Best Schools in Lansing, Michigan
46 schools · 27 Elementary · 4 Middle · 9 High · 6 Other
Choosing a school in Lansing?
Use this page to compare every school in Lansing 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.
Meryl S Colt Early Childhood Education Center
Elementary · Waverly Community Schools. Ranked from real test data; compare it on the map and table below.
Cavanaugh School
Elementary · Lansing Public School District. Ranked from real test data; compare it on the map and table below.
Immaculate Heart of Mary
Elementary. Ranked from real test data; compare it on the map and table below.
The short answer
The top-rated schools in Lansing for 2026 are Meryl S Colt Early Childhood Education Center (9.7/10), Cavanaugh School (8.6/10), and Immaculate Heart of Mary (8.0/10), based on MySchoolScout's analysis of real test data across 42 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
46
39 public · 7 private
Avg Score
5.2
out of 10
Median Home
$141,150
home value · ACS
Districts
11
serving the city
Schools
46
39 public · 7 private
Avg Score
5.2
out of 10
Median Home
$141,150
home value · ACS
Districts
11
serving the city
Rates 9.7/10 despite 69% of students being economically disadvantaged. That's about 4.1 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 Lansing schools.
Top-Rated Schools in Lansing
Ranked by MySchoolScout composite using only schools with real test data (42 of 46). "Value" = points above what student poverty predicts. Estimated (proxy) scores are excluded.
| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Meryl S Colt Early Childhood Education Center | 9.7 / 10 |
| 2 | Cavanaugh School | 8.6 / 10 |
| 3 | Immaculate Heart of Mary | 8.0 / 10 |
| 4 | Montessori Childrens House | 7.3 / 10 |
| 5 | Delta Center Elementary School | 6.8 / 10 |
| 6 | Lifetech Academy | 6.5 / 10 |
| 7 | Lewton School | 6.5 / 10 |
| 8 | Waverly Senior High School | 6.4 / 10 |
| 9 | Beekman Center | 6.1 / 10 |
| 10 | Forest View School | 6.1 / 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
- 5.2/10
- Median household income
- $57,759
- Median home value
- $141,150
- Bachelor's degree or higher
- 34%
- Avg commute
- 19 min
- Owner-occupied homes
- 58%
9% of schools rated 7+
Census ACS, ZIPs in this city
Owner-occupied units
Adults 25+
Workers age 16+
Of occupied housing units
How Lansing compares
Michigan rank
#336 of 372
cities by avg. school score
Vs. state average
-1.0
below Michigan avg (6.2)
Median household income
$58k
79% of Michigan median
Schools in this city
43
About Schools in Lansing, Michigan
Lansing has 37 ranked public schools, with an average score of 5.0 out of 10. That average tells the story: performance is broadly middle-of-the-road, with meaningful separation between the top tier and the rest of the field. Only 3 schools — 8% of the city's ranked public options — score 7 or above, which makes the top performers stand out clearly against a crowded field of average results.
Forest View School leads the city at 7.8 out of 10, the highest score among Lansing's ranked programs. Beekman Center follows at 7.6, and Lansing Charter Academy rounds out the top tier at 7.0. Windemere Park Charter Academy (6.8) and Eastern High School (6.8) sit just below the 7-point threshold but still outperform the city average by a significant margin. Charters account for two of the five strongest schools — Lansing Charter Academy and Windemere Park — giving families who prioritize academic outcomes a viable non-district alternative at the elementary level.
Eastern High School is the strongest high school in the ranking at 6.8, which matters for families planning beyond elementary placement. At 1.8 points above the city average, it represents a real performance gap from the middle of the pack. Parents with students approaching high school age should note that the high school tier shows less concentration of strong performers than the elementary tier does — a useful signal when weighing neighborhood boundaries against other enrollment options.
For parents comparing Lansing to peer cities, the 5.0 average and 8% top-tier rate signal a landscape where school selection matters more than zip code. The gap between Forest View at 7.8 and the city mean is wide enough that families who can choose their placement — through open enrollment, charter applications, or residential decisions — will see real differences in outcomes. Start with the three schools above 7.0, verify current enrollment windows, and treat the city average as a floor to clear, not a benchmark to aim for.
Elementary Schools
27 schools| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 172 students · Pre-K–Kindergarten | 9.7 |
| 2 | 271 students · Pre-K–3rd | 8.6 |
| 3 | 534 students · Kindergarten–4th | 6.8 |
| 4 | 264 students · Pre-K–8th | 6.5 |
| 5 | 265 students · Pre-K–4th | 6.1 |
| 6 | 383 students · Pre-K–8th | 6.1 |
| 7 | 898 students · Kindergarten–8th | 5.8 |
| 8 | 627 students · Kindergarten–8th | 5.5 |
| 9 | 633 students · Pre-K–8th | 5.3 |
| 10 | 612 students · Kindergarten–8th | 5.1 |
Show all 27 elementary schools in Lansing
Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models, so scores are not directly comparable across school types.
Middle Schools
4 schools| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 424 students · 6th–8th | 5.4 |
| 2 | 380 students · 5th–8th | 4.9 |
| 3 | 222 students · 4th–8th | 4.9 |
| 4 | 404 students · 5th–6th | 4.4 |
High Schools
9 schools| # | School | Rating | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 968 students · 9th–12th | 6.4 | ||
| 2 | 901 students · 8th–12th | 5.9 | ||
| 3 | 678 students · 9th–12th | 5.7 | ||
| 4 | 1,090 students · 8th–12th | 5.4 | ||
| 5 | 745 students · 8th–12th | 5.2 | ||
| 6 | 139 students · 9th–12th | 3.8 | ||
| 7 | 213 students · 6th–12th | 3.7 | ||
| 8 | 53 students · 7th–12th | — | ||
Private Schools1 school Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models. Scores are not directly comparable across school types. | ||||
| 1 | Martin Luther High SchoolPrivate 37 students · 9th–12th | Not Rated | ||
Other Schools
6 schools| # | School | Rating | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 400 students · Kindergarten–12th | 6.5 | ||
| 2 | 108 students · Pre-K–12th | 6.1 | ||
| 3 | 396 students · Kindergarten–12th | 3.0 | ||
| 4 | 13 students · 3rd–12th | — | ||
Private Schools2 schools Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models. Scores are not directly comparable across school types. | ||||
| 1 | Lansing Christian SchoolPrivate 537 students · Pre-K–12th | Not Rated | ||
| 2 | Lansing Baptist SchoolPrivate 10 students · 1st–12th | Not Rated | ||
Schools in Lansing
Lansing, Michigan · 46 schools
Community Demographics
Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates across 6 ZIP codes
Median Income
$57,759
Median Home Value
$141,150
Median Rent
$1,030/mo
Population
157,910
College Educated
34%
Homeownership
58%
Avg Commute
19 min
Poverty Rate
16.5%
Community Profile
Lansing has a median household income of $57,759. It is an area where 34% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $141,150, with a median rent of $1,030/month. The area has a poverty rate of 16.5%. Residents enjoy a short average commute of 19 minutes. Source: U.S. Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates.
Schools by Level
- State
- Michigan
- Elementary
- 27
- Middle
- 4
- High
- 9
- Other
- 6
School Districts (11)
Cole Academy
2 schools · 333 students
Mid-Michigan Leadership Academy
1 school · 299 students
Windemere Park Charter Academy
1 school · 612 students
Lansing Charter Academy
1 school · 467 students
LifeTech Academy
1 school · 400 students
Blended Learning Academies Credit Recovery High School
2 schools · 166 students
Insight School of Michigan
1 school · 678 students
Grand Ledge Public Schools
8 schools · 5,328 students
Lansing Public School District
26 schools · 10,194 students
Waverly Community Schools
6 schools · 2,723 students
Ingham ISD
9 schools · 1,412 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 Lansing, Michigan
How many schools are in Lansing, Michigan?
Lansing has 46 schools, including 39 public and 7 private schools spanning elementary, middle, and high school levels.
What is the average school rating in Lansing, Michigan?
The average MySchoolScout composite score for schools in Lansing is 5.2 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 Lansing, Michigan?
The top-ranked school in Lansing on MySchoolScout is Meryl S Colt Early Childhood Education Center with a composite score of 9.7/10.
What is the best elementary school in Lansing, Michigan?
The top-ranked elementary school in Lansing on MySchoolScout is Meryl S Colt Early Childhood Education Center with a composite score of 9.7/10.
What is the best middle school in Lansing, Michigan?
The top-ranked middle school in Lansing on MySchoolScout is Waverly Middle School with a composite score of 5.4/10.
What is the best high school in Lansing, Michigan?
The top-ranked high school in Lansing on MySchoolScout is Waverly Senior High School with a composite score of 6.4/10.
How many school districts serve Lansing, Michigan?
Lansing is served by 11 school districts: Cole Academy, Mid-michigan Leadership Academy, Windemere Park Charter Academy, Lansing Charter Academy, Lifetech Academy, Blended Learning Academies Credit Recovery High School, Insight School of Michigan, Grand Ledge Public Schools, Lansing Public School District, Waverly Community Schools, Ingham ISD.
What is the education level in Lansing, Michigan?
According to Census data, 34% of adults in Lansing have earned a bachelor's degree or higher.
What is the median income in Lansing, Michigan?
The median household income in Lansing is approximately $57,759 according to Census ACS 2022 estimates.
Are there private schools in Lansing, Michigan?
Yes, Lansing has 7 private schools alongside 39 public schools. The top-rated private school is Immaculate Heart of Mary with a score of 8.0/10.
What is the student-teacher ratio in Lansing, Michigan?
The average student-teacher ratio across schools in Lansing is 21.5:1. This ratio varies by school, so families should check individual school profiles for specific classroom sizes.
How does MySchoolScout rate schools in Lansing, 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, best-schools lists, and parent guides — delivered 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.