Total enrollment
3,785
-539 (-12%) vs SY 2017-18
Clare County
Michigan · Public K-12
Clare County is one of Michigan's public-school counties, with 13 campuses serving about 3,785 students (3 elementary, 3 middle, and 6 high). Median household income in the county is roughly $49,384.
7-year change in Clare County
SY 2017-18 vs SY 2024-25School count
13
-1 (-7%) vs SY 2017-18
% White
91%
was 93%
% Hispanic
4%
was 3%
% Black
1%
was 1%
% Asian
0%
was 0%
Source: NCES Common Core of Data, enrollment-weighted demographic averages
Schools
13
4 districts
Enrollment
3,785
NCES CCD
Median income
$49,384
Below Michigan avg
Free/reduced lunch
64.8%
Above Michigan avg
Elementary
3
1,475 students
Middle
3
1,034 students
High
6
1,229 students
Combined / other
1
47 students
LARGEST DISTRICT
Clare Public Schools
1,554 students · 4 districts in Clare County
County vs. school enrollment demographics
Left bar is the racial makeup of Clare 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+
12.9%
adults 25+
Poverty rate
16.7%
ACS 5-year
Unemployment
9.5%
civilian labor
Median age
49
19.3% under 18
Test scores in Clare County
Latest 2024-25 ELA proficiency, 5 schools ranked. Michigan state average: 47.7%.
Top 5 schools (ELA)
- Clare Primary School· 39.8%
- Farwell Elementary School· 30.0%
- Clare Middle School· 27.4%
- Robert M Larson Elementary School· 26.5%
- Farwell Middle School· 24.1%
| Name | City | Level | Grades | Enrollment | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Robert M Larson Elementary School | Harrison | Elementary | KG-05 | 582 | · |
| Clare Primary School | Clare | Elementary | PK-04 | 557 | · |
| Clare High School | Clare | High | 09-12 | 478 | · |
| Clare Middle School | Clare | Middle | 05-08 | 474 | · |
| Farwell High School | Farwell | High | 08-12 | 344 | · |
| Farwell Elementary School | Farwell | Elementary | PK-03 | 336 | · |
| Farwell Middle School | Farwell | Middle | 04-07 | 281 | · |
| Harrison Community High School | Harrison | High | 09-12 | 281 | · |
| Harrison Middle School | Harrison | Middle | 06-08 | 279 | · |
| ClareGladwin Area School | Clare | Combined | PK-12 | 47 | · |
| Clare Pioneer High School | Clare | High | 09-12 | 45 | · |
| Harrison Alternative Education | Harrison | High | 09-12 | 42 | · |
| Farwell Timberland Alternative High School | Farwell | High | 08-12 | 39 | · |
Cities in Clare County
About Clare County
In Michigan, Clare County is a rural-scale county of about 31,218 residents. 13 public schools across the county instructs about 3,785 students between them.
In context, census numbers show median household income runs near $49,384, roughly 13% of adults have completed at least a four-year degree, and the federal-poverty share is near 17%. That income level is 25% noticeably below the Michigan median.
In terms of grade levels, Clare County is made up of 3 elementary schools (1,475 students), 3 middle schools (1,034), 6 high schools (1,229), and 1 combined or other schools.
Clare Public Schools dominates the local landscape, accounting for roughly 1,554 students on its own.
Looking at the last 7 years. Across the same 7-year window, public-school enrollment fell 12%: 4,324 students in SY 2017-18 versus 3,785 in SY 2024-25. Over that span, Clare County closed 1 school, going from 14 to 13.
On this page, the community for Clare County discusses enrollment trends, district policy changes, and bus-route updates. Members of the local community share what they see day-to-day.
Frequently asked questions
Clare County school rankings
DATA · Census ACS 5-year · NCES Common Core of Data