Bay City School District
School District · Bay City, Michigan
Avg Rating
5.7
out of 10
Schools
13
7 elem, 2 mid, 4 high
Enrollment
6,180
Student-Teacher Ratio
16.8:1
Avg Rating
5.7
out of 10
Schools
13
7 elem, 2 mid, 4 high
Enrollment
6,180
Student-Teacher Ratio
16.8:1
Evaluating Bay City School District?
A district shares budget, policy, and attendance zones across its schools — use this page to judge Bay City School District as a whole, then compare how its individual schools differ.
Shortlist starter
Start with these real page-level signals, then use the full table and map below.
Bay City Western High School
Auburn · High. Compare this profile against district averages, level fit, and attendance-zone reality below.
Mackensen Elementary School
Bay City · Elementary. Compare this profile against district averages, level fit, and attendance-zone reality below.
Kolb Elementary School
Bay City · Elementary. Compare this profile against district averages, level fit, and attendance-zone reality below.
How this district compares
Michigan rank
#356 of 533
districts by avg. composite
Vs. state average
-0.5
below Michigan avg
Per-pupil spending
$15,093
+$510 vs Michigan median
District size
6,180 students
Much larger than Michigan median
The short answer
Bay City School District ranks #356 of 533 Michigan districts by overall school rating. Bay City School District's schools with real test data average 5.8/10 across 12 schools. Its top-rated schools are Bay City Western High School (6.8/10), Mackensen Elementary School (6.8/10), and Kolb Elementary School (6.6/10). Schools with estimated (proxy) scores are excluded from this ranking.
Rates 6.5/10 despite 86% of students being economically disadvantaged. That's about 1.2 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 Bay City School District schools.
Top-Rated Schools in Bay City School District
Ranked by MySchoolScout composite rating using only schools with real test data (12 of 13). "Value" = points above what student poverty predicts. Estimated (proxy) scores are excluded.
| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bay City Western High School | 6.8 / 10 |
| 2 | Mackensen Elementary School | 6.8 / 10 |
| 3 | Kolb Elementary School | 6.6 / 10 |
| 4 | Bay City Eastern High School | 6.5 / 10 |
| 5 | Bay City Central High School | 6.4 / 10 |
| 6 | Western Middle School | 5.7 / 10 |
| 7 | Hampton Elementary School | 5.7 / 10 |
| 8 | Auburn Elementary School | 5.6 / 10 |
| 9 | Mcalearsawden Elem School | 5.4 / 10 |
| 10 | Handy Middle School | 5.3 / 10 |
See all 13 schools — including those with estimated data — in the full directory below. How we rate schools.
About Bay City School District
Bay City School District is a Bay City, Michigan school district serving 13 schools.The district educates 6,180 students with a student-teacher ratio of 16.8:1. District-level spending was $15,093 per student in fiscal year 2023 (NCES F-33).
With an average rating of 5.7/10, Bay City School District demonstrates solid academic performance.
The highest-rated school in the district is Mackensen Elementary School, which has a composite score of 6.8/10.
In standardized testing, Bay City School District students show an average math proficiency of 37.5% and ELA proficiency of 48.5%.
The district includes 7 elementary schools, 2 middle schools, and 4 high schools.
District Map
Schools in Bay City School District, colored by MySchoolScout rank. Click a pin for details.
District Average Test Scores
Average proficiency across all schools in Bay City School District with test data.
Schools in Bay City School District
13 schoolsElementary Schools7
Middle Schools2
District Details
- State
- Michigan
- City
- Bay City
- Total Enrollment
- 6,180
- Teachers (FTE)
- 368
- District spending per student
- $15,093NCES F-33 · FY 2023 · This annual source is three years behind the current year.
- Child poverty rate
- 14.3%Census SAIPE · 2024
- District directory year
- 2023
Frequently Asked Questions
How many schools are in Bay City School District?
Bay City School District has 13 schools in total — 7 elementary, 2 middle, and 4 high schools. You can explore each school's ratings and details on this page.
What is the average rating for Bay City School District?
The average composite rating for Bay City School District is 5.7/10. This score is calculated from the individual ratings of all schools with academic data in the district.
What is the district spending per student in Bay City School District?
Bay City School District's district-level spending was $15,093 per student in fiscal year 2023, according to NCES F-33. This is district context, not an individual-school expense.
What is the student-teacher ratio in Bay City School District?
The average student-teacher ratio in Bay City School District is 16.8:1.
What is the top-rated school in Bay City School District?
Mackensen Elementary School is the highest-rated school in Bay City School District with a composite score of 6.8/10.
What are the test scores in Bay City School District?
Across schools in Bay City School District with test data, the average math proficiency is 37.5% and the average ELA (reading/writing) proficiency is 48.5%. These figures represent the percentage of students meeting or exceeding grade-level standards.
How does Bay City School District compare to other districts in Michigan?
Bay City School District has an average school rating of 5.7/10 across 13 schools. Families can compare this to other districts in Michigan by visiting individual district pages. Factors like school size, available programs, and community demographics also play a role in choosing the right fit.
How does MySchoolScout rate schools?
MySchoolScout ratings blend student growth, poverty-adjusted academic performance, and learning environment — plus college readiness for high schools. Weights vary by school level, and equity data is shown for context without being factored into the score. Learn more about our rating system on our methodology page.
District Averages
- Overall Rating
- 5.7/10
- Math Proficiency
- 37.5%
- ELA Proficiency
- 48.5%
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 rateOther School Districts in MI
Compare Bay City School District with neighboring districts in the state.
- Detroit Public Schools Community District (106)
- Grand Rapids Public Schools (51)
- Utica Community Schools (38)
- Dearborn City School District (37)
- Ann Arbor Public Schools (32)
- Kalamazoo Public Schools (31)
- Lansing Public School District (26)
- Livonia Public Schools School District (26)
- Michigan Department of Corrections (25)
- Plymouth-canton Community Schools (25)
- Warren Consolidated Schools (23)
- Rochester Community School District (22)
- Troy School District (21)
- Chippewa Valley Schools (20)
- Walled Lake Consolidated Schools (20)
- L'anse Creuse Public Schools (19)
- Forest Hills Public Schools (18)
- Waterford School District (17)
- Farmington Public School District (16)
- Huron Valley Schools (16)
- Kentwood Public Schools (16)
- Port Huron Area School District (16)
- Saginaw School District of the City of (16)
- Traverse City Area Public Schools (16)
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.
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