementary schools and five high schools, supported by a mix of traditional and charter options. The presence of a large virtual academy significantly expands the county's educational reach beyond its physical borders.
Virtual Academy Shapes the District Landscape
Michigan Great Lakes Virtual Academy is the largest entity, enrolling 3,389 students through its charter program. Among traditional brick-and-mortar options, Manistee Area Public Schools leads with 1,225 students across three schools. Two other charter schools operate in the county, providing alternative choices for 14.3% of the total school population.
Rural Roots with Large Virtual Classrooms
Physical schools in Manistee are split between rural settings (8) and town locales (6), providing a classic small-town feel. While the average school size is 461, this is skewed by the virtual academy; traditional schools like KND Elementary are much more intimate. Students often find themselves in close-knit environments where the school serves as a central community hub.
School Overview
Total Schools
14
in Manistee County
Reported Enrollment
5,994
14 schools reporting
School Districts
7
districts
Charter Schools
2
14% of total
School Level Breakdown
7 School Districts in Manistee County
Michigan Great Lakes Virtual Academy
GuideManistee Area Public Schools
Kaleva Norman Dickson School District
Onekama Consolidated Schools
Bear Lake Schools
Casman Alternative Academy
Manistee ISD
14 Public Schools in Manistee 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 dataLevel
Showing 14 of 14 matching schools
| School Name | Profile | District | Location | Grades | Type / Flags | Reported Enrollment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Michigan Great Lakes Virtual Academy | Profile | Michigan Great Lakes Virtual Academy | MANISTEE, 49660Town: Remote | PK–12 | Charter | 3,389 |
| Manistee Middle High School | Record | Manistee Area Public Schools | MANISTEE, 49660Town: Remote | 6–12 | High | 687 |
| Onekama Consolidated Schools | Record | Onekama Consolidated Schools | ONEKAMA, 49675Rural: Distant | KG–12 | Other | 304 |
| KND Elementary | Record | Kaleva Norman Dickson School District | BRETHREN, 49619Rural: Remote | KG–6 | Primary | 289 |
| John F Kennedy Elem School | Record | Manistee Area Public Schools | MANISTEE, 49660Town: Remote | 3–5 | Primary | 279 |
| Thomas Jefferson Elem School | Record | Manistee Area Public Schools | MANISTEE, 49660Town: Remote | KG–2 | Primary | 259 |
| Brethren High School | Record | Kaleva Norman Dickson School District | BRETHREN, 49619Rural: Remote | 9–12 | High | 177 |
| Bear Lake Elementary School | Record | Bear Lake Schools | BEAR LAKE, 49614Rural: Remote | PK–6 | Primary | 163 |
| Betsie Valley School | Record | Benzie County Central Schools | THOMPSONVILLE, 49683Rural: Remote | PK–5 | Primary | 136 |
| Bear Lake High School | Record | Bear Lake Schools | BEAR LAKE, 49614Rural: Remote | 7–12 | High | 127 |
| Brethren Middle School | Record | Kaleva Norman Dickson School District | BRETHREN, 49619Rural: Remote | 7–8 | Middle | 73 |
| Casman Alternative Academy | Record | Casman Alternative Academy | MANISTEE, 49660Town: Remote | 7–12 | Charter | 63 |
| Manistee ISD Center Programs | Record | Manistee ISD | MANISTEE, 49660Rural: Fringe | PK–12 | Special Education | 48 |
| Oaks Correctional Facility | Record | Michigan Department of Corrections | Manistee, 49660Town: Remote | 9–12 | Alternative | 0 |
Michigan Great Lakes Virtual Academy
Michigan Great Lakes Virtual Academy
MANISTEE, 49660 / Town: Remote
Manistee Middle High School
Manistee Area Public Schools
MANISTEE, 49660 / Town: Remote
Onekama Consolidated Schools
Onekama Consolidated Schools
ONEKAMA, 49675 / Rural: Distant
KND Elementary
Kaleva Norman Dickson School District
BRETHREN, 49619 / Rural: Remote
John F Kennedy Elem School
Manistee Area Public Schools
MANISTEE, 49660 / Town: Remote
Thomas Jefferson Elem School
Manistee Area Public Schools
MANISTEE, 49660 / Town: Remote
Brethren High School
Kaleva Norman Dickson School District
BRETHREN, 49619 / Rural: Remote
Bear Lake Elementary School
Bear Lake Schools
BEAR LAKE, 49614 / Rural: Remote
Betsie Valley School
Benzie County Central Schools
THOMPSONVILLE, 49683 / Rural: Remote
Brethren Middle School
Kaleva Norman Dickson School District
BRETHREN, 49619 / Rural: Remote
Casman Alternative Academy
Casman Alternative Academy
MANISTEE, 49660 / Town: Remote
Manistee ISD Center Programs
Manistee ISD
MANISTEE, 49660 / Rural: Fringe
Oaks Correctional Facility
Michigan Department of Corrections
Manistee, 49660 / Town: Remote
Education Funding Detail
Annual Per-Pupil Expenditure
$5,655
State avg $7,394
Compare Nearby Counties
Review Manistee 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 Manistee County?
What is the graduation rate in Manistee County?
How much does Manistee County spend per student?
Frequently Asked Questions
Schools in Manistee County, Michigan — FAQ
What does the school system look like in Manistee County, Michigan?
Manistee County hosts 14 public schools serving 5,994 students through seven distinct districts. The landscape includes five elementary schools and five high schools, supported by a mix of traditional and charter options. The presence of a large virtual academy significantly expands the county's educational reach beyond its physical borders.
What are the major school districts in Manistee County, Michigan?
Michigan Great Lakes Virtual Academy is the largest entity, enrolling 3,389 students through its charter program. Among traditional brick-and-mortar options, Manistee Area Public Schools leads with 1,225 students across three schools. Two other charter schools operate in the county, providing alternative choices for 14.3% of the total school population.
What is the school experience like in Manistee County?
Physical schools in Manistee are split between rural settings (8) and town locales (6), providing a classic small-town feel. While the average school size is 461, this is skewed by the virtual academy; traditional schools like KND Elementary are much more intimate. Students often find themselves in close-knit environments where the school serves as a central community hub.
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.