Total enrollment
6,493
-93 (-1%) vs SY 2020-21
Isabella County
Michigan · Public K-12
Isabella County in Michigan is home to 20 public K-12 schools, serving roughly 6,493 students between them, broken out as 10 elementary, 2 middle, and 8 high. Mt. Pleasant City School District is the largest district by enrollment.
4-year change in Isabella County
SY 2020-21 vs SY 2024-25School count
19
-1 (-5%) vs SY 2020-21
Source: NCES Common Core of Data, enrollment-weighted demographic averages
How Isabella County ranks
Among counties| Measure | This county | In Michigan | In the US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Enrollment ranked largest first | 6,493 | #37 of 73 | #1,113 of 2,745 |
| Number of schools ranked most first | 19 | #40 of 73 | N/A |
| Students per teacher ranked fewest first | 15.8:1 | #25 of 73 | #2,015 of 2,655 |
| Free or reduced-price lunch share ranked highest first | 46.7% | #50 of 73 | #1,796 of 2,526 |
| Diversity index ranked most diverse first | 38.3% | #25 of 73 | #1,539 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.
Isabella County school rankings
Residents
64,565
all ages · ACS 5-yr
Schools
20
6 districts
Enrollment
6,493
students · NCES CCD
Median income
$55,237
Below Michigan avg
Free/reduced lunch
46.7%
Below Michigan avg
Elementary
10
3,184 students
Middle
2
1,056 students
High
8
2,253 students
Combined / other
0
schools
LARGEST DISTRICT
Mt. Pleasant City School District
3,341 students · 6 districts in Isabella County
County vs. school enrollment demographics
Left bar is the racial makeup of Isabella 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+
31.3%
adults 25+
Poverty rate
13.9%
ACS 5-year
Unemployment
6.4%
civilian labor
Median age
30
17.8% under 18
Test scores in Isabella County
Latest 2024-25 ELA proficiency, 9 schools ranked. Michigan state average: 47.7%.
Top 5 schools (ELA)
- Weidman Elementary School· 63.0%
- Winn Elementary School· 53.1%
- Shepherd Elementary School· 42.4%
- Mt Pleasant Middle School· 38.6%
- Beal City Elementary School· 37.6%
Lowest 5 schools (ELA)
- Mary McGuire School· 28.8%
- Fancher School· 33.7%
- Renaissance Public School Academy· 35.6%
- Shepherd Middle School· 37.4%
- Beal City Elementary School· 37.6%
| Name | City | Level | Grades | Enrollment | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mt Pleasant Senior High School | Mount Pleasant | High | 09-12 | 1,066 | · |
| Mt Pleasant Middle School | Mount Pleasant | Middle | 06-08 | 666 | · |
| Shepherd Elementary School | Shepherd | Elementary | KG-05 | 544 | · |
| Shepherd High School | Shepherd | High | 09-12 | 519 | · |
| Fancher School | Mount Pleasant | Elementary | 03-05 | 431 | · |
| Renaissance Public School Academy | Mount Pleasant | Elementary | KG-08 | 428 | · |
| Shepherd Middle School | Shepherd | Middle | 06-08 | 390 | · |
| Beal City High School | Mount Pleasant | High | 06-12 | 376 | · |
| Pullen Elementary School | Mount Pleasant | Elementary | PK-02 | 303 | · |
| Mary McGuire School | Mount Pleasant | Elementary | 03-05 | 276 | · |
| Beal City Elementary School | Mount Pleasant | Elementary | KG-05 | 265 | · |
| Weidman Elementary School | Weidman | Elementary | PK-04 | 258 | · |
| Vowles School | Mount Pleasant | Elementary | PK-02 | 235 | · |
| Winn Elementary School | Shepherd | Elementary | KG-05 | 224 | · |
| Ganiard School | Mount Pleasant | Elementary | PK-02 | 220 | · |
| Oasis | Mount Pleasant | High | 06-12 | 138 | · |
| Flextech High School Shepherd | Shepherd | High | 08-12 | 79 | · |
| Odyssey MiddleHigh School | Mount Pleasant | High | 07-12 | 69 | · |
| Isabella Day Treatment | Mount Pleasant | High | 07-12 | 6 | · |
| Kinney School | Mount Pleasant | High | 09-12 | 0 | · |
Cities in Isabella County
About Isabella County
Isabella County is a mid-sized Michigan county of about 64,565 residents, home to 20 public schools and roughly 6,493 students.
Stepping back, census numbers show typical household earnings sit around $55,237, roughly 31% of adults have completed at least a four-year degree, and roughly 14% of residents live below the federal poverty line. That income level is 16% lower than the Michigan median.
In terms of grade levels, Isabella County is built around 10 elementary schools (3,184 students), 2 middle schools (1,056), and 8 high schools (2,253).
Mt. Pleasant City School District is the biggest district by enrollment, covering about 3,341 students across Isabella County.
Five-year track record. Across the same 4-year window, public-school enrollment held roughly steady: 6,586 students in SY 2020-21 versus 6,493 in SY 2024-25. The school count fell from 20 to 19 across the same 4-year window.
On this page, the community for Isabella 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
DATA · Census ACS 5-year · NCES Common Core of Data