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

No. Use the Van Buren 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 Van Buren 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 Van Buren County?

Start with the 45 listed public schools and 13 district entries, then compare similar grade bands and confirm the address-level rules locally.

Van Buren County Schools & Education

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

Van Buren County, Michigan

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

School Score

16/100

Percentile-style score

Score Band

Lower Signal

Graduation Rate

70.9%

National avg 87.5%

Education Statistics

Graduation Rate

70.9%

National avg 87.5%

State avg 82.5%

Per-Pupil Spending

$6,677

National avg $13,239

State avg $7,394

School Score

16/100

Percentile-style score

State avg 35/100

State Score Position

#78

of 83 counties by score

Education Data Brief: Van Buren County

Measured School Summary

Van Buren County faces educational challenges with a school score of 16/100 and a graduation rate of 70.9%, falling below typical benchmarks.

Funding Context

At $6,677 per pupil, Van Buren County operates with limited funding, which may constrain staffing, materials, and extracurricular offerings.

Neighbor Context

Its school score is 55% below the Michigan average, and its graduation rate trails the state average by 11.6 percentage points, while per-pupil spending is 10% lower than the state norm.

School Data Brief

How to read Van Buren 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

45 public schools and 13 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

16/100

Lower measured signal. Ranks #78 of 83 Michigan counties with school score data.

Completion

70.9%

11.6 pts below the state average

Funding context

$6,677

$717 below the state average

School coverage

13 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

Van Buren County has 45 public schools across 13 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 Van Buren 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

Van Buren 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

#78

of 83 Michigan counties with school score data. The county score is 19 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.

Mattawan Consolidated School

Elementary to high school visible

3,610 students

Elementary 3Middle 1High 1Other 0

5 listed schools in this county slice.

Paw Paw Public School District

Elementary to high school visible

2,191 students

Elementary 2Middle 1High 1Other 1

5 listed schools in this county slice.

Hartford Public Schools

Elementary to high school visible

1,364 students

Elementary 1Middle 1High 2Other 0

4 listed schools in this county slice.

Lawton Community School District

Elementary to high school visible

1,050 students

Elementary 1Middle 1High 2Other 0

4 listed schools in this county slice.

District reality check

Mattawan Consolidated School is the largest listed district slice, with 5 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 Van Buren County?

Do the neighborhoods we like fall inside the same district, or are we comparing different Van Buren 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 Van Buren 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.

Large Educational Infrastructure of 45 Schools

Van Buren County serves 14,771 students across 45 public schools and 13 districts. This diverse system includes 17 elementary and 16 high schools, providing comprehensive coverage for a significant student population.

Graduation Rates Facing Challenges

The graduation rate in Van Buren County is 70.9%, which is lower than both the state average of 82.5% and the national 87% benchmark. Spending per pupil is $6,677, representing a lower investment level compared to state and national averages.

Mattawan Consolidated Leads the County

Mattawan Consolidated School is the largest district, serving 3,610 students across five campuses. The county also features unique options like the Michigan Online School, a charter institution that serves 925 students statewide.

Predominantly Rural with Notable Large Schools

While 29 schools are in rural settings, Mattawan High School is a major hub with 1,171 students. The average school size is 336 students, though the county's specialized and online schools offer varying educational experiences.

School Overview

Total Schools

in Van Buren County

Reported Enrollment

14,771

45 schools reporting

School Districts

districts

Charter Schools

2% of total

School Level Breakdown

Elementary17

Middle6

High16

Other6

13 School Districts in Van Buren County

Mattawan Consolidated School

Paw Paw Public School District

5 schools

2,191 students

Hartford Public Schools

4 schools

1,364 students

Bloomingdale Public School District

3 schools

1,090 students

Lawton Community School District

4 schools

1,050 students

Bangor Public Schools (Van Buren)

4 schools

998 students

Michigan Online School

1 school

925 students

Decatur Public Schools

2 schools

785 students

Gobles Public School District

3 schools

737 students

Lawrence Public Schools

2 schools

419 students

45 Public Schools in Van Buren 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

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Showing 20 of 45 matching schools

Public schools in Van Buren County, including district, location, profile availability, grades, type, and enrollment.
School Name	Profile	District	Location	Grades	Type / Flags	Reported Enrollment
Mattawan High School	Profile	Mattawan Consolidated School	MATTAWAN, 49071Suburb: Midsize	7–12	High	1,171
Michigan Online School	Record	Michigan Online School	GOBLES, 49055Rural: Distant	KG–12	CharterVirtual	925
Mattawan Middle School	Record	Mattawan Consolidated School	MATTAWAN, 49071Suburb: Midsize	6–8	Middle	817
Mattawan Later Elem School	Record	Mattawan Consolidated School	MATTAWAN, 49071Rural: Fringe	3–5	Primary	782
Mattawan Early Elem School	Record	Mattawan Consolidated School	MATTAWAN, 49071Rural: Fringe	PK–2	Primary	744
Paw Paw High School	Record	Paw Paw Public School District	PAW PAW, 49079Rural: Fringe	9–12	High	692
Bloomingdale Middle and High School	Record	Bloomingdale Public School District	Bloomingdale, 49026Rural: Distant	6–12	High	569
South Haven High School	Record	South Haven Public Schools	SOUTH HAVEN, 49090Town: Distant	9–12	High	569
Redwood Elementary	Record	Hartford Public Schools	Hartford, 49057Town: Fringe	KG–5	Primary	567
Paw Paw Middle School	Record	Paw Paw Public School District	PAW PAW, 49079Town: Fringe	6–8	Middle	475
Paw Paw Early Elementary School	Record	Paw Paw Public School District	PAW PAW, 49079Town: Fringe	PK–2	Primary	472
Paw Paw Later Elementary	Record	Paw Paw Public School District	PAW PAW, 49079Town: Fringe	3–5	Primary	462
Decatur Jr Sr High School	Record	Decatur Public Schools	DECATUR, 49045Rural: Distant	6–12	High	405
Hartford High School	Record	Hartford Public Schools	HARTFORD, 49057Town: Fringe	9–12	High	404
Lawton Elementary School	Record	Lawton Community School District	LAWTON, 49065Town: Fringe	PK–4	Primary	401
Davis Elementary School	Record	Decatur Public Schools	DECATUR, 49045Rural: Distant	KG–5	Primary	380
Gobles Elementary School	Record	Gobles Public School District	Gobles, 49055Rural: Distant	PK–5	Primary	359
South Walnut Elementary School	Record	Bangor Public Schools (Van Buren)	BANGOR, 49013Rural: Distant	PK–4	Primary	335
Gobles High School	Record	Gobles Public School District	Gobles, 49055Rural: Distant	6–12	High	330
Bloomingdale Elementary School	Record	Bloomingdale Public School District	Bloomingdale, 49026Rural: Distant	KG–5	Primary	311

Mattawan High School

Mattawan Consolidated School

MATTAWAN, 49071 / Suburb: Midsize

Profile7–12High1,171 students

Michigan Online School

GOBLES, 49055 / Rural: Distant

RecordKG–12CharterVirtual925 students

Mattawan Middle School

Mattawan Consolidated School

MATTAWAN, 49071 / Suburb: Midsize

Record6–8Middle817 students

Mattawan Later Elem School

Mattawan Consolidated School

MATTAWAN, 49071 / Rural: Fringe

Record3–5Primary782 students

Mattawan Early Elem School

Mattawan Consolidated School

MATTAWAN, 49071 / Rural: Fringe

RecordPK–2Primary744 students

Paw Paw High School

Paw Paw Public School District

PAW PAW, 49079 / Rural: Fringe

Record9–12High692 students

Bloomingdale Middle and High School

Bloomingdale Public School District

Bloomingdale, 49026 / Rural: Distant

Record6–12High569 students

South Haven High School

South Haven Public Schools

SOUTH HAVEN, 49090 / Town: Distant

Record9–12High569 students

Redwood Elementary

Hartford Public Schools

Hartford, 49057 / Town: Fringe

RecordKG–5Primary567 students

Paw Paw Middle School

Paw Paw Public School District

PAW PAW, 49079 / Town: Fringe

Record6–8Middle475 students

Paw Paw Early Elementary School

Paw Paw Public School District

PAW PAW, 49079 / Town: Fringe

RecordPK–2Primary472 students

Paw Paw Later Elementary

Paw Paw Public School District

PAW PAW, 49079 / Town: Fringe

Record3–5Primary462 students

Decatur Jr Sr High School

Decatur Public Schools

DECATUR, 49045 / Rural: Distant

Record6–12High405 students

Hartford High School

Hartford Public Schools

HARTFORD, 49057 / Town: Fringe

Record9–12High404 students

Lawton Elementary School

Lawton Community School District

LAWTON, 49065 / Town: Fringe

RecordPK–4Primary401 students

Davis Elementary School

Decatur Public Schools

DECATUR, 49045 / Rural: Distant

RecordKG–5Primary380 students

Gobles Elementary School

Gobles Public School District

Gobles, 49055 / Rural: Distant

RecordPK–5Primary359 students

South Walnut Elementary School

Bangor Public Schools (Van Buren)

BANGOR, 49013 / Rural: Distant

RecordPK–4Primary335 students

Gobles High School

Gobles Public School District

Gobles, 49055 / Rural: Distant

Record6–12High330 students

Bloomingdale Elementary School

Bloomingdale Public School District

Bloomingdale, 49026 / Rural: Distant

RecordKG–5Primary311 students

Education Funding Detail

Annual Per-Pupil Expenditure

$6,677

State avg $7,394

Compare Nearby Counties

Review Van Buren 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 Van Buren County?

Van Buren County has a school score of 16/100, 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 Van Buren County?

The high school graduation rate in Van Buren County is 70.9%, 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 Van Buren County spend per student?

Van Buren County spends $6,677 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 Van Buren County, Michigan — FAQ

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

How do schools in Van Buren County perform academically?

What are the major school districts in Van Buren County, Michigan?

What is the school experience like in Van Buren County?

Counties with Similar School Profile

Iosco County

Michigan

+1 pts

16/100

School score

Clinton County

Michigan

+2 pts

17/100

School score

Roscommon County

Michigan

+2 pts

18/100

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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