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Ionia County

Michigan · Public K-12

Ionia County, Michigan comes in at 30 public K-12 schools on the latest counts, totaling roughly 10,506 students, with a county median household income near $75,611. By level, that breaks down as 15 elementary, 3 middle, and 10 high schools.

7-year change in Ionia County

SY 2017-18 vs SY 2024-25
Total enrollment
10,506
+1,817 (+21%) vs SY 2017-18
School count
28
-1 (-3%) vs SY 2017-18
% White
82%
was 88%
% Hispanic
10%
was 8%
% Black
3%
was 1%
% Asian
0%
was 0%
Source: NCES Common Core of Data, enrollment-weighted demographic averages
Schools
30
12 districts
Enrollment
10,506
NCES CCD
Median income
$75,611
Above Michigan avg
Free/reduced lunch
51.7%
Below Michigan avg
Elementary
15
4,020 students
Middle
3
1,410 students
High
10
4,969 students
Combined / other
2
107 students
LARGEST DISTRICT
Ionia Public Schools
2,659 students · 12 districts in Ionia County

County vs. school enrollment demographics

Left bar is the racial makeup of Ionia 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
White
87%
Hispanic
5%
Black
3%
Asian
1%
Two or more
7%
Native American
1%
Pacific Islander
0%
School enrollment
White
82%
Hispanic
10%
Black
3%
Asian
0%
Two or more
4%
Native American
1%
Pacific Islander
0%
Bachelor's+
18.5%
adults 25+
Poverty rate
6.9%
ACS 5-year
Unemployment
3.9%
civilian labor
Median age
39
20.9% under 18

Test scores in Ionia County

Latest 2024-25 ELA proficiency, 14 schools ranked. Michigan state average: 47.7%.

See all 14 schools in Ionia County ranked by score →

All schools (30)

LargestA-ZTop rated
NameCityLevelGradesEnrollmentRating
Link Learning Virtual ProgramBeldingHigh09-122,526·
Ionia High SchoolIoniaHigh09-12774·
Portland High SchoolPortlandHigh09-12665·
Ionia Middle SchoolIoniaMiddle06-08629·
Belding High SchoolBeldingHigh09-12511·
Oakwood Elementary SchoolPortlandElementaryPK-02473·
Lakewood Elementary SchoolLake OdessaElementary01-04461·
Saranac Elementary SchoolSaranacElementaryPK-06433·
Westwood Elementary SchoolPortlandElementary03-05423·
Portland Middle SchoolPortlandMiddle06-08418·
Saranac JrSr High SchoolSaranacHigh07-12406·
Ellis Elementary SchoolBeldingElementaryPK-02391·
Woodview Elementary SchoolBeldingElementary03-05372·
Belding Middle SchoolBeldingMiddle06-08363·
AA Rather SchoolIoniaElementaryPK-05308·
Jefferson SchoolIoniaElementaryPK-05272·
RB Boyce Elementary SchoolIoniaElementaryPK-05254·
PewamoWestphalia Elementary SchoolPewamoElementaryPK-05249·
Twin Rivers Elementary SchoolMuirElementaryPK-05183·
Emerson SchoolIoniaElementaryPK-05166·
Freedom Acres SchoolIoniaCombinedPK-12107·
Douglas R Welch High SchoolIoniaHigh09-1273·
Coon SchoolIoniaElementaryKG-0615·
Haynor SchoolIoniaElementaryKG-0610·
North LeValley Elem SchoolIoniaElementaryKG-0510·
Bellamy Creek Correctional FacilityIoniaHigh09-129·
Ionia Maximum Correctional FacilityIoniaHigh09-123·
Handlon Correctional FacilityIoniaHigh09-122·
Ionia County Career CenterIoniaHigh09-120·
Michigan ReformatoryIoniaCombinedM-M··

Cities in Ionia County

Ionia16 schoolsBelding5 schoolsPortland4 schoolsSaranac2 schoolsLake Odessa1 schoolMuir1 schoolPewamo1 school

About Ionia County

Across the middle-population Michigan county of Ionia County of about 66,574 residents, the public-school footprint covers 30 schools and about 10,506 students.

In context, census numbers show typical household earnings sit around $75,611, about 19% of adults have a bachelor's degree or above, and the poverty rate is around 7%. That income level is 14% higher than the Michigan median.

Looking at the level breakdown, Ionia County spans 15 elementary schools (4,020 students), 3 middle schools (1,410), 10 high schools (4,969), and 2 combined or other schools.

Ionia Public Schools dominates the local landscape, accounting for roughly 2,659 students on its own.

Five-year track record. Total public-school enrollment in Ionia County has rose 21% since SY 2017-18, moving from about 8,689 students to 10,506. Over that span, Ionia County lost 1 school, going from 29 to 28. The White share of public-school enrollment fell from 88% to 82%.

Within the allk12 community for this area, the community for Ionia County discusses school events, board meetings, and seasonal calendars. Anyone with firsthand knowledge of these schools is welcome to weigh in.

Frequently asked questions

How many K-12 schools serve Ionia County?
There are 30 public K-12 schools in Ionia County, Michigan, with a combined enrollment of about 10,506.
How many high schools are in Ionia County?
Ionia County, Michigan has 10 public high schools, serving approximately 4,969 students.
How many middle schools are in Ionia County?
Ionia County, Michigan has 3 public middle schools, serving approximately 1,410 students.
How many elementary schools are in Ionia County?
Ionia County, Michigan has 15 public elementary schools, serving approximately 4,020 students.
What is the largest school district in Ionia County?
Ionia Public Schools is the largest school district in Ionia County, serving approximately 2,659 students. The county contains 12 school districts overall.
What is the population of Ionia County?
Ionia County, Michigan has a population of approximately 66,574, with a median age of 39. About 20.9% of residents are under 18.
What is the median household income in Ionia County?
Median household income in Ionia County is $75,611, above the Michigan average of $66,133. About 6.9% of residents live below the federal poverty line.
How educated are residents of Ionia County?
Approximately 18.5% of adults 25 and older in Ionia County hold a bachelor's degree or higher, according to the Census ACS 5-year estimate.
What share of students in Ionia County qualify for free or reduced lunch?
Roughly 51.7% of students in Ionia County public schools qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, a common proxy for low-income enrollment. This is lower than the Michigan county average of 53.4%.
What is the student-teacher ratio in Ionia County schools?
Across Ionia County public schools, the enrollment-weighted student-teacher ratio is approximately 34.8 to 1.

Ionia County school rankings

Largest schoolsAll rankings →
DATA · Census ACS 5-year · NCES Common Core of Data