Total enrollment
17,121
-1,737 (-9%) vs SY 2017-18
Allegan County
Michigan · Public K-12
Within Allegan County, Michigan, families have 55 public-school options to consider, collectively serving 17,174 K-12 students. Wayland Union Schools is the heaviest district by enrollment. By level, that breaks down as 26 elementary, 9 middle, and 17 high schools.
7-year change in Allegan County
SY 2017-18 vs SY 2024-25School count
53
-1 (-2%) vs SY 2017-18
% White
82%
was 84%
% Hispanic
11%
was 10%
% Black
2%
was 2%
% Asian
1%
was 1%
Source: NCES Common Core of Data, enrollment-weighted demographic averages
Schools
55
16 districts
Enrollment
17,174
NCES CCD
Median income
$83,283
Above Michigan avg
Free/reduced lunch
42.5%
Below Michigan avg
Elementary
26
7,340 students
Middle
9
4,033 students
High
17
5,464 students
Combined / other
3
337 students
LARGEST DISTRICT
Wayland Union Schools
2,708 students · 16 districts in Allegan County
County vs. school enrollment demographics
Left bar is the racial makeup of Allegan County residents (Census ACS 5-year). Right bar is the enrollment-weighted makeup of public schools in the county (NCES CCD). NCES systematically under-reports Hispanic, Pacific Islander, and Native American enrollment for many schools; where the resident share is meaningful but the reported school share is zero, we mark the school bar "not reported".
County residents
School enrollment
Bachelor's+
27.1%
adults 25+
Poverty rate
5.4%
ACS 5-year
Unemployment
3.0%
civilian labor
Median age
41
23.2% under 18
Test scores in Allegan County
Latest 2024-25 ELA proficiency, 29 schools ranked. Michigan state average: 47.7%.
Top 5 schools (ELA)
- Sycamore Elementary School· 71.4%
- Dorr School· 70.9%
- Paris Ridge Elementary· 70.9%
- Douglas Elementary School· 68.4%
- Hamilton Elementary School· 63.9%
Lowest 5 schools (ELA)
- Fennville Elementary School· 28.6%
- Fennville Middle School· 29.4%
- Baseline Middle School· 31.7%
- Pine Trails Elementary School· 32.1%
- LE White Middle School· 32.3%
| Name | City | Level | Grades | Enrollment | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Plainwell High School | Plainwell | High | 09-12 | 828 | · |
| Wayland High School | Wayland | High | 09-12 | 800 | · |
| Hamilton High School | Hamilton | High | 09-12 | 793 | · |
| Otsego High School | Otsego | High | 09-12 | 708 | · |
| Hamilton Middle School | Hamilton | Middle | 05-08 | 707 | · |
| Wayland Union Middle School | Wayland | Middle | 05-08 | 611 | · |
| Plainwell Middle School | Plainwell | Middle | 06-08 | 569 | · |
| Allegan High School | Allegan | High | 09-12 | 543 | · |
| Otsego Middle School | Otsego | Middle | 06-08 | 542 | · |
| Fennville Elementary School | Fennville | Elementary | PK-05 | 503 | · |
| Hopkins High School | Hopkins | High | 09-12 | 477 | · |
| Washington Street Elementary School | Otsego | Elementary | PK-05 | 448 | · |
| Gilkey Elementary School | Plainwell | Elementary | PK-05 | 439 | · |
| LE White Middle School | Allegan | Middle | 06-08 | 427 | · |
| Pine Street Elementary | Wayland | Elementary | 04-05 | 413 | · |
| Starr Elementary School | Plainwell | Elementary | PK-05 | 410 | · |
| Hopkins Elementary School | Hopkins | Elementary | PK-05 | 393 | · |
| Fennville Public High School | Fennville | High | 09-12 | 383 | · |
| Baseline Middle School | South Haven | Middle | 06-08 | 377 | · |
| Douglas Elementary School | Douglas | Elementary | PK-05 | 366 | · |
| Hamilton Elementary School | Hamilton | Elementary | PK-04 | 359 | · |
| Dix Street Elementary School | Otsego | Elementary | PK-05 | 357 | · |
| Martin High School | Martin | High | 06-12 | 330 | · |
| Pine Trails Elementary School | Allegan | Elementary | PK-05 | 326 | · |
| Hopkins Middle School | Hopkins | Middle | 06-08 | 321 | · |
| Dorr School | Dorr | Elementary | PK-05 | 311 | · |
| Paris Ridge Elementary | Caledonia | Elementary | KG-04 | 303 | · |
| Robert D Brandon Elem School | Martin | Elementary | PK-05 | 299 | · |
| Fennville Middle School | Fennville | Middle | 06-08 | 293 | · |
| Bentheim Elementary School | Hamilton | Elementary | PK-04 | 281 | · |
| Bessie B Baker School | Wayland | Elementary | PK-01 | 280 | · |
| Dawson Elementary School | Allegan | Elementary | KG-05 | 278 | · |
| Saugatuck High School | Saugatuck | High | 09-12 | 267 | · |
| RJ Steeby School | Wayland | Elementary | 02-03 | 256 | · |
| North Shore Elementary | South Haven | Elementary | 04-05 | 255 | · |
| West Ward Elementary School | Allegan | Elementary | KG-05 | 247 | · |
| Sycamore Elementary School | Dorr | Elementary | PK-05 | 224 | · |
| Blue Star Elementary School | Holland | Elementary | PK-04 | 202 | · |
| Saugatuck Middle School | Saugatuck | Middle | 06-08 | 186 | · |
| Hamilton Virtual School | Holland | Combined | KG-12 | 172 | · |
| Pullman Elementary School | Pullman | Elementary | KG-05 | 165 | · |
| Allegan Alternative High School | Allegan | High | 09-12 | 112 | · |
| Innocademy Allegan Campus | Fennville | Elementary | PK-08 | 102 | · |
| Hillside Learning Center | Allegan | Combined | PK-12 | 92 | · |
| Renaissance High School | Plainwell | High | 09-12 | 86 | · |
| Allegan Online K12 | Allegan | Combined | KG-12 | 73 | · |
| Sandyview Elementary School | Holland | Elementary | PK-04 | 53 | · |
| Glenn Public School | Glenn | Elementary | KG-06 | 41 | · |
| Career Connections Academy | Wayland | High | 09-12 | 37 | · |
| Fennville Alternative High School | Fennville | High | 09-12 | 35 | · |
| Outlook Academy | Allegan | High | 06-12 | 35 | · |
| North Ward Elementary School | Allegan | Elementary | PK-KG | 29 | · |
| Otsego West Campus High School | Otsego | High | 06-12 | 19 | · |
| Outlook Academy Youth Home Campus | Allegan | High | 05-12 | 11 | · |
| Tech Center | Allegan | High | 11-12 | 0 | · |
Cities in Allegan County
About Allegan County
Allegan County is an average-sized Michigan county of about 121,456 residents, home to 55 public schools and roughly 17,174 students.
Zooming out, census numbers show median household income runs near $83,283, roughly 27% of adults have completed at least a four-year degree, and roughly 5% of residents live below the federal poverty line. That income level is 26% noticeably above the Michigan median.
Looking at the level breakdown, Allegan County comprises 26 elementary schools (7,340 students), 9 middle schools (4,033), 17 high schools (5,464), and 3 combined or other schools.
Wayland Union Schools dominates the local landscape, accounting for roughly 2,708 students on its own.
Trend over the past 7 years. Total public-school enrollment in Allegan County has fell 9% since SY 2017-18, moving from about 18,858 students to 17,121. The school count fell from 54 to 53 across the same 7-year window.
In the discussion threads here, the community for Allegan County discusses school events, board meetings, and seasonal calendars. Parents, students, and educators in the area can post or comment.
Frequently asked questions
Allegan County school rankings
DATA · Census ACS 5-year · NCES Common Core of Data