Total enrollment
4,835
+175 (+4%) vs SY 2020-21
Chippewa County
Michigan · Public K-12
Of the public K-12 schools operating across Michigan, 22 sit inside Chippewa County, collectively enrolling roughly 4,835 students (5 elementary, 1 middle, and 8 high).
4-year change in Chippewa County
SY 2020-21 vs SY 2024-25School count
19
+1 (+6%) vs SY 2020-21
Source: NCES Common Core of Data, enrollment-weighted demographic averages
How Chippewa County ranks
Among counties| Measure | This county | In Michigan | In the US |
|---|---|---|---|
| State test proficiency ranked highest first | 40.9% | #14 of 25 | N/A |
| Enrollment ranked largest first | 4,835 | #45 of 73 | #1,364 of 2,745 |
| Number of schools ranked most first | 19 | #39 of 73 | N/A |
| Students per teacher ranked fewest first | 14.2:1 | #10 of 73 | #1,447 of 2,655 |
| Free or reduced-price lunch share ranked highest first | 54.2% | #35 of 73 | #1,400 of 2,526 |
| Diversity index ranked most diverse first | 56.3% | #12 of 73 | #774 of 2,707 |
Counties need at least 3 schools and 1,000 students to be ranked. Test proficiency is ranked within the state only, since each state gives a different test. Each rank links to the full list.
Chippewa County school rankings
Residents
36,295
all ages · ACS 5-yr
Schools
22
14 districts
Enrollment
4,835
students · NCES CCD
Median income
$62,217
Below Michigan avg
Free/reduced lunch
54.2%
Above Michigan avg
Elementary
5
1,284 students
Middle
1
498 students
High
8
869 students
Combined / other
8
2,184 students
LARGEST DISTRICT
Sault Ste. Marie Area Schools
1,794 students · 14 districts in Chippewa County
County vs. school enrollment demographics
Left bar is the racial makeup of Chippewa 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+
23.3%
adults 25+
Poverty rate
8.2%
ACS 5-year
Unemployment
5.2%
civilian labor
Median age
42
17.6% under 18
Test scores in Chippewa County
Latest 2024-25 ELA proficiency, 5 schools ranked. Michigan state average: 47.7%.
Top 5 schools (ELA)
- Brimley Area School· 54.6%
- Sault Area Middle School· 45.5%
- Rudyard Area Schools· 42.5%
- Joseph K Lumsden Bahweting Anishnabe Academy· 36.9%
- Lincoln School· 34.3%
| Name | City | Level | Grades | Enrollment | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sault Area High School | Sault Sainte Marie | High | 08-12 | 688 | · |
| Rudyard Area Schools | Rudyard | Combined | PK-12 | 602 | · |
| Joseph K Lumsden Bahweting Anishnabe Academy | Sault Sainte Marie | Elementary | KG-08 | 601 | · |
| Sault Area Middle School | Sault Sainte Marie | Middle | 05-10 | 498 | · |
| Brimley Area School | Brimley | Combined | PK-12 | 463 | · |
| Pickford Public Schools | Pickford | Combined | PK-12 | 430 | · |
| Joseph K. Lumsden Bahweting Anishnabe School | Sault Ste. Marie | Combined | KG-12 | 389 | · |
| Lincoln School | Sault Sainte Marie | Elementary | PK-07 | 342 | · |
| Washington Elementary School | Sault Sainte Marie | Elementary | KG-01 | 195 | · |
| Ojibwe Charter School | Brimley | Combined | KG-12 | 125 | · |
| Lake Superior Academy | Sault S Marie | Elementary | KG-05 | 93 | · |
| DeTour Arts and Technology Academy | De Tour Vlg | Combined | PK-12 | 77 | · |
| Malcolm High School | Sault S Marie | High | 09-12 | 71 | · |
| Consolidated Community School Services | Kincheloe | High | 05-12 | 59 | · |
| EUPISD Learning Center | Kincheloe | Combined | PK-12 | 56 | · |
| Drummond Island Elem School | Drummond Island | Elementary | KG-08 | 53 | · |
| DeTour High School | De Tour Village | High | 07-12 | 45 | · |
| Whitefish Township School | Paradise | Combined | PK-12 | 42 | · |
| EUPISD Project Search | Sault S Marie | High | 12-12 | 6 | · |
| Chippewa Correctional Facility | Kincheloe | High | 09-12 | 0 | · |
| Kinross Correctional Facility | Kincheloe | High | 09-12 | 0 | · |
| Sault Area Career Center | Sault Sainte Marie | High | 09-12 | 0 | · |
Cities in Chippewa County
About Chippewa County
Across the compact Michigan county of Chippewa County of about 36,295 residents, the public-school footprint covers 22 schools and about 4,835 students.
For perspective, census numbers show typical household earnings sit around $62,217, roughly 23% of adults have completed at least a four-year degree, and roughly 8% of residents live below the federal poverty line. That income level is 6% meaningfully below the Michigan median.
In terms of grade levels, Chippewa County is built around 5 elementary schools (1,284 students), 1 middle school (498), 8 high schools (869), and 8 combined or other schools.
Sault Ste. Marie Area Schools is the biggest district by enrollment, covering about 1,794 students across Chippewa County.
Looking at the last 4 years. Total public-school enrollment in Chippewa County has rose 4% since SY 2020-21, moving from about 4,660 students to 4,835. Over that span, Chippewa County gained 1 school, going from 18 to 19.
On this page, the community for Chippewa County discusses enrollment trends, district policy changes, and bus-route updates. Parents, students, and educators in the area can post or comment.
Frequently asked questions
DATA · Census ACS 5-year · NCES Common Core of Data