Best Schools in Kalamazoo, Michigan
59 schools · 32 Elementary · 8 Middle · 14 High · 5 Other
Family Snapshot
At a glance- Avg school rating
- 6.1/10
- Median household income
- $60,221
- Median home value
- $187,929
- Bachelor's degree or higher
- 37%
- Avg commute
- 20 min
- Owner-occupied homes
- 54%
26% 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
#218 of 372
cities by avg. school score
Vs. state average
-0.2
below Michigan avg (6.3)
Median household income
$60k
82% of Michigan median
Schools in this city
54
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 | 87 students · Pre-K–3rd | 9.2 |
| 2 | 168 students · Pre-K–3rd | 8.3 |
| 3 | 564 students · Pre-K–5th | 7.8 |
| 4 | 244 students · 4th–5th | 7.5 |
| 5 | 270 students · Pre-K–5th | 7.3 |
| 6 | 233 students · Pre-K–5th | 7.3 |
| 7 | 621 students · Kindergarten–5th | 6.9 |
| 8 | 292 students · Kindergarten–5th | 6.8 |
| 9 | 246 students · Pre-K–5th | 6.7 |
| 10 | 280 students · Kindergarten–8th | 6.5 |
| 11 | 491 students · Pre-K–5th | 6.5 |
| 12 | 381 students · Pre-K–5th | 5.8 |
| 13 | 512 students · Pre-K–5th | 5.8 |
| 14 | 463 students · Pre-K–5th | 5.8 |
| 15 | 382 students · Pre-K–5th | 5.6 |
| 16 | 472 students · Pre-K–5th | 5.5 |
| 17 | 273 students · Pre-K–5th | 5.4 |
| 18 | 196 students · Pre-K–3rd | 4.8 |
| 19 | 256 students · Pre-K–5th | 4.8 |
| 20 | 339 students · Pre-K–5th | 4.5 |
| 21 | 215 students · Pre-K–5th | 4.3 |
| 22 | 286 students · Pre-K–3rd | 4.2 |
| 23 | 370 students · Pre-K–8th | 3.3 |
| 24 | 358 students · Kindergarten–5th | 3.3 |
| 25 | 292 students · Pre-K–5th | 3.2 |
Show 7 more elementary schools
| Private Schools 7 schools Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models. Scores are not directly comparable across school types. | ||||
| 1 | KAZOO SCHOOL
Private
96 students · Pre-K–8th | Not Rated | ||
| 2 | GAGIE SCHOOL
Private
191 students · Pre-K–8th | Not Rated | ||
| 3 | ST AUGUSTINE SCHOOL
Private
265 students · Pre-K–8th | Not Rated | ||
| 4 | KALAMAZOO SDA JUNIOR ACADEMY
Private
30 students · Kindergarten–8th | Not Rated | ||
| 5 | 405 students · Pre-K–4th | Not Rated | ||
| 6 | MONTESSORI CHILDREN'S CENTER
Private
8 students · Pre-K–Kindergarten | Not Rated | ||
| 7 | GIFT OF GRACE MONTESSORI
Private
3 students · Pre-K–2nd | Not Rated | ||
Middle Schools
8 schools| # | School | Rating | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 877 students · 6th–8th | 6.9 | ||
| 2 | 474 students · 6th–8th | 6.5 | ||
| 3 | 703 students · 6th–8th | 6.3 | ||
| 4 | 703 students · 6th–8th | 5.5 | ||
| 5 | 317 students · 6th–8th | 3.8 | ||
| 6 | 334 students · 6th–8th | 3.8 | ||
| 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 | Not Rated | ||
| 2 | 279 students · 5th–8th | Not Rated | ||
High Schools
14 schools| # | School | Rating | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 50 students · 5th–12th | 7.9 | ||
| 2 | 179 students · 9th–12th | 7.5 | ||
| 3 | 131 students · 6th–12th | 7.4 | ||
| 4 | 135 students · 9th–12th | 6.7 | ||
| 5 | 1,767 students · 9th–12th | 6.5 | ||
| 6 | 157 students · 9th–12th | 6.5 | ||
| 7 | 120 students · 6th–12th | 6.2 | ||
| 8 | 1,651 students · 9th–12th | 6.1 | ||
| 9 | 367 students · 9th–12th | 5.2 | ||
| 10 | 414 students · 8th–12th | 4.6 | ||
| 11 | 24 students · 7th–12th | — | ||
| 12 | 17 students · 9th–12th | — | ||
| 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 | HACKETT CATHOLIC PREP
Private
215 students · 9th–12th | Not Rated | ||
| 2 | KALAMAZOO CHRISTIAN HIGH SCHOOL
Private
274 students · 9th–12th | Not Rated | ||
Other Schools
5 schools| # | School | Rating | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 285 students · Kindergarten–12th | 5.3 | ||
| 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 | Not Rated | ||
| 2 | 43 students · Pre-K–12th | Not Rated | ||
| 3 | PROVIDENCE CHRISTIAN SCHOOL
Private
71 students · Kindergarten–9th | Not Rated | ||
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.
Quick Facts
- State
- Michigan
- Total Schools
- 59
- Elementary
- 32
- Middle
- 8
- High
- 14
- Districts
- 9
- Avg Rating
- 6.1/10
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
Every school receives a composite score from 1 to 10 based on four pillars: Academic Performance (50%), Student Growth (20%), Equity (15%), and Learning Environment (15%). Scores are built from publicly available data including standardized test results, enrollment figures, and school climate indicators.
Read our full methodologyFrequently 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 6.1 out of 10, based on academic achievement, student growth, equity, and school environment.
What is the top-ranked school in Kalamazoo, Michigan?
The top-ranked school in Kalamazoo on MySchoolScout is Greenwood Elementary School with a composite score of 9.2/10.
What is the best elementary school in Kalamazoo, Michigan?
The top-ranked elementary school in Kalamazoo on MySchoolScout is Greenwood Elementary School with a composite score of 9.2/10.
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 based on four components: Academic Achievement, Student Growth, Equity, and School Environment.
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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.