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5.5 avg / 10

Best Schools in Coldwater, Michigan

8 schools · 4 Elementary · 1 Middle · 1 High · 2 Other

Public: 7
Private: 1
Districts: 3
Avg Rating: 5.5/10
Move-ready shortlistcity map + schools

Choosing a school in Coldwater?

Use this page to compare every school in Coldwater 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.

St Charles Borromeo Catholic School

6.5/10

Elementary. Ranked from real test data; use the map and table below to check address fit.

Coldwater High School

6.1/10

High · Coldwater Community Schools. Ranked from real test data; use the map and table below to check address fit.

Jefferson Elementary School

5.6/10

Elementary · Coldwater Community Schools. Ranked from real test data; use the map and table below to check address fit.

The short answer

The top-rated schools in Coldwater for 2026 are St Charles Borromeo Catholic School (6.5/10), Coldwater High School (6.1/10), and Jefferson Elementary School (5.6/10), 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

8

7 public · 1 private

Avg Score

5.5

out of 10

Median Home

$155,000

home value · ACS

Districts

3

serving the city

Top-Rated Schools in Coldwater

Ranked by MySchoolScout composite using only schools with real test data (8 of 8). "Value" = points above what student poverty predicts. Estimated (proxy) scores are excluded.

# School Rating
1 St Charles Borromeo Catholic School 6.5 / 10
2 Coldwater High School 6.1 / 10
3 Jefferson Elementary School 5.6 / 10
4 Pansophia Academy 5.4 / 10
5 Legg Middle School 5.4 / 10
6 Waldron Learning Center 5.3 / 10
7 Lakeland Elementary School 5.2 / 10
8 Larsen Elementary School 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
5.5/10

0% of schools rated 7+

Median household income
$59,649

Census ACS, ZIPs in this city

Median home value
$155,000

Owner-occupied units

Bachelor's degree or higher
18%

Adults 25+

Avg commute
20 min

Workers age 16+

Owner-occupied homes
75%

Of occupied housing units

How Coldwater compares

Michigan rank

#305 of 372

cities by avg. school score

Vs. state average

-0.7

below Michigan avg (6.2)

Median household income

$60k

81% of Michigan median

Schools in this city

8

About Schools in Coldwater, Michigan

Coldwater, Michigan is home to 8 schools, including 7 public schools and 1 private school. The city's schools span 4 elementary schools, 1 middle school, and 1 high school.

With an average rating of 5.5 out of 10, schools in Coldwater show moderate performance on the MySchoolScout composite scale, which blends student growth, poverty-adjusted academic achievement, and school environment — plus college readiness for high schools.

The highest-performing school in Coldwater is St Charles Borromeo Catholic School with a composite score of 6.5/10, demonstrating strong academic outcomes and school quality metrics.

Coldwater is served by 3 school districts: Pansophia Academy, Coldwater Community Schools, Branch ISD. These districts collectively serve 3,769 students.

Coldwater's community shows 18% bachelor's degree attainment with a median household income of $59,649. The poverty rate in the area is 16.1%.

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.

Filter by ZIP: 49036 (8)

Elementary Schools

4 schools
# School Rating
1 366 students · 2nd–3rd 5.6
2 393 students · 4th–5th 5.2
3 446 students · Pre-K–1st 4.4
Private Schools 1 school

Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models. Scores are not directly comparable across school types.

1 150 students · Pre-K–8th 6.5

Middle Schools

1 school
# School Rating
1 626 students · 6th–8th 5.4

High Schools

1 school
# School Rating
1 913 students · 9th–12th 6.1

Other Schools

2 schools
# School Rating
1 472 students · Kindergarten–12th 5.4
2 282 students · Pre-K–12th 5.3

Schools in Coldwater

Coldwater, Michigan · 8 schools

Community Demographics

Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates across 1 ZIP code

Median Income

$59,649

Median Home Value

$155,000

Median Rent

$913/mo

Population

24,697

College Educated

18%

Homeownership

75%

Avg Commute

20 min

Poverty Rate

16.1%

Community Profile

Coldwater has a median household income of $59,649. It is a community where 18% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $155,000, with a median rent of $913/month. The area has a poverty rate of 16.1%. The average commute for residents is 20 minutes. Source: U.S. Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates.

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about schools in Coldwater, Michigan

How many schools are in Coldwater, Michigan?

Coldwater has 8 schools, including 7 public and 1 private schools spanning elementary, middle, and high school levels.

What is the average school rating in Coldwater, Michigan?

The average MySchoolScout composite score for schools in Coldwater is 5.5 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 Coldwater, Michigan?

The top-ranked school in Coldwater on MySchoolScout is St Charles Borromeo Catholic School with a composite score of 6.5/10.

What is the best elementary school in Coldwater, Michigan?

The top-ranked elementary school in Coldwater on MySchoolScout is St Charles Borromeo Catholic School with a composite score of 6.5/10.

What is the best middle school in Coldwater, Michigan?

The top-ranked middle school in Coldwater on MySchoolScout is Legg Middle School with a composite score of 5.4/10.

What is the best high school in Coldwater, Michigan?

The top-ranked high school in Coldwater on MySchoolScout is Coldwater High School with a composite score of 6.1/10.

How many school districts serve Coldwater, Michigan?

Coldwater is served by 3 school districts: Pansophia Academy, Coldwater Community Schools, Branch ISD.

What is the education level in Coldwater, Michigan?

According to Census data, 18% of adults in Coldwater have earned a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the median income in Coldwater, Michigan?

The median household income in Coldwater is approximately $59,649 according to Census ACS 2022 estimates.

Are there private schools in Coldwater, Michigan?

Yes, Coldwater has 1 private school alongside 7 public schools. The top-rated private school is St Charles Borromeo Catholic School with a score of 6.5/10.

What is the student-teacher ratio in Coldwater, Michigan?

The average student-teacher ratio across schools in Coldwater is 20.1:1. This ratio varies by school, so families should check individual school profiles for specific classroom sizes.

How does MySchoolScout rate schools in Coldwater, 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.

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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.