Total enrollment
1,896
-157 (-8%) vs SY 2017-18
Arenac County
Michigan · Public K-12
Arenac County's public-school footprint spans 6 K-12 campuses with combined enrollment of about 1,896, the largest district being Standish-Sterling Community Schools. By level, that breaks down as 3 elementary, 1 middle, and 2 high schools.
7-year change in Arenac County
SY 2017-18 vs SY 2024-25School count
6
-1 (-14%) vs SY 2017-18
% White
93%
was 94%
% Hispanic
3%
was 2%
% Black
1%
was 1%
% Asian
0%
was 0%
Source: NCES Common Core of Data, enrollment-weighted demographic averages
Schools
6
2 districts
Enrollment
1,896
NCES CCD
Median income
$58,811
Below Michigan avg
Free/reduced lunch
57.3%
Above Michigan avg
Elementary
3
989 students
Middle
1
104 students
High
2
803 students
Combined / other
0
schools
LARGEST DISTRICT
Standish-Sterling Community Schools
1,482 students · 2 districts in Arenac County
County vs. school enrollment demographics
Left bar is the racial makeup of Arenac 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+
16.0%
adults 25+
Poverty rate
7.8%
ACS 5-year
Unemployment
6.0%
civilian labor
Median age
50
18.5% under 18
Test scores in Arenac County
Latest 2024-25 ELA proficiency, 3 schools ranked. Michigan state average: 47.7%.
Top 3 schools (ELA)
| Name | City | Level | Grades | Enrollment | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| StandishSterling Central JrSr High School | Standish | High | 07-12 | 660 | · |
| StandishSterling Central Elementary School | Standish | Elementary | PK-06 | 654 | · |
| Sterling Elementary School | Sterling | Elementary | PK-05 | 168 | · |
| Au GresSims Elementary School | Au Gres | Elementary | PK-05 | 167 | · |
| Au GresSims High School | Au Gres | High | 09-12 | 143 | · |
| Au GresSims Middle School | Au Gres | Middle | 06-08 | 104 | · |
Cities in Arenac County
About Arenac County
In Michigan, Arenac County is a small county of about 15,077 residents. 6 public schools across the county teaches about 1,896 students between them.
Zooming out, census numbers show the median household earns about $58,811 a year, roughly 16% of adults have completed at least a four-year degree, and the federal-poverty share is near 8%. That income level is 11% below the Michigan median.
On the school-mix side, Arenac County covers 3 elementary schools (989 students), 1 middle school (104), and 2 high schools (803).
Standish-Sterling Community Schools dominates the local landscape, accounting for roughly 1,482 students on its own.
Trend over the past 7 years. Combined enrollment now sits at 1,896 students, contracted 8% from the 2,053 reported in SY 2017-18. Arenac County now counts 6 public schools, down from 7 in SY 2017-18.
Within the allk12 community for this area, the community for Arenac County discusses comparison threads between local schools and program reviews. Posts come from current and former families, staff, and alumni.
Frequently asked questions
DATA · Census ACS 5-year · NCES Common Core of Data