Saginaw County Schools & Education
Saginaw County, Michigan
NCES 2022-23 public school data and FY 2022 school-finance dataSchool Score
23/100
Percentile-style score
Score Band
Lower Signal
Graduation Rate
78.8%
National avg 87.5%
Education Statistics
Graduation Rate
78.8%
National avg 87.5%
State avg 82.5%
Per-Pupil Spending
$6,957
National avg $13,239
State avg $7,394
School Score
23/100
Percentile-style score
State avg 35/100
State Score Position
#66
of 83 counties by score
Education Data Brief: Saginaw County
Measured School Summary
Saginaw County faces educational challenges with a school score of 23/100 and a graduation rate of 78.8%, falling below typical benchmarks.
Funding Context
At $6,957 per pupil, Saginaw County operates with limited funding, which may constrain staffing, materials, and extracurricular offerings.
Neighbor Context
Its school score is 34% below the Michigan average, and its graduation rate trails the state average by 3.7 percentage points, while per-pupil spending is 6% lower than the state norm.
School Data Brief
How to read Saginaw 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
74 public schools and 19 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 #66 of 83 Michigan counties with school score data.
Completion
78.8%
3.7 pts below the state average
Funding context
$6,957
$437 below the state average
School coverage
74
19 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
Saginaw County has 74 public schools across 19 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 Saginaw 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
Saginaw 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
#66
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 99% 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.
Saginaw School District of the City of
Elementary to high school visible
5,178 students
16 listed schools in this county slice.
Saginaw Township Community Schools
Elementary to high school visible
4,492 students
8 listed schools in this county slice.
Freeland Community School District
Elementary and high visible
1,986 students
3 listed schools in this county slice.
Birch Run Area Schools
Elementary to high school visible
1,817 students
4 listed schools in this county slice.
District reality check
Saginaw School District of the City of is the largest listed district slice, with 16 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 Saginaw County?
Do the neighborhoods we like fall inside the same district, or are we comparing different Saginaw 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?
Which schools are missing enrollment or ratio fields, and does the district publish a newer local profile than the NCES 2022-23 public school data and FY 2022 school-finance data?
Education Overview
About Schools in Saginaw 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 Network of 74 Public Schools
Saginaw County maintains a large educational infrastructure with 74 public schools serving 25,519 students across 19 districts. The system includes 34 elementary, 10 middle, and 24 high schools, alongside specialized alternative and special education facilities.
Graduation Rates Trail State and National Benchmarks
The county's graduation rate stands at 78.8%, which falls behind the Michigan average of 82.5% and the national 87% benchmark. Per-pupil expenditure is $6,957, significantly lower than the national average of $13,000 and the state average of $7,394.
Saginaw School District Leads by Size
The Saginaw School District of the City of is the largest in the county, managing 16 schools and 5,178 students. Charter schools play a notable role here, making up 8.1% of the total school landscape with six dedicated institutions.
Suburban and Urban Learning Environments
With 32 suburban and 18 city schools, the county offers a variety of educational settings with an average school size of 354 students. Heritage High School is the largest campus with 1,396 students, providing a stark contrast to the county's smaller rural elementary buildings.
School Overview
Total Schools
74
in Saginaw County
Reported Enrollment
25,519
73 schools reporting
School Districts
19
districts
Charter Schools
6
8% of total
School Level Breakdown
19 School Districts in Saginaw County
Saginaw School District of the City of
GuideSaginaw Township Community Schools
GuideFreeland Community School District
Birch Run Area Schools
Swan Valley School District
Carrollton Public Schools
Bridgeport-Spaulding Community School District
Chesaning Union Schools
Frankenmuth School District
Hemlock Public School District
74 Public Schools in Saginaw 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 dataLevel
Showing 20 of 74 matching schools
| School Name | Profile | District | Location | Grades | Type / Flags | Reported Enrollment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Heritage High School | Profile | Saginaw Township Community Schools | SAGINAW, 48603Suburb: Midsize | 9–12 | High | 1,396 |
| White Pine Middle School | Profile | Saginaw Township Community Schools | SAGINAW, 48638Suburb: Midsize | 6–8 | Middle | 940 |
| Freeland Middle SchoolHigh School | Record | Freeland Community School District | FREELAND, 48623Suburb: Small | 7–12 | High | 885 |
| Freeland Elementary School | Record | Freeland Community School District | FREELAND, 48623Rural: Fringe | 2–6 | Primary | 753 |
| Arthur Hill High School | Record | Saginaw School District of the City of | SAGINAW, 48602City: Small | 9–12 | High | 726 |
| Carrollton Elementary School | Record | Carrollton Public Schools | Saginaw, 48604Suburb: Midsize | PK–5 | Primary | 688 |
| North Elementary School | Record | Birch Run Area Schools | BIRCH RUN, 48415Rural: Fringe | PK–4 | Primary | 667 |
| Birch Run High School | Record | Birch Run Area Schools | BIRCH RUN, 48415Rural: Fringe | 9–12 | High | 573 |
| Sherwood Elementary School | Record | Saginaw Township Community Schools | SAGINAW, 48603Suburb: Midsize | PK–5 | Primary | 565 |
| North Saginaw Charter Academy | Record | North Saginaw Charter Academy | SAGINAW, 48604Suburb: Midsize | PK–8 | Charter | 561 |
| Chesaning Middle School | Record | Chesaning Union Schools | CHESANING, 48616Rural: Distant | 4–8 | Middle | 557 |
| Marshall Greene Middle School | Record | Birch Run Area Schools | BIRCH RUN, 48415Rural: Fringe | 5–8 | Middle | 548 |
| Swan Valley High School | Record | Swan Valley School District | SAGINAW, 48609Suburb: Midsize | 9–12 | High | 536 |
| Frankenmuth High School | Record | Frankenmuth School District | FRANKENMUTH, 48734Town: Fringe | 9–12 | High | 524 |
| Bridgeport High School | Record | Bridgeport-Spaulding Community School District | BRIDGEPORT, 48722Suburb: Midsize | 9–12 | High | 501 |
| Francis Reh PSA | Record | Francis Reh PSA | SAGINAW, 48601City: Small | PK–12 | Charter | 499 |
| Carrollton High School | Record | Carrollton Public Schools | SAGINAW, 48604Suburb: Midsize | 8–12 | High | 484 |
| Lorenz C List School | Record | Frankenmuth School District | FRANKENMUTH, 48734Town: Fringe | PK–4 | Primary | 481 |
| Arrowwood Elementary School | Record | Saginaw Township Community Schools | SAGINAW, 48638Suburb: Midsize | PK–5 | Primary | 437 |
| Shields Elementary School | Record | Swan Valley School District | SAGINAW, 48609Suburb: Midsize | PK–5 | Primary | 435 |
Heritage High School
Saginaw Township Community Schools
SAGINAW, 48603 / Suburb: Midsize
White Pine Middle School
Saginaw Township Community Schools
SAGINAW, 48638 / Suburb: Midsize
Freeland Middle SchoolHigh School
Freeland Community School District
FREELAND, 48623 / Suburb: Small
Freeland Elementary School
Freeland Community School District
FREELAND, 48623 / Rural: Fringe
Arthur Hill High School
Saginaw School District of the City of
SAGINAW, 48602 / City: Small
Carrollton Elementary School
Carrollton Public Schools
Saginaw, 48604 / Suburb: Midsize
North Elementary School
Birch Run Area Schools
BIRCH RUN, 48415 / Rural: Fringe
Birch Run High School
Birch Run Area Schools
BIRCH RUN, 48415 / Rural: Fringe
Sherwood Elementary School
Saginaw Township Community Schools
SAGINAW, 48603 / Suburb: Midsize
North Saginaw Charter Academy
North Saginaw Charter Academy
SAGINAW, 48604 / Suburb: Midsize
Chesaning Middle School
Chesaning Union Schools
CHESANING, 48616 / Rural: Distant
Marshall Greene Middle School
Birch Run Area Schools
BIRCH RUN, 48415 / Rural: Fringe
Swan Valley High School
Swan Valley School District
SAGINAW, 48609 / Suburb: Midsize
Frankenmuth High School
Frankenmuth School District
FRANKENMUTH, 48734 / Town: Fringe
Bridgeport High School
Bridgeport-Spaulding Community School District
BRIDGEPORT, 48722 / Suburb: Midsize
Carrollton High School
Carrollton Public Schools
SAGINAW, 48604 / Suburb: Midsize
Lorenz C List School
Frankenmuth School District
FRANKENMUTH, 48734 / Town: Fringe
Arrowwood Elementary School
Saginaw Township Community Schools
SAGINAW, 48638 / Suburb: Midsize
Shields Elementary School
Swan Valley School District
SAGINAW, 48609 / Suburb: Midsize
Education Funding Detail
Annual Per-Pupil Expenditure
$6,957
State avg $7,394
Compare Nearby Counties
Review Saginaw County against other counties using the same NCES-backed metrics.
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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 Saginaw County?
What is the graduation rate in Saginaw County?
How much does Saginaw County spend per student?
Frequently Asked Questions
Schools in Saginaw County, Michigan — FAQ
What does the school system look like in Saginaw County, Michigan?
Saginaw County maintains a large educational infrastructure with 74 public schools serving 25,519 students across 19 districts. The system includes 34 elementary, 10 middle, and 24 high schools, alongside specialized alternative and special education facilities.
How do schools in Saginaw County perform academically?
The county's graduation rate stands at 78.8%, which falls behind the Michigan average of 82.5% and the national 87% benchmark. Per-pupil expenditure is $6,957, significantly lower than the national average of $13,000 and the state average of $7,394.
What are the major school districts in Saginaw County, Michigan?
The Saginaw School District of the City of is the largest in the county, managing 16 schools and 5,178 students. Charter schools play a notable role here, making up 8.1% of the total school landscape with six dedicated institutions.
What is the school experience like in Saginaw County?
With 32 suburban and 18 city schools, the county offers a variety of educational settings with an average school size of 354 students. Heritage High School is the largest campus with 1,396 students, providing a stark contrast to the county's smaller rural elementary buildings.
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.