Total enrollment
8,553
+1,554 (+22%) vs SY 2020-21
Wexford County
Michigan · Public K-12
Public-school families in Wexford County pick from 15 schools serving the county's roughly 8,553 K-12 students, with a mix of 5 elementary, 2 middle, and 5 high.
4-year change in Wexford County
SY 2020-21 vs SY 2024-25School count
14
0 (0%) vs SY 2020-21
Source: NCES Common Core of Data, enrollment-weighted demographic averages
How Wexford County ranks
Among counties| Measure | This county | In Michigan | In the US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Enrollment ranked largest first | 8,553 | #31 of 73 | #905 of 2,745 |
| Number of schools ranked most first | 14 | #48 of 73 | N/A |
| Students per teacher ranked fewest first | 16.8:1 | #48 of 73 | #2,262 of 2,655 |
| Free or reduced-price lunch share ranked highest first | 62.6% | #11 of 73 | #999 of 2,526 |
| Diversity index ranked most diverse first | 43.6% | #21 of 73 | #1,347 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.
Wexford County school rankings
Residents
34,077
all ages · ACS 5-yr
Schools
15
6 districts
Enrollment
8,553
students · NCES CCD
Median income
$61,085
Below Michigan avg
Free/reduced lunch
62.6%
Above Michigan avg
Elementary
5
1,901 students
Middle
2
988 students
High
5
1,632 students
Combined / other
3
4,032 students
LARGEST DISTRICT
Highpoint Virtual Academy of Michigan
3,455 students · 6 districts in Wexford County
County vs. school enrollment demographics
Left bar is the racial makeup of Wexford 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+
21.3%
adults 25+
Poverty rate
8.6%
ACS 5-year
Unemployment
5.3%
civilian labor
Median age
42
22.8% under 18
Test scores in Wexford County
Latest 2024-25 ELA proficiency, 9 schools ranked. Michigan state average: 47.7%.
Top 5 schools (ELA)
- Forest View Elementary School· 55.7%
- Manton Consolidated Elem School· 51.8%
- Mackinaw Trail Middle School· 45.3%
- Franklin Elementary School· 45.0%
- Buckley Community Schools· 42.8%
Lowest 5 schools (ELA)
| Name | City | Level | Grades | Enrollment | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Highpoint Virtual Academy of MIchigan | Mesick | Combined | KG-12 | 3,455 | · |
| Cadillac Senior High School | Cadillac | High | 09-12 | 903 | · |
| Mackinaw Trail Middle School | Cadillac | Middle | 06-08 | 683 | · |
| Franklin Elementary School | Cadillac | Elementary | PK-05 | 563 | · |
| Buckley Community Schools | Buckley | Combined | PK-12 | 488 | · |
| Lincoln Elementary School | Cadillac | Elementary | KG-05 | 480 | · |
| Manton Consolidated Elem School | Manton | Elementary | KG-04 | 345 | · |
| Manton Consolidated Middle School | Manton | Middle | 05-08 | 305 | · |
| Manton Consolidated High School | Manton | High | 09-12 | 289 | · |
| Mesick Consolidated JrSr High School | Mesick | High | 06-12 | 276 | · |
| Forest View Elementary School | Boon | Elementary | PK-05 | 257 | · |
| Floyd M Jewett Elem School | Mesick | Elementary | KG-05 | 256 | · |
| Cadillac Innovation High School | Cadillac | High | 09-12 | 164 | · |
| WexfordMissaukee ISD Special Education | Cadillac | Combined | PK-12 | 89 | · |
| WexfordMissaukee ISD Career Center | Cadillac | High | 09-12 | 0 | · |
Cities in Wexford County
About Wexford County
Wexford County is a compact Michigan county of about 34,077 residents, home to 15 public schools and roughly 8,553 students.
Looking at the broader picture, census numbers show median household income runs near $61,085, 21% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, and the poverty rate is around 9%. That income level is 8% meaningfully below the Michigan median.
Looking at the level breakdown, Wexford County is made up of 5 elementary schools (1,901 students), 2 middle schools (988), 5 high schools (1,632), and 3 combined or other schools.
Highpoint Virtual Academy of Michigan is the biggest district by enrollment, covering about 3,455 students across Wexford County.
Trend over the past 4 years. Across the same 4-year window, public-school enrollment rose 22%: 6,999 students in SY 2020-21 versus 8,553 in SY 2024-25.
On allk12, the community for Wexford County discusses open enrollment windows, redistricting talk, and busing logistics. Members of the local community share what they see day-to-day.
Frequently asked questions
DATA · Census ACS 5-year · NCES Common Core of Data