Total enrollment
12,525
-1,463 (-10%) vs SY 2017-18
Bay County
Michigan · Public K-12
Bay County, Michigan comes in at 34 public K-12 schools on the latest counts, totaling roughly 12,525 students, with a county median household income near $61,763. By level, that breaks down as 14 elementary, 5 middle, and 9 high schools.
7-year change in Bay County
SY 2017-18 vs SY 2024-25School count
34
0 (0%) vs SY 2017-18
% White
79%
was 84%
% Hispanic
10%
was 8%
% Black
3%
was 3%
% Asian
1%
was 1%
Source: NCES Common Core of Data, enrollment-weighted demographic averages
Schools
34
9 districts
Enrollment
12,525
NCES CCD
Median income
$61,763
Below Michigan avg
Free/reduced lunch
54.8%
Above Michigan avg
Elementary
14
4,687 students
Middle
5
2,615 students
High
9
4,235 students
Combined / other
6
988 students
LARGEST DISTRICT
Bay City School District
6,030 students · 9 districts in Bay County
County vs. school enrollment demographics
Left bar is the racial makeup of Bay 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+
22.1%
adults 25+
Poverty rate
9.5%
ACS 5-year
Unemployment
4.3%
civilian labor
Median age
44
19.6% under 18
Test scores in Bay County
Latest 2024-25 ELA proficiency, 16 schools ranked. Michigan state average: 47.7%.
Top 5 schools (ELA)
- Auburn Elementary School· 56.7%
- Bangor Lincoln School· 50.3%
- Bangor West Central School· 49.5%
- Pinconning Central Elementary School· 48.9%
- Pinconning Middle School· 44.6%
Lowest 5 schools (ELA)
- Washington Elementary School· 24.3%
- Handy Middle School· 27.3%
- Hampton Elementary School· 33.0%
- Cramer Junior High School· 33.3%
- Verellen Elementary School· 34.8%
| Name | City | Level | Grades | Enrollment | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bay City Western High School | Auburn | High | 09-12 | 1,009 | · |
| Bay City Central High School | Bay City | High | 09-12 | 921 | · |
| John Glenn High School | Bay City | High | 09-12 | 864 | · |
| Western Middle School | Auburn | Middle | 06-08 | 681 | · |
| Christa McAuliffe Middle School | Bay City | Middle | 06-08 | 608 | · |
| Handy Middle School | Bay City | Middle | 06-08 | 598 | · |
| Garber High School | Essexville | High | 09-12 | 489 | · |
| Cramer Junior High School | Essexville | Middle | 05-08 | 484 | · |
| Auburn Elementary School | Auburn | Elementary | KG-05 | 474 | · |
| Kolb Elementary School | Bay City | Elementary | PK-05 | 451 | · |
| Hampton Elementary School | Bay City | Elementary | PK-05 | 399 | · |
| McAlearSawden Elem School | Bay City | Elementary | PK-05 | 378 | · |
| Bay City Academy Farragut Campus | Bay City | Combined | PK-12 | 373 | · |
| Pinconning High School | Pinconning | High | 09-12 | 370 | · |
| Washington Elementary School | Bay City | Elementary | PK-05 | 362 | · |
| Bangor West Central School | Bay City | Elementary | KG-05 | 361 | · |
| Pinconning Central Elementary School | Pinconning | Elementary | PK-06 | 359 | · |
| Bangor Lincoln School | Bay City | Elementary | PK-05 | 344 | · |
| Bangor Central School | Bay City | Elementary | PK-05 | 332 | · |
| Verellen Elementary School | Essexville | Elementary | 02-04 | 314 | · |
| MacGregor Elementary School | Bay City | Elementary | PK-05 | 290 | · |
| State Street Academy | Bay City | Combined | PK-11 | 286 | · |
| Mackensen Elementary School | Bay City | Elementary | PK-05 | 265 | · |
| Pinconning Middle School | Pinconning | Middle | 06-08 | 244 | · |
| WR Bush Elementary School | Essexville | Elementary | PK-01 | 236 | · |
| Great Lakes Bay Early College | Univ Ctr | High | 09-12 | 200 | · |
| Bangor Township Virtual School | Bay City | Combined | KG-12 | 182 | · |
| BayArenac Community High School | Essexville | High | 09-12 | 180 | · |
| Bay City Eastern High School | Bay City | High | 09-12 | 137 | · |
| Linwood Elementary School | Linwood | Elementary | PK-06 | 122 | · |
| ISDLocal Programs | Bay City | Combined | PK-12 | 92 | · |
| Bay City Adult EducationCTP | Bay City | High | 09-12 | 65 | · |
| LLCBay Campus | Essexville | Combined | PK-12 | 44 | · |
| Detention Center | Essexville | Combined | 04-12 | 11 | · |
Cities in Bay County
About Bay County
Bay County is a middle-population county of about 103,008 residents in Michigan. Its public-school system serves approximately 12,525 students across 34 schools.
Looking at the broader picture, census numbers show the median household earns about $61,763 a year, roughly 22% of adults have completed at least a four-year degree, and the poverty rate is around 10%. That income level is 7% lower than the Michigan median.
Looking at the level breakdown, Bay County is built around 14 elementary schools (4,687 students), 5 middle schools (2,615), 9 high schools (4,235), and 6 combined or other schools.
Bay City School District is the biggest district by enrollment, covering about 6,030 students across Bay County.
Five-year track record. Across the same 7-year window, public-school enrollment contracted 10%: 13,988 students in SY 2017-18 versus 12,525 in SY 2024-25. On the demographic side, White enrollment moved from 84% to 79% over the same window.
In the discussion threads here, the community for Bay County discusses sports rivalries, cross-district programs, and shared facilities. Anyone with firsthand knowledge of these schools is welcome to weigh in.
Frequently asked questions
Bay County school rankings
DATA · Census ACS 5-year · NCES Common Core of Data