Total enrollment
5,219
-333 (-6%) vs SY 2017-18
Mecosta County
Michigan · Public K-12
19 public K-12 schools, roughly 5,219 students, one county, 41,242 residents. That is Mecosta County, Michigan on the numbers. That works out to 8 elementary, 3 middle, and 5 high schools.
7-year change in Mecosta County
SY 2017-18 vs SY 2024-25School count
17
+1 (+6%) vs SY 2017-18
% White
87%
was 88%
% Hispanic
3%
was 3%
% Black
2%
was 3%
% Asian
0%
was 1%
Source: NCES Common Core of Data, enrollment-weighted demographic averages
Residents
41,242
all ages · ACS 5-yr
Schools
19
5 districts
Enrollment
5,219
students · NCES CCD
Median income
$60,951
Below Michigan avg
Free/reduced lunch
54.0%
Above Michigan avg
Elementary
8
1,891 students
Middle
3
1,381 students
High
5
1,594 students
Combined / other
3
353 students
LARGEST DISTRICT
Big Rapids Public Schools
2,405 students · 5 districts in Mecosta County
County vs. school enrollment demographics
Left bar is the racial makeup of Mecosta 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+
22.5%
adults 25+
Poverty rate
11.3%
ACS 5-year
Unemployment
4.0%
civilian labor
Median age
40
19.1% under 18
Test scores in Mecosta County
Latest 2024-25 ELA proficiency, 7 schools ranked. Michigan state average: 47.7%.
Top 5 schools (ELA)
- Riverview Elementary School· 70.8%
- Mecosta Elementary School· 48.3%
- Barryton Elementary School· 47.3%
- Big Rapids Middle School· 40.8%
- Chippewa Hills Middle School· 36.7%
Lowest 5 schools (ELA)
- Morley Stanwood Elementary School· 32.3%
- Brookside Elementary School· 34.9%
- Chippewa Hills Middle School· 36.7%
- Big Rapids Middle School· 40.8%
- Barryton Elementary School· 47.3%
| Name | City | Level | Grades | Enrollment | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Big Rapids High School | Big Rapids | High | 09-12 | 755 | · |
| Big Rapids Middle School | Big Rapids | Middle | 05-08 | 644 | · |
| Chippewa Hills Middle School | Remus | Middle | 05-08 | 503 | · |
| Chippewa Hills High School | Remus | High | 07-12 | 463 | · |
| Morley Stanwood Elementary School | Morley | Elementary | PK-05 | 437 | · |
| Riverview Elementary School | Big Rapids | Elementary | KG-04 | 346 | · |
| Brookside Elementary School | Big Rapids | Elementary | PK-04 | 336 | · |
| Morley Stanwood High School | Morley | High | 09-12 | 287 | · |
| Mecosta Elementary School | Mecosta | Elementary | PK-04 | 256 | · |
| Morley Stanwood Middle School | Morley | Middle | 06-08 | 234 | · |
| Eastwood Elementary | Big Rapids | Elementary | PK-KG | 209 | · |
| Barryton Elementary School | Barryton | Elementary | PK-04 | 204 | · |
| MecostaOsceola Education Center | Big Rapids | Combined | PK-12 | 121 | · |
| Crossroads Charter Academy | Big Rapids | Combined | KG-12 | 117 | · |
| Big Rapids Virtual School | Big Rapids | Combined | KG-12 | 115 | · |
| Crossroads Charter Academy K5 | Big Rapids | Elementary | KG-05 | 103 | · |
| Mosaic School | Remus | High | 07-12 | 89 | · |
| EarlyOn | Big Rapids | Elementary | PK-PK | 0 | · |
| MecostaOsceola Career Center | Big Rapids | High | 11-12 | 0 | · |
Cities in Mecosta County
About Mecosta County
Mecosta County is a sparse county of about 41,242 residents in Michigan. Its public-school system teaches approximately 5,219 students across 19 schools.
Zooming out, census numbers show median household income runs near $60,951, roughly 23% of adults have completed at least a four-year degree, and roughly 11% of residents live below the federal poverty line. That income level is 8% meaningfully below the Michigan median.
Looking at the level breakdown, Mecosta County comprises 8 elementary schools (1,891 students), 3 middle schools (1,381), 5 high schools (1,594), and 3 combined or other schools.
Big Rapids Public Schools dominates the local landscape, accounting for roughly 2,405 students on its own.
Trend over the past 7 years. Across the same 7-year window, public-school enrollment fell 6%: 5,552 students in SY 2017-18 versus 5,219 in SY 2024-25. Mecosta County now counts 17 public schools, up from 16 in SY 2017-18.
Within the allk12 community for this area, the community for Mecosta County discusses comparison threads between local schools and program reviews. Anyone with firsthand knowledge of these schools is welcome to weigh in.
Frequently asked questions
Mecosta County school rankings
DATA · Census ACS 5-year · NCES Common Core of Data