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

No. Use the Ottawa 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 Ottawa 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 Ottawa County?

Start with the 101 listed public schools and 17 district entries, then compare similar grade bands and confirm the address-level rules locally.

Ottawa County Schools & Education

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

Ottawa County, Michigan

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

School Score

61/100

Percentile-style score

Score Band

Midrange Signal

Graduation Rate

91.8%

National avg 87.5%

Education Statistics

Graduation Rate

91.8%

National avg 87.5%

State avg 82.5%

Per-Pupil Spending

$7,746

National avg $13,239

State avg $7,394

School Score

61/100

Percentile-style score

State avg 35/100

State Score Position

of 83 counties by score

Education Data Brief: Ottawa County

Measured School Summary

Ottawa County performs at an average level with a school score of 61/100 and a solid graduation rate of 91.8%.

Funding Context

At $7,746 per pupil, Ottawa County operates with limited funding, which may constrain staffing, materials, and extracurricular offerings.

Neighbor Context

Its school score is 73% above the Michigan average, and its graduation rate exceeds the state average by 9.3 percentage points, while per-pupil spending is 5% higher than the state norm.

School Data Brief

How to read Ottawa 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

101 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

61/100

Mixed county signal. Ranks #7 of 83 Michigan counties with school score data.

Completion

91.8%

9.3 pts above the state average

Funding context

$7,746

$352 above the state average

School coverage

101

17 districts represented in the county school list.

Start with measured county context

This county needs a closer look at district mix, school level, and local context. Compare the score, graduation rate, and spending together rather than treating any single metric as final.

Check the local school mix

Ottawa County has 101 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 Ottawa 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

Ottawa 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

of 83 Michigan counties with school score data. The county score is 26 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.

Hudsonville Public School District

Elementary to high school visible

6,752 students

Elementary 9Middle 2High 1Other 1

13 listed schools in this county slice.

West Ottawa Public School District

Elementary to high school visible

6,558 students

Elementary 8Middle 2High 2Other 1

13 listed schools in this county slice.

Zeeland Public Schools

Elementary to high school visible

5,995 students

Elementary 7Middle 2High 3Other 0

12 listed schools in this county slice.

Grand Haven Area Public Schools

Elementary to high school visible

5,378 students

Elementary 7Middle 2High 3Other 1

13 listed schools in this county slice.

District reality check

Grand Haven Area 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 Ottawa County?

Do the neighborhoods we like fall inside the same district, or are we comparing different Ottawa 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 Ottawa 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 Powerhouse Education System of 100+ Schools

Ottawa County maintains an expansive network of 101 public schools, including 56 elementary and 22 high schools. This massive infrastructure serves 43,696 students across 17 different districts. It is one of the most comprehensive and diverse educational landscapes in the state of Michigan.

Hudsonville and West Ottawa Lead the Way

The Hudsonville and West Ottawa districts are the county's largest, serving over 6,500 students each. Ten charter schools also operate here, providing diverse educational choices for roughly 10% of the school population. The sheer number of districts ensures local control and specialized programming for residents.

Suburban Success with Diverse Learning Environments

Over 60% of schools are in suburban locales, though the county also features 20 rural and 10 city campuses. Average school size is 437 students, but West Ottawa High is a major hub with over 2,100 students. This variety allows families to choose between massive, resource-rich high schools and smaller rural elementary programs.

School Overview

Total Schools

101

in Ottawa County

Reported Enrollment

43,696

101 schools reporting

School Districts

districts

Charter Schools

10% of total

School Level Breakdown

Elementary56

Middle14

High22

Other9

17 School Districts in Ottawa County

Hudsonville Public School District

West Ottawa Public School District

Zeeland Public Schools

Grand Haven Area Public Schools

Jenison Public Schools

Holland City School District

7 schools

2,816 students

Allendale Public Schools

6 schools

2,617 students

Coopersville Area Public School District

6 schools

2,546 students

Spring Lake Public Schools

6 schools

2,326 students

Black River Public School

2 schools

941 students

101 Public Schools in Ottawa County

Sorted by reported enrollment. Dedicated profile pages are available for 7 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 101 matching schools

Public schools in Ottawa County, including district, location, profile availability, grades, type, and enrollment.
School Name	Profile	District	Location	Grades	Type / Flags	Reported Enrollment
West Ottawa High School Campus	Profile	West Ottawa Public School District	Holland, 49424Suburb: Small	9–12	High	2,196
Grand Haven High School	Profile	Grand Haven Area Public Schools	GRAND HAVEN, 49417Suburb: Midsize	9–12	High	1,732
Hudsonville High School	Profile	Hudsonville Public School District	HUDSONVILLE, 49426Suburb: Large	10–12	High	1,513
Jenison High School	Profile	Jenison Public Schools	JENISON, 49428Suburb: Large	8–12	High	1,495
Zeeland West High School	Profile	Zeeland Public Schools	ZEELAND, 49464Suburb: Small	9–12	High	976
Zeeland East High School	Profile	Zeeland Public Schools	ZEELAND, 49464Suburb: Small	9–12	High	973
Holland High School	Profile	Holland City School District	HOLLAND, 49423City: Small	8–12	High	962
Coopersville High School	Record	Coopersville Area Public School District	COOPERSVILLE, 49404Rural: Fringe	9–12	High	888
Baldwin Street Middle School	Record	Hudsonville Public School District	HUDSONVILLE, 49426Rural: Fringe	6–8	Middle	844
Harbor Lights Middle School	Record	West Ottawa Public School District	HOLLAND, 49424Suburb: Small	6–8	Middle	817
Spring Lake High School	Record	Spring Lake Public Schools	SPRING LAKE, 49456Rural: Fringe	9–12	High	788
Allendale High School	Record	Allendale Public Schools	ALLENDALE, 49401Suburb: Large	8–12	High	775
White Pines Intermediate School	Record	Grand Haven Area Public Schools	GRAND HAVEN, 49417Suburb: Midsize	5–8	Middle	762
Lakeshore Middle School	Record	Grand Haven Area Public Schools	GRAND HAVEN, 49417Suburb: Midsize	7–8	Middle	760
Jenison Junior High School	Record	Jenison Public Schools	JENISON, 49428Suburb: Large	7–8	Middle	752
Cityside Middle School	Record	Zeeland Public Schools	ZEELAND, 49464Suburb: Small	6–8	Middle	736
Riley Street Middle School	Record	Hudsonville Public School District	HUDSONVILLE, 49426Suburb: Large	6–8	Middle	687
Eagle Crest Charter Academy	Record	Eagle Crest Charter Academy	HOLLAND, 49424Suburb: Small	KG–8	Charter	649
Macatawa Bay Middle School	Record	West Ottawa Public School District	HOLLAND, 49424Suburb: Small	6–8	Middle	646
Coopersville Middle School	Record	Coopersville Area Public School District	COOPERSVILLE, 49404Rural: Fringe	6–8	Middle	610

West Ottawa High School Campus

West Ottawa Public School District

Holland, 49424 / Suburb: Small

Profile9–12High2,196 students

Grand Haven High School

Grand Haven Area Public Schools

GRAND HAVEN, 49417 / Suburb: Midsize

Profile9–12High1,732 students

Hudsonville High School

Hudsonville Public School District

HUDSONVILLE, 49426 / Suburb: Large

Profile10–12High1,513 students

Jenison High School

Jenison Public Schools

JENISON, 49428 / Suburb: Large

Profile8–12High1,495 students

Zeeland West High School

Zeeland Public Schools

ZEELAND, 49464 / Suburb: Small

Profile9–12High976 students

Zeeland East High School

Zeeland Public Schools

ZEELAND, 49464 / Suburb: Small

Profile9–12High973 students

Holland High School

Holland City School District

HOLLAND, 49423 / City: Small

Profile8–12High962 students

Coopersville High School

Coopersville Area Public School District

COOPERSVILLE, 49404 / Rural: Fringe

Record9–12High888 students

Baldwin Street Middle School

Hudsonville Public School District

HUDSONVILLE, 49426 / Rural: Fringe

Record6–8Middle844 students

Harbor Lights Middle School

West Ottawa Public School District

HOLLAND, 49424 / Suburb: Small

Record6–8Middle817 students

Spring Lake High School

Spring Lake Public Schools

SPRING LAKE, 49456 / Rural: Fringe

Record9–12High788 students

Allendale High School

Allendale Public Schools

ALLENDALE, 49401 / Suburb: Large

Record8–12High775 students

White Pines Intermediate School

Grand Haven Area Public Schools

GRAND HAVEN, 49417 / Suburb: Midsize

Record5–8Middle762 students

Lakeshore Middle School

Grand Haven Area Public Schools

GRAND HAVEN, 49417 / Suburb: Midsize

Record7–8Middle760 students

Jenison Junior High School

Jenison Public Schools

JENISON, 49428 / Suburb: Large

Record7–8Middle752 students

Cityside Middle School

Zeeland Public Schools

ZEELAND, 49464 / Suburb: Small

Record6–8Middle736 students

Riley Street Middle School

Hudsonville Public School District

HUDSONVILLE, 49426 / Suburb: Large

Record6–8Middle687 students

Eagle Crest Charter Academy

HOLLAND, 49424 / Suburb: Small

RecordKG–8Charter649 students

Macatawa Bay Middle School

West Ottawa Public School District

HOLLAND, 49424 / Suburb: Small

Record6–8Middle646 students

Coopersville Middle School

Coopersville Area Public School District

COOPERSVILLE, 49404 / Rural: Fringe

Record6–8Middle610 students

Education Funding Detail

Annual Per-Pupil Expenditure

$7,746

State avg $7,394

Compare Nearby Counties

Review Ottawa 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 Ottawa County?

Ottawa County has a school score of 61/100, which is a midrange 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 Ottawa County?

The high school graduation rate in Ottawa County is 91.8%, 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 Ottawa County spend per student?

Ottawa County spends $7,746 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 Ottawa County, Michigan — FAQ

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

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

What is the school experience like in Ottawa County?

Counties with Similar School Profile

Ontonagon County

Michigan

-3 pts

57/100

School score

Schoolcraft County

Michigan

+4 pts

64/100

School score

Livingston County

Michigan

-5 pts

55/100

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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