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Ottawa County

Michigan · Public K-12

Public education in Ottawa County reaches 42,894 students across 103 schools. West Ottawa Public School District is the largest district at 6,729 students. That works out to 57 elementary, 15 middle, and 23 high schools.

7-year change in Ottawa County

SY 2017-18 vs SY 2024-25
Total enrollment
42,894
-2,708 (-6%) vs SY 2017-18
School count
99
+6 (+6%) vs SY 2017-18
% White
69%
was 74%
% Hispanic
20%
was 17%
% Black
3%
was 2%
% Asian
3%
was 3%
Source: NCES Common Core of Data, enrollment-weighted demographic averages
Residents
301,203
all ages · ACS 5-yr
Schools
103
18 districts
Enrollment
42,894
students · NCES CCD
Median income
$90,502
Above Michigan avg
Free/reduced lunch
33.9%
Below Michigan avg
Elementary
57
18,855 students
Middle
15
9,462 students
High
23
13,839 students
Combined / other
8
738 students
LARGEST DISTRICT
West Ottawa Public School District
6,729 students · 18 districts in Ottawa County

County vs. school enrollment demographics

Left bar is the racial makeup of Ottawa 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
84%
Hispanic
10%
Black
2%
Asian
3%
Two or more
8%
Native American
1%
Pacific Islander
0%
School enrollment
White
69%
Hispanic
20%
Black
3%
Asian
3%
Two or more
5%
Native American
0%
Pacific Islander
0%
Bachelor's+
38.9%
adults 25+
Poverty rate
4.0%
ACS 5-year
Unemployment
3.5%
civilian labor
Median age
37
23.0% under 18

Test scores in Ottawa County

Latest 2024-25 ELA proficiency, 65 schools ranked. Michigan state average: 47.7%.

See all 65 schools in Ottawa County ranked by score →

All schools (103)

LargestA-ZTop rated
NameCityLevelGradesEnrollmentRating
Early Childhood BuildingHudsonvilleElementaryPK-KG0·
Hudsonville Freshman BuildingHudsonvilleCombinedM-M··
Riley Farms ElementaryHollandElementaryM-M··

Cities in Ottawa County

Holland28 schoolsHudsonville15 schoolsZeeland14 schoolsGrand Haven12 schoolsJenison9 schoolsSpring Lake9 schoolsAllendale7 schoolsCoopersville6 schoolsWest Olive2 schoolsJamestown1 school

About Ottawa County

Across the wide-reaching Michigan county of Ottawa County of about 301,203 residents, the public-school footprint covers 103 schools and about 42,894 students.

In context, census numbers show typical household earnings sit around $90,502, roughly 39% of adults have completed at least a four-year degree, and the poverty rate is around 4%. That income level is 37% higher than the Michigan median.

On the school-mix side, Ottawa County covers 57 elementary schools (18,855 students), 15 middle schools (9,462), 23 high schools (13,839), and 8 combined or other schools.

West Ottawa Public School District is the biggest district by enrollment, covering about 6,729 students across Ottawa County.

Over the past 7-year window. Combined enrollment now sits at 42,894 students, fell 6% from the 45,602 reported in SY 2017-18. The school count climbed from 93 to 99 across the same 7-year window. On the demographic side, White enrollment moved from 74% to 69% over the same window.

Within the allk12 community for this area, the community for Ottawa County discusses sports rivalries, cross-district programs, and shared facilities. Members of the local community share what they see day-to-day.

Frequently asked questions

How many public schools are in Ottawa County?
Ottawa County, Michigan has 103 public K-12 schools serving approximately 42,894 students.
How many high schools are in Ottawa County?
Ottawa County, Michigan has 23 public high schools, serving approximately 13,839 students.
How many middle schools are in Ottawa County?
Ottawa County, Michigan has 15 public middle schools, serving approximately 9,462 students.
How many elementary schools are in Ottawa County?
Ottawa County, Michigan has 57 public elementary schools, serving approximately 18,855 students.
What is the largest school district in Ottawa County?
West Ottawa Public School District is the largest school district in Ottawa County, serving approximately 6,729 students. The county contains 18 school districts overall.
What is the population of Ottawa County?
Ottawa County, Michigan has a population of approximately 301,203, with a median age of 37. About 23.0% of residents are under 18.
What is the median household income in Ottawa County?
Median household income in Ottawa County is $90,502, above the Michigan average of $66,133. About 4.0% of residents live below the federal poverty line.
How educated are residents of Ottawa County?
Approximately 38.9% of adults 25 and older in Ottawa County hold a bachelor's degree or higher, according to the Census ACS 5-year estimate.
What share of students in Ottawa County qualify for free or reduced lunch?
Roughly 33.9% of students in Ottawa 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 Ottawa County schools?
Across Ottawa County public schools, the enrollment-weighted student-teacher ratio is approximately 16.1 to 1.

Ottawa County school rankings

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