Best Schools in Sterling Heights, Michigan
33 schools · 21 Elementary · 6 Middle · 4 High · 2 Other
Choosing a school in Sterling Heights?
Use this page to compare every school in Sterling Heights 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.
Messmore Elementary School
Elementary · Utica Community Schools. Ranked from real test data; compare it on the map and table below.
Harwood Elementary School
Elementary · Warren Consolidated Schools. Ranked from real test data; compare it on the map and table below.
Bozymowski Center
Other · Macomb ISD. Ranked from real test data; compare it on the map and table below.
The short answer
The top-rated schools in Sterling Heights for 2026 are Messmore Elementary School (8.6/10), Harwood Elementary School (8.2/10), and Bozymowski Center (7.9/10), based on MySchoolScout's analysis of real test data across 32 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
33
31 public · 2 private
Avg Score
6.3
out of 10
Median Home
$268,825
home value · ACS
Districts
4
serving the city
Schools
33
31 public · 2 private
Avg Score
6.3
out of 10
Median Home
$268,825
home value · ACS
Districts
4
serving the city
Rates 8.2/10 despite 86% of students being economically disadvantaged. That's about 2.5 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 Sterling Heights schools.
Top-Rated Schools in Sterling Heights
Ranked by MySchoolScout composite using only schools with real test data (32 of 33). "Value" = points above what student poverty predicts. Estimated (proxy) scores are excluded.
| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Messmore Elementary School | 8.6 / 10 |
| 2 | Harwood Elementary School | 8.2 / 10 |
| 3 | Bozymowski Center | 7.9 / 10 |
| 4 | Adlai Stevenson High School | 7.6 / 10 |
| 5 | Henry Ford II High School | 7.3 / 10 |
| 6 | Noor International Academy | 7.2 / 10 |
| 7 | Dekeyser Elementary School | 7.2 / 10 |
| 8 | Parkway Christian School | 7.2 / 10 |
| 9 | Havel Elementary School | 6.9 / 10 |
| 10 | Bemis Junior High School | 6.8 / 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
- 6.3/10
- Median household income
- $79,198
- Median home value
- $268,825
- Bachelor's degree or higher
- 32%
- Avg commute
- 25 min
- Owner-occupied homes
- 76%
25% of schools rated 7+
Census ACS, ZIPs in this city
Owner-occupied units
Adults 25+
Workers age 16+
Of occupied housing units
How Sterling Heights compares
Michigan rank
#169 of 372
cities by avg. school score
Vs. state average
+0.1
above Michigan avg (6.2)
Median household income
$79k
108% of Michigan median
Schools in this city
32
About Schools in Sterling Heights, Michigan
Sterling Heights public schools cover 31 ranked campuses, and the performance range is wide enough to make school selection a meaningful decision. The city-wide average of 6.3 out of 10 gives useful context, but the spread beneath it matters more to parents: 9 schools — 29% of all ranked campuses — score 7 or above, offering a real tier of high performers to investigate.
Bozymowski Center leads all 31 ranked schools with an 8.8 out of 10. The next four highest performers are all elementary schools. Bruce Collins Elementary follows at 8.5, Messmore Elementary at 8.1, Plumbrook Elementary at 7.8, and Maple Lane School at 7.6. That clustering at the elementary level is a practical finding — parents of elementary-age children have more high-scoring options available than parents evaluating middle or high school grades.
With 71% of ranked schools falling below the 7-point threshold, the gap between the top tier and the broader field is real. Location alone does not guarantee a high-performing campus. The performance range across the city is wide, and school selection within Sterling Heights makes a concrete difference in the academic environment a child enters. Parents who prioritize academic performance should compare every ranked school within their commute range directly, rather than defaulting to the nearest option.
For families with elementary-age children, the high-performance options in Sterling Heights are the strongest across all grade bands — five schools score 7.6 or above, and all serve primary grades. Parents of older students should search the ranked list carefully; the top-scoring cluster concentrates in the lower grades, and the field thins out further up. Sorting by score, grade span, and geography is the fastest way to narrow the search to the options that actually fit.
Elementary Schools
21 schools| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 333 students · Pre-K–6th | 8.6 |
| 2 | 524 students · Pre-K–5th | 8.2 |
| 3 | 195 students · Pre-K–6th | 7.2 |
| 4 | 550 students · Pre-K–6th | 7.2 |
| 5 | 557 students · Pre-K–6th | 6.9 |
| 6 | 525 students · Pre-K–6th | 6.8 |
| 7 | 324 students · Pre-K–6th | 6.8 |
| 8 | 554 students · Pre-K–6th | 6.7 |
| 9 | 363 students · Pre-K–6th | 6.6 |
| 10 | 414 students · Pre-K–5th | 6.6 |
Show all 21 elementary schools in Sterling Heights
Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models, so scores are not directly comparable across school types.
Middle Schools
6 schools| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 787 students · 7th–8th | 6.8 |
| 2 | 431 students · 7th–9th | 6.7 |
| 3 | 736 students · 7th–9th | 6.2 |
| 4 | 638 students · 7th–9th | 6.1 |
| 5 | 619 students · 6th–8th | 6.0 |
| 6 | 692 students · 6th–8th | 5.4 |
High Schools
4 schools| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1,951 students · 9th–12th | 7.6 |
| 2 | 1,627 students · 9th–12th | 7.3 |
| 3 | 1,327 students · 9th–12th | 6.7 |
| 4 | 258 students · 9th–12th | 4.7 |
Other Schools
2 schools| # | School | Rating | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 284 students · Pre-K–12th | 7.9 | ||
Private Schools1 school Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models. Scores are not directly comparable across school types. | ||||
| 1 | Parkway Christian SchoolPrivate 492 students · Pre-K–12th | Not Rated | ||
Schools in Sterling Heights
Sterling Heights, Michigan · 33 schools
Community Demographics
Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates across 4 ZIP codes
Median Income
$79,198
Median Home Value
$268,825
Median Rent
$1,273/mo
Population
133,473
College Educated
32%
Homeownership
76%
Avg Commute
25 min
Poverty Rate
10.3%
Community Profile
Sterling Heights has a median household income of $79,198. It is an area where 32% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $268,825, with a median rent of $1,273/month. The area has a poverty rate of 10.3%. The average commute for residents is 25 minutes. Source: U.S. Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates.
Schools by Level
- State
- Michigan
- Elementary
- 21
- Middle
- 6
- High
- 4
- Other
- 2
Resources
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 Sterling Heights, Michigan
How many schools are in Sterling Heights, Michigan?
Sterling Heights has 33 schools, including 31 public and 2 private schools spanning elementary, middle, and high school levels.
What is the average school rating in Sterling Heights, Michigan?
The average MySchoolScout composite score for schools in Sterling Heights is 6.3 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 Sterling Heights, Michigan?
The top-ranked school in Sterling Heights on MySchoolScout is Messmore Elementary School with a composite score of 8.6/10.
What is the best elementary school in Sterling Heights, Michigan?
The top-ranked elementary school in Sterling Heights on MySchoolScout is Messmore Elementary School with a composite score of 8.6/10.
What is the best middle school in Sterling Heights, Michigan?
The top-ranked middle school in Sterling Heights on MySchoolScout is Bemis Junior High School with a composite score of 6.8/10.
What is the best high school in Sterling Heights, Michigan?
The top-ranked high school in Sterling Heights on MySchoolScout is Adlai Stevenson High School with a composite score of 7.6/10.
How many school districts serve Sterling Heights, Michigan?
Sterling Heights is served by 4 school districts: Noor International Academy, Utica Community Schools, Warren Consolidated Schools, Macomb ISD.
What is the education level in Sterling Heights, Michigan?
According to Census data, 32% of adults in Sterling Heights have earned a bachelor's degree or higher.
What is the median income in Sterling Heights, Michigan?
The median household income in Sterling Heights is approximately $79,198 according to Census ACS 2022 estimates.
Are there private schools in Sterling Heights, Michigan?
Yes, Sterling Heights has 2 private schools alongside 31 public schools. The top-rated private school is Parkway Christian School with a score of 7.2/10.
What is the student-teacher ratio in Sterling Heights, Michigan?
The average student-teacher ratio across schools in Sterling Heights is 16.8:1. This ratio varies by school, so families should check individual school profiles for specific classroom sizes.
How does MySchoolScout rate schools in Sterling Heights, 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.