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Buchanan Downtown Historic District 06Photo: JDNorry · CC BY-SA 3.0
A−
Schools in Buchanan · Buchanan Community School District

Buchanan’s public schools outscore 75% of Michigan districts

Reading proficiency in Buchanan’s districts is 56%, above the Michigan average (45%). The grade covers the public school district serving Buchanan, 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.

#266of 699 Michigan townsK–12Where will my kid go?

From Michigan state tests taken in spring 2022, when 93% 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
56%
▲ 11 pts vs MI 45%
2021–22
Math proficiency
41%
▲ 7 pts vs MI 34%
2021–22
Graduate on time
80–84%
▼ 2–2 pts vs MI 82%
class of 2023
Spent per student
$14.9K
▼ 10% vs MI $16.5K
FY2024
Students per teacher
17.7
MI 16.5 · larger classes
Schools in town
4
1,503 students on the public path
In brief

Buchanan’s schools, in brief

Better than its incomes would predict

Among the 967 Michigan towns with household incomes within a quarter of Buchanan’s, its schools beat 87%, higher than their 75% against all the state’s districts. The grade ↓

Above the state on both counts

Reading proficiency is 56% and math 41% in spring 2022, against 45% and 34% statewide; 80–84% of the class of 2023 graduated in four years, against 82%. Test scores ↓

Spending and class size

The district spends $14,892 per student, against $16,528 across Michigan (FY2024). Spending doesn’t count toward the grade. Districts ↓

One elementary school, then one elementary, one middle and one middle school

From grade 2 the district’s path is Moccasin Elementary School, then Buchanan Middle School, then Buchanan High School. See the path ↓

Choice beyond the district

Buchanan Virtual Academy, an online school, is based here too; it isn’t counted as a local school. 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 Buchanan’s grade

A− Test scoresC+ Graduation

A−: better than 75% of Michigan school districts, #266 of 699 Michigan towns. Test scores and graduation are both above the Michigan average; test scores are the stronger of the two.

Michigan school districts we grade (815)Better than 75%
Lower resultsHigher results
Michigan towns with similar household incomes (967)Better than 87%
BA−A fairly firm grade. Ordinary sampling error in 736 test results and a graduating class of 126 could put Buchanan anywhere from B to A−. The tests are from spring 2022, when 93% of Buchanan’s students in the tested grades sat them (736 in math, 735 in reading).

How TownRatings grades schools →

Where will my kid go?

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

The path, start to finish
PK–1Ottawa Elementary SchoolBuchanan Community School DistrictNo scores
2–4Moccasin Elementary SchoolBuchanan Community School DistrictA−
5–7Buchanan Middle SchoolBuchanan Community School DistrictB+
8–12Buchanan High SchoolBuchanan Community School DistrictB+

Buchanan’s public schools are run by Buchanan Community School District, which also serves Bertrand, Buchanan and Niles. 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.

Buchanan Community School DistrictGrades PK–12 · 6 schools · 1,567 students, up 4% since 2020–21 · 17.7 per teacher (MI 16.5)
$14,892MI $16,528 · FY2024
A−
Test scores · 2021–22

Well above the state in reading

Reading56%
State average 45.4% · 735 students tested
Math41%
State average 33.6% · 736 students tested

Buchanan vs. its neighbors

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

Schools next door
TownSchoolsMain districts
BuchananA−Buchanan

Every school in Buchanan

5 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 Buchananby address
Ottawa Elementary School
Elementary · Grades PK–1
230 students15:1Rate it →
Moccasin Elementary School
Elementary · Grades 2–4
A−
354 students19:1Rate it →
Buchanan Middle School
Middle · Grades 5–7
B+
358 students19:1Rate it →
Buchanan High School
High · Grades 8–12
B+
561 students18:1Rate it →
Online schools based in Buchanannot counted as local schools
Buchanan Virtual Academy
Grades K–12
B
OnlineAlternative Education
49 students19:1Rate it →

Left off: 1 public program with fewer than 25 students (Buchanan Step Up).

Questions about Buchanan’s schools

Are Buchanan’s schools good?

By Michigan’s own tests, yes: the public schools Buchanan children attend outscore 75% of Michigan’s school districts on tests and graduation, an A− Schools grade, #266 of 699 Michigan towns. Among towns with similar incomes they beat 87%. Tests are from 2021–22, graduation from the class of 2023.

What school district is Buchanan in?

Buchanan Community School District, which runs grades PK–12 and enrolls 1,567 students in 6 schools (2024–25).

What is Buchanan’s graduation rate?

80–84% of the class of 2023 in Buchanan Community School District graduated in four years, against 82% across Michigan.

How much does Buchanan spend per student?

$14,892 in Buchanan Community School District (FY2024), against $16,528 across Michigan. Spending doesn’t count toward the grade.

Parents talk

What Buchanan families are saying about school.

Town Square →
Start the conversation

Looking for colleges? Colleges near Buchanan → 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.