Best Schools in Kalamazoo, Michigan
59 schools · 32 Elementary · 8 Middle · 14 High · 5 Other
Choosing a school in Kalamazoo?
Use this page to compare every school in Kalamazoo 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.
Hackett Catholic Prep
High. Ranked from real test data; use the map and table below to check address fit.
Kazoo School
Elementary. Ranked from real test data; use the map and table below to check address fit.
The Montessori School
Middle. Ranked from real test data; use the map and table below to check address fit.
The short answer
The top-rated schools in Kalamazoo for 2026 are Hackett Catholic Prep (8.4/10), Kazoo School (8.2/10), and The Montessori School (8.2/10), based on MySchoolScout's analysis of real test data across 50 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
59
45 public · 14 private
Avg Score
5.6
out of 10
Median Home
$187,929
home value · ACS
Districts
9
serving the city
Schools
59
45 public · 14 private
Avg Score
5.6
out of 10
Median Home
$187,929
home value · ACS
Districts
9
serving the city
Rates 6.8/10 despite 75% of students being economically disadvantaged. That's about 2.1 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 Kalamazoo schools.
Top-Rated Schools in Kalamazoo
Ranked by MySchoolScout composite using only schools with real test data (50 of 59). "Value" = points above what student poverty predicts. Estimated (proxy) scores are excluded.
| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hackett Catholic Prep | 8.4 / 10 |
| 2 | Kazoo School | 8.2 / 10 |
| 3 | The Montessori School | 8.2 / 10 |
| 4 | Gagie School | 7.8 / 10 |
| 5 | Heritage Christian Academy | 7.6 / 10 |
| 6 | Alamo Elementary School | 7.5 / 10 |
| 7 | Kingwestwood Elementary School | 7.2 / 10 |
| 8 | Winchell Elementary School | 7.2 / 10 |
| 9 | Parchment High School | 7.2 / 10 |
| 10 | Loy Norrix High School | 6.9 / 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
- 5.6/10
- Median household income
- $60,221
- Median home value
- $187,929
- Bachelor's degree or higher
- 37%
- Avg commute
- 20 min
- Owner-occupied homes
- 54%
17% of schools rated 7+
Census ACS, ZIPs in this city
Owner-occupied units
Adults 25+
Workers age 16+
Of occupied housing units
How Kalamazoo compares
Michigan rank
#298 of 372
cities by avg. school score
Vs. state average
-0.7
below Michigan avg (6.2)
Median household income
$60k
82% of Michigan median
Schools in this city
54
Education Snapshot
Kalamazoo, MichiganKalamazoo's school landscape spans 59 schools across 9 districts, enrolling roughly 19,127 students city-wide. The level mix skews toward early grades: 32 elementary schools versus 14 high schools and 8 middle schools, with 3 charter schools among the options. Among the 54 scored schools, the average MySchoolScout composite rating is 5.5/10 — 0.7 points below Michigan's state average of 6.2/10. The city's median household income of $64,132 runs 16% below the Michigan state median of $76,205, placing Kalamazoo meaningfully below Michigan's statewide economic norm. Adults with bachelor's degrees or higher account for 41% of residents, yet composite school ratings still trail Michigan's statewide benchmark by nearly a full point. With 9 districts in play, individual school-level comparisons will surface more useful signal for families than relying on the city-wide average alone.
About Schools in Kalamazoo, Michigan
Kalamazoo's public school landscape spans 42 ranked schools, with an average score of 5.7 out of 10. That mid-range average signals real spread: performance varies widely across the city, and school selection matters here more than in districts where most schools cluster near the top. Families who research before committing to an address or enrollment zone will have a clear advantage.
Nine schools — 21% of the ranked total — score 7 or higher, a meaningful concentration of strong performers above the city average. Greenwood Elementary School leads at 9.2 out of 10, the highest-rated school in Kalamazoo. Parchment Northwood Elem School (8.2) and KingWestwood Elementary School (7.8) also rank in the top tier, giving families with younger children several strong elementary options to target. At the high school level, two of the top five schools are alternative programs: Youth Center School at 8.0 and Phoenix Alternative High School at 7.5, both well above the citywide average.
That split matters for families with high-schoolers. The top-performing high school options in Kalamazoo are non-traditional, and parents should look beyond zoned attendance schools when evaluating options. The alternative programs' strong scores suggest they are delivering outcomes the standard district track is not consistently matching.
For parents making a school decision in Kalamazoo, the 3.5-point spread between the 9.2 top school and the 5.7 average is wide enough to treat selection as a real variable — one worth prioritizing alongside neighborhood and housing cost. Start with the 42 ranked schools on MySchoolScout, filter by grade level and score, then contact each school directly about enrollment windows. Open enrollment availability shifts annually and can unlock access to top-rated schools outside your default attendance zone.
Elementary Schools
32 schools| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 292 students · Kindergarten–5th | 7.5 |
| 2 | 564 students · Pre-K–5th | 7.2 |
| 3 | 491 students · Pre-K–5th | 7.2 |
| 4 | 280 students · Kindergarten–8th | 6.8 |
| 5 | 463 students · Pre-K–5th | 6.8 |
| 6 | 270 students · Pre-K–5th | 6.7 |
| 7 | 87 students · Pre-K–3rd | 6.6 |
| 8 | 358 students · Kindergarten–5th | 6.1 |
| 9 | 286 students · Pre-K–3rd | 5.7 |
| 10 | 512 students · Pre-K–5th | 5.5 |
Show all 32 elementary schools in Kalamazoo
Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models, so scores are not directly comparable across school types.
Middle Schools
8 schools| # | School | Rating | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 877 students · 6th–8th | 6.7 | ||
| 2 | 703 students · 6th–8th | 6.4 | ||
| 3 | 474 students · 6th–8th | 5.5 | ||
| 4 | 703 students · 6th–8th | 4.9 | ||
| 5 | 334 students · 6th–8th | 4.0 | ||
| 6 | 317 students · 6th–8th | 2.7 | ||
| Private Schools 2 schools Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models. Scores are not directly comparable across school types. | ||||
| 1 | The Montessori School
Private
45 students · 1st–6th | 8.2 | ||
| 2 | 279 students · 5th–8th | 3.7 | ||
High Schools
14 schools| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 414 students · 8th–12th | 7.2 |
| 2 | 1,767 students · 9th–12th | 6.9 |
| 3 | 179 students · 9th–12th | 6.8 |
| 4 | 1,651 students · 9th–12th | 6.6 |
| 5 | 50 students · 5th–12th | 6.4 |
| 6 | 157 students · 9th–12th | 5.6 |
| 7 | 131 students · 6th–12th | 5.6 |
| 8 | 120 students · 6th–12th | 5.5 |
| 9 | 367 students · 9th–12th | 5.4 |
| 10 | 135 students · 9th–12th | 5.0 |
Show all 14 high schools in Kalamazoo
Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models, so scores are not directly comparable across school types.
Other Schools
5 schools| # | School | Rating | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 285 students · Kindergarten–12th | 4.8 | ||
| 2 | 25 students · 1st–12th | — | ||
| Private Schools 3 schools Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models. Scores are not directly comparable across school types. | ||||
| 1 | Heritage Christian Academy
Private
181 students · Pre-K–12th | 7.6 | ||
| 2 | 43 students · Pre-K–12th | 6.3 | ||
| 3 | Providence Christian School
Private
71 students · Kindergarten–9th | 6.0 | ||
Schools in Kalamazoo
Kalamazoo, Michigan · 59 schools
Community Demographics
Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates across 7 ZIP codes
Median Income
$60,221
Median Home Value
$187,929
Median Rent
$1,035/mo
Population
162,837
College Educated
37%
Homeownership
54%
Avg Commute
20 min
Poverty Rate
19.1%
Community Profile
Kalamazoo has a median household income of $60,221. It is an area where 37% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $187,929, with a median rent of $1,035/month. The area has a poverty rate of 19.1%. The average commute for residents is 20 minutes. Source: U.S. Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates.
Schools by Level
- State
- Michigan
- Elementary
- 32
- Middle
- 8
- High
- 14
- Other
- 5
Resources
School Districts (9)
Paramount Charter Academy
1 school · 370 students
Youth Advancement Academy
1 school · 24 students
Kalamazoo Covenant Academy
1 school · 135 students
Comstock Public Schools
5 schools · 1,881 students
Kalamazoo Public Schools
31 schools · 12,323 students
Otsego Public Schools
6 schools · 2,377 students
Parchment School District
6 schools · 1,575 students
Plainwell Community Schools
6 schools · 2,647 students
Kalamazoo RESA
5 schools · 1,514 students
Nearby Cities
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 Kalamazoo, Michigan
How many schools are in Kalamazoo, Michigan?
Kalamazoo has 59 schools, including 45 public and 14 private schools spanning elementary, middle, and high school levels.
What is the average school rating in Kalamazoo, Michigan?
The average MySchoolScout composite score for schools in Kalamazoo is 5.6 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 Kalamazoo, Michigan?
The top-ranked school in Kalamazoo on MySchoolScout is Hackett Catholic Prep with a composite score of 8.4/10.
What is the best elementary school in Kalamazoo, Michigan?
The top-ranked elementary school in Kalamazoo on MySchoolScout is Kazoo School with a composite score of 8.2/10.
What is the best middle school in Kalamazoo, Michigan?
The top-ranked middle school in Kalamazoo on MySchoolScout is The Montessori School with a composite score of 8.2/10.
What is the best high school in Kalamazoo, Michigan?
The top-ranked high school in Kalamazoo on MySchoolScout is Hackett Catholic Prep with a composite score of 8.4/10.
How many school districts serve Kalamazoo, Michigan?
Kalamazoo is served by 9 school districts: Paramount Charter Academy, Youth Advancement Academy, Kalamazoo Covenant Academy, Comstock Public Schools, Kalamazoo Public Schools, Otsego Public Schools, Parchment School District, Plainwell Community Schools, Kalamazoo Resa.
What is the education level in Kalamazoo, Michigan?
According to Census data, 37% of adults in Kalamazoo have earned a bachelor's degree or higher.
What is the median income in Kalamazoo, Michigan?
The median household income in Kalamazoo is approximately $60,221 according to Census ACS 2022 estimates.
Are there private schools in Kalamazoo, Michigan?
Yes, Kalamazoo has 14 private schools alongside 45 public schools. The top-rated private school is Hackett Catholic Prep with a score of 8.4/10.
What is the student-teacher ratio in Kalamazoo, Michigan?
The average student-teacher ratio across schools in Kalamazoo is 15.4:1. This ratio varies by school, so families should check individual school profiles for specific classroom sizes.
How does MySchoolScout rate schools in Kalamazoo, 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.