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Iron River MI Town HallPhoto: Andrew Jameson · CC BY-SA 3.0
B+
Schools in Iron River · West Iron County Public Schools

Iron River’s public schools outscore 69% of Michigan districts

The grade covers the public school district serving Iron River, from kindergarten through graduation, on state tests and graduation. 92% of Iron River’s students graduate on time, above the Michigan average (82%). Each state writes its own tests, so this is the one TownRatings grade compared within Michigan, not nationally.

#322of 699 Michigan townsK–12Where will my kid go?

From Michigan state tests taken in spring 2022, when 100% 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
43%
▼ 2 pts vs MI 45%
2021–22
Math proficiency
36%
▲ 2 pts vs MI 34%
2021–22
Graduate on time
90–94%
▲ 8–12 pts vs MI 82%
class of 2023
Spent per student
$14.9K
▼ 10% vs MI $16.5K
FY2024
Students per teacher
15.5
MI 16.5 · smaller classes
Schools in town
2
760 students on the public path
In brief

Iron River’s schools, in brief

Better than its incomes would predict

Among the 917 Michigan towns with household incomes within a quarter of Iron River’s, its schools beat 79%, higher than their 69% against all the state’s districts. The grade ↓

Above the state in math, below in reading

Reading proficiency is 43% and math 36% in spring 2022, against 45% and 34% statewide; 90–94% of the class of 2023 graduated in four years, against 82%. Test scores ↓

Spending and class size

The district spends $14,946 per student, against $16,528 across Michigan (FY2024). Spending doesn’t count toward the grade. Districts ↓

One elementary school, then one middle school

From grade 7 the district’s path is West Iron County Middle High School. Enrollment is up 26% since 2020–21. See the path ↓

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 Iron River’s grade

B Test scoresB+ Graduation

B+: better than 69% of Michigan school districts, #322 of 699 Michigan towns. Test scores and graduation are both above the Michigan average; graduation is the stronger of the two.

Michigan school districts we grade (815)Better than 69%
Lower resultsHigher results
Michigan towns with similar household incomes (917)Better than 79%
BA−A fairly firm grade. Ordinary sampling error in 447 test results and a graduating class of 67 could put Iron River anywhere from B to A−. The tests are from spring 2022, when 100% of Iron River’s students in the tested grades sat them (447 in math, 447 in reading).

How TownRatings grades schools →

Where will my kid go?

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

The path, start to finish
PK–6Stambaugh Elementary SchoolWest Iron County Public SchoolsA−
7–12West Iron County Middle High SchoolWest Iron County Public SchoolsB−

Iron River’s public schools are run by West Iron County Public Schools, which also serves Bates, Caspian, Gaastra and Iron River 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.

West Iron County Public SchoolsGrades PK–12 · 2 schools · 760 students, up 26% since 2020–21 · 15.5 per teacher (MI 16.5)
$14,946MI $16,528 · FY2024
B+
Test scores · 2021–22

Below the state in reading

Reading43%
State average 45.4% · 447 students tested
Math36%
State average 33.6% · 447 students tested

Iron River vs. its neighbors

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

Schools next door
TownSchoolsMain districts
Iron RiverB+West Iron County
StambaughB+West Iron County
Caspian—West Iron County
Bates—West Iron County

All 3 neighbors share West Iron County with Iron River, so their letters differ mainly through other districts.

Every school in Iron River

2 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 Iron Riverby address
Stambaugh Elementary School
Elementary · Grades PK–6
A−
353 students15:1Rate it →
West Iron County Middle High School
High · Grades 6–12
B−
407 students16:1Rate it →

Questions about Iron River’s schools

Are Iron River’s schools good?

By Michigan’s own tests, yes: the public schools Iron River children attend outscore 69% of Michigan’s school districts on tests and graduation, a B+ Schools grade, #322 of 699 Michigan towns. Among towns with similar incomes they beat 79%. Tests are from 2021–22, graduation from the class of 2023.

What school district is Iron River in?

West Iron County Public Schools, which runs grades PK–12 and enrolls 760 students in 2 schools (2024–25).

What is Iron River’s graduation rate?

90–94% of the class of 2023 in West Iron County Public Schools graduated in four years, against 82% across Michigan.

How much does Iron River spend per student?

$14,946 in West Iron County Public Schools (FY2024), against $16,528 across Michigan. Spending doesn’t count toward the grade.

Parents talk

What Iron River families are saying about school.

Town Square →
Start the conversation

Looking for colleges? Colleges near Iron River → 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.