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B⁻

Schools in Bay City · Bay City School District

Bay City’s public schools score below 54% of Michigan districts on tests and graduation

On the state math tests, 28% of Bay City’s students scored proficient, below the Michigan average (34%). The grade covers the public school district serving Bay City, from kindergarten through graduation, on state tests and graduation. Each state writes its own tests, so this is the one TownRatings grade compared within Michigan, not nationally.

#531of 699 Michigan townsK–12Where will my kid go?

From Michigan state tests taken in spring 2022, when 96% of students in the tested grades sat them, and the class of 2023’s four-year graduation rate, as reported to the U.S. Department of Education.

Reading proficiency

41%

▼ 4 pts vs MI 45%

2021–22

Math proficiency

28%

▼ 6 pts vs MI 34%

2021–22

Graduate on time

77%

▼ 5 pts vs MI 82%

class of 2023

Spent per student

$15.5K

▼ 6% vs MI $16.5K

FY2024

Students per teacher

16.1

MI 16.5

Schools in town

2,622 students on the public path

In brief

Bay City’s schools, in brief

Results trail the state

In spring 2022, 41% of tested students were proficient in reading and 28% in math, against 45% and 34% statewide; 96% of students in the tested grades sat the tests. The grade ↓

Graduation

77% of the class of 2023 graduated in four years, against 82% across Michigan. Districts ↓

Spending and class size

The district spends $15,490 per student, against $16,528 across Michigan (FY2024). Spending doesn’t count toward the grade. Districts ↓

Three elementary schools, then one middle and one high school

Which elementary school depends on the address; from grade 6 the district’s path is Handy Middle School, then Bay City Central High School. Enrollment is down 10% since 2020–21. See the path ↓

Choice beyond the district

State Street Academy, Bay City Academy Farragut Campus, All Saints Catholic Middle & High School (private), Zion Lutheran School (private), Trinity Evangelical Lutheran School (private), All Saints Elementary (private), Immanuel Lutheran School (private) and St. Johns Lutheran School (private) are in town. Every school ↓

Written from the figures on this page. Tests are from 2021–22, graduation from the class of 2023; each school’s own letter uses 2020–21 results.

The School Grade

What’s behind Bay City’s grade

B⁻ Test scoresC Graduation

B−: better than 46% of Michigan school districts, #531 of 699 Michigan towns. Both inputs trail the Michigan average; test scores are the closer of the two to typical.

Michigan school districts we grade (815)Better than 46%

Lower resultsHigher results

Michigan towns with similar household incomes (688)Better than 43%

C⁺B⁻A fairly firm grade. Ordinary sampling error in 3,210 test results and a graduating class of 602 could put Bay City anywhere from C+ to B−. The tests are from spring 2022, when 96% of Bay City’s students in the tested grades sat them (3,205 in math, 3,214 in reading).

How TownRatings grades schools →

Where will my kid go?

Pick a grade. These are the public schools that serve Bay City, with each school’s own grade.

Kindergarten in Bay City · depends on your address

Kolb Elementary School

Grades PK–5 · 451 students · 14:1 students per teacher

B⁻

Washington Elementary School

Grades PK–5 · 362 students · 12:1 students per teacher

MacGregor Elementary School

Grades PK–5 · 290 students · 11:1 students per teacher

The path, start to finish

PK–53 elementary schoolsDepends on your addressD to B⁻

6–8Handy Middle SchoolBay City School DistrictC

9–12Bay City Central High SchoolBay City School DistrictC⁺

Bay City’s public schools are run by Bay City School District, which also serves Auburn, Beaver, Frankenlust and Hampton and others. To confirm the school for a specific address, ask the district.

The district

Spending and class size are shown but don’t count toward the grade. Each district’s own page has every school.

Bay City School DistrictGrades PK–12 · 13 schools · 6,030 students, down 10% since 2020–21 · 16.1 per teacher (MI 16.5)

$15,490MI $16,528 · FY2024

B⁻

Test scores · 2021–22

Below the state in reading

Reading41%

State average 45.4% · 3214 students tested

Math28%

State average 33.6% · 3205 students tested

Bay City vs. its neighbors

Schools grades for the Michigan towns that share Bay City’s borders.

Schools next door

Town	Schools	Main districts
Bay City	B⁻	Bay City
Bangor	B⁻	Bangor Township Schools
Portsmouth	B⁻	Bay City
Frankenlust	B⁻	Bay City
Hampton	B⁻	Essexville-Hampton PK–12 · Bay City PK–12
Essexville	B⁺	Essexville-Hampton
Monitor	B⁻	Bay City

4 of the 6 neighbors share Bay City with Bay City, so their letters differ mainly through other districts.

Every school in Bay City

14 schools. Each public school’s letter compares its own 2020–21 reading and math results with Michigan’s other public schools (the newest school-level results we have).

District schools in Bay Cityby address

Kolb Elementary School

Elementary · Grades PK–5

B⁻

451 students14:1Rate it →

Washington Elementary School

Elementary · Grades PK–5

362 students12:1Rate it →

MacGregor Elementary School

Elementary · Grades PK–5

290 students11:1Rate it →

Handy Middle School

Middle · Grades 6–8

598 students14:1Rate it →

Bay City Central High School

High · Grades 9–12

C⁺

921 students17:1Rate it →

Other district programsby referral or application

Bay City Eastern High School

High · Grades 9–12

C⁻

Alternative Education

137 students14:1Rate it →

Charter schoolsfree, open by application

Bay City Academy Farragut Campus

Grades PK–12

Charter

373 students19:1Rate it →

State Street Academy

Grades PK–11

Charter

286 students13:1Rate it →

Private schoolstuition; no state tests, so no grade

All Saints Catholic Middle & High School

Grades 6–12

Private · Catholic

140 students10:1Rate it →

Zion Lutheran School

Elementary · Grades PK–8

Private · Religious

124 students10:1Rate it →

Trinity Evangelical Lutheran School

Elementary · Grades PK–8

Private · Religious

122 studentsRate it →

All Saints Elementary

Elementary · Grades PK–5

Private · Catholic

119 students13:1Rate it →

Immanuel Lutheran School

Elementary · Grades PK–8

Private · Religious

117 students13:1Rate it →

St. Johns Lutheran School

Elementary · Grades PK–8

Private · Religious

87 students15:1Rate it →

Questions about Bay City’s schools

Are Bay City’s schools good?

On Michigan’s tests they score below most of the state: the public schools Bay City children attend score below 54% of Michigan’s school districts on tests and graduation, a B− Schools grade, #531 of 699 Michigan towns. Among towns with similar incomes they beat 43%. Tests are from 2021–22, graduation from the class of 2023.

What school district is Bay City in?

Bay City School District, which runs grades PK–12 and enrolls 6,030 students in 13 schools (2024–25).

Where do Bay City kids go to high school?

Bay City Central High School, with 921 students; its own test results earn a C+.

What is Bay City’s graduation rate?

77% of the class of 2023 in Bay City School District graduated in four years, against 82% across Michigan.

How much does Bay City spend per student?

$15,490 in Bay City School District (FY2024), against $16,528 across Michigan. Spending doesn’t count toward the grade.

Are there private schools in Bay City?

Yes: All Saints Catholic Middle & High School (Catholic, grades 6–12, 140 students), Zion Lutheran School (religious, grades PK–8, 124 students), Trinity Evangelical Lutheran School (religious, grades PK–8, 122 students), All Saints Elementary (Catholic, grades PK–5, 119 students), Immanuel Lutheran School (religious, grades PK–8, 117 students) and St. Johns Lutheran School (religious, grades PK–8, 87 students). Bay City also has 2 charter schools, free and open by application.

Parents talk

What Bay City families are saying about school.

Town Square →

Start the conversation

Looking for colleges? Colleges near Bay City → They have their own page.

School data: state test results (2021–22, with participation) and four-year graduation rates (class of 2023) reported to the U.S. Department of Education (EDFacts via ED Data Express); each school’s own letter uses its 2020–21 results (EDFacts via the Urban Institute); schools and enrollment from NCES (2024–25; private schools 2023–24); spending from the Census Bureau’s school finance survey (FY2024). The School Grade is our own summary, graded within Michigan. Stars are from neighbors.