Best Schools in Big Rapids, Michigan
10 schools · 5 Elementary · 1 Middle · 2 High · 2 Other
Choosing a school in Big Rapids?
Use this page to compare every school in Big Rapids by level, neighborhood, and district — and find the right fit, not just the top of the list.
Shortlist starter
Start with these real page-level signals, then use the full table and map below.
Riverview Elementary School
Elementary · Big Rapids Public Schools. Ranked from real test data; compare it on the map and table below.
Mecostaosceola Education Center
Other · Mecosta-Osceola ISD. Ranked from real test data; compare it on the map and table below.
Big Rapids High School
High · Big Rapids Public Schools. Ranked from real test data; compare it on the map and table below.
The short answer
The top-rated schools in Big Rapids for 2026 are Riverview Elementary School (8.5/10), Mecostaosceola Education Center (7.7/10), and Big Rapids High School (6.7/10), based on MySchoolScout's analysis of real test data across 8 rated schools. Ratings blend student growth, poverty-adjusted academic achievement, and school environment (plus college readiness for high schools), with equity shown as context, not scored; schools with estimated (proxy) scores are excluded from this ranking.
Schools
10
8 public · 2 private
Avg Score
6.2
out of 10
Median Home
$179,600
home value · ACS
Districts
3
serving the city
Schools
10
8 public · 2 private
Avg Score
6.2
out of 10
Median Home
$179,600
home value · ACS
Districts
3
serving the city
Rates 8.5/10 despite 51% of students being economically disadvantaged. That's about 1.6 points higher than its student-poverty level predicts. Roughly as clean a case of strong results without an affluent-ZIP price tag as you'll find among Big Rapids schools.
Top-Rated Schools in Big Rapids
Ranked by MySchoolScout composite using only schools with real test data (8 rated schools; 10 schools in the directory). "Value" = points above what student poverty predicts. Estimated (proxy) scores are excluded.
| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Riverview Elementary School | 8.5 / 10 |
| 2 | Mecostaosceola Education Center | 7.7 / 10 |
| 3 | Big Rapids High School | 6.7 / 10 |
| 4 | Crossroads Charter Academy 612 | 6.5 / 10 |
| 5 | Big Rapids Virtual School | 6.3 / 10 |
| 6 | Big Rapids Middle School | 5.6 / 10 |
| 7 | Brookside Elementary School | 5.5 / 10 |
| 8 | Crossroads Charter Academy K5 | 4.4 / 10 |
See every school — including those with estimated data — in the full directory below. How we rate schools.
Family Snapshot
At a glance- Avg school rating
- 6.2/10
- Median household income
- $54,803
- Median home value
- $179,600
- Bachelor's degree or higher
- 31%
- Avg commute
- 18 min
- Owner-occupied homes
- 63%
20% of schools rated 7+
Census ACS, ZIPs in this city
Owner-occupied units
Adults 25+
Workers age 16+
Of occupied housing units
How Big Rapids compares
Michigan rank
#190 of 376
cities by avg. school score
Vs. state average
+0.0
above Michigan avg (6.2)
Median household income
$55k
75% of Michigan median
Schools in this city
10
Big Rapids Public Schools runs 63% of Big Rapids's public schools
Big Rapids touches 3 districts, but Big Rapids Public Schools is the one most addresses actually attend.
Big Rapids Public Schools accounts for 5 of 8 public schools (63%). The other 2 districts hold the remaining 3.
Among 8 public schools with real test data, composite scores run from 4.4 to 8.5 — the spread is inside Big Rapids, not a citywide average.
- Big Rapids Public Schools5 public · 63%
- Crossroads Charter Academy2 public · 25%
- Mecosta-Osceola ISD1 public · 13%
About Schools in Big Rapids, Michigan
Big Rapids, Michigan is home to 10 schools, including 8 public schools and 2 private schools. The city's schools span 5 elementary schools, 1 middle school, and 2 high schools.
With an average rating of 6.2 out of 10, schools in Big Rapids show moderate performance on the MySchoolScout composite scale. The composite blends student growth, poverty-adjusted academic achievement, and school environment — plus college readiness for high schools.
The highest-performing school in Big Rapids is Riverview Elementary School with a composite score of 8.5/10, demonstrating strong academic outcomes and school quality metrics.
Big Rapids is served by 3 school districts: Crossroads Charter Academy, Big Rapids Public Schools, Mecosta-Osceola ISD. These districts collectively serve 3,097 students.
Big Rapids's community shows 31% bachelor's degree attainment with a median household income of $54,803. The poverty rate in the area is 23.4%.
Browse the schools below to compare ratings, test scores, enrollment, and other key metrics. Use the filters to focus on specific school levels or types that match your family's needs.
Elementary Schools
5 schools| # | School | Rating | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 321 students · Kindergarten–4th | 8.5 | ||
| 2 | 342 students · Pre-K–4th | 5.5 | ||
| 3 | 146 students · Kindergarten–5th | 4.4 | ||
Private Schools2 schools Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models. Scores are not directly comparable across school types. | ||||
| 1 | St Mary Catholic SchoolPrivate 113 students · Pre-K–8th | Not Rated | ||
| 2 | St Peters Lutheran SchoolPrivate 70 students · Pre-K–8th | Not Rated | ||
Middle Schools
1 school| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 618 students · 5th–8th | 5.6 |
High Schools
2 schools| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 747 students · 9th–12th | 6.7 |
| 2 | 144 students · 6th–12th | 6.5 |
Other Schools
2 schools| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 113 students · Pre-K–12th | 7.7 |
| 2 | 133 students · Kindergarten–12th | 6.3 |
Schools in Big Rapids
Big Rapids, Michigan · 10 schools
Community Demographics
Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates across 1 ZIP code
Median Income
$54,803
Median Home Value
$179,600
Median Rent
$877/mo
Population
18,063
College Educated
31%
Homeownership
63%
Avg Commute
18 min
Poverty Rate
23.4%
Community Profile
Big Rapids has a median household income of $54,803. It is an area where 31% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $179,600, with a median rent of $877/month. The area has a poverty rate of 23.4%, indicating some economic challenges in the community. Residents enjoy a short average commute of 18 minutes. Source: U.S. Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates.
Schools by Level
- State
- Michigan
- Elementary
- 5
- Middle
- 1
- High
- 2
- Other
- 2
Resources
Other Major Cities in Michigan
Top metros statewide by school count.
How we rate schools
A clear 1–10 score built from public data — growth, academics, and learning environment. No hidden criteria, no pay-to-play.
See how we rateFrequently Asked Questions
Common questions about schools in Big Rapids, Michigan
How many schools are in Big Rapids, Michigan?
Big Rapids has 10 schools, including 8 public and 2 private schools spanning elementary, middle, and high school levels.
What is the average school rating in Big Rapids, Michigan?
The average MySchoolScout composite score for schools in Big Rapids is 6.2 out of 10, built from student growth, poverty-adjusted academic achievement, and school environment — plus college readiness for high schools.
What is the top-ranked school in Big Rapids, Michigan?
The top-ranked school in Big Rapids on MySchoolScout is Riverview Elementary School with a composite score of 8.5/10.
What is the best elementary school in Big Rapids, Michigan?
The top-ranked elementary school in Big Rapids on MySchoolScout is Riverview Elementary School with a composite score of 8.5/10.
What is the best middle school in Big Rapids, Michigan?
The top-ranked middle school in Big Rapids on MySchoolScout is Big Rapids Middle School with a composite score of 5.6/10.
What is the best high school in Big Rapids, Michigan?
The top-ranked high school in Big Rapids on MySchoolScout is Big Rapids High School with a composite score of 6.7/10.
How many school districts serve Big Rapids, Michigan?
Big Rapids is served by 3 school districts: Crossroads Charter Academy, Big Rapids Public Schools, Mecosta-Osceola ISD.
What is the education level in Big Rapids, Michigan?
According to Census data, 31% of adults in Big Rapids have earned a bachelor's degree or higher.
What is the median income in Big Rapids, Michigan?
The median household income in Big Rapids is approximately $54,803 according to Census ACS 2022 estimates.
Are there private schools in Big Rapids, Michigan?
Yes, Big Rapids has 2 private schools alongside 8 public schools. The top-rated private school is St Mary Catholic School with a score of 6.4/10.
What is the student-teacher ratio in Big Rapids, Michigan?
The average student-teacher ratio across schools in Big Rapids is 21.7:1. This ratio varies by school, so families should check individual school profiles for specific classroom sizes.
How does MySchoolScout rate schools in Big Rapids, Michigan?
MySchoolScout rates schools using publicly available data from the NCES Common Core of Data and state education departments. Each school receives a 1-10 composite score built from Student Growth, Poverty-Adjusted Academic Achievement, and School Environment — plus College Readiness for high schools. Weights vary by school level, and equity data is shown for context but not scored.
Related reading
Get school insights in your inbox
New rankings and parent guides, free. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.
We respect your privacy. Unsubscribe at any time.
Data from NCES Common Core of Data, Michigan Dept. of Education, and U.S. Census ACS for the 2023–24 school year. Rankings computed by MySchoolScout. See all data sources.