B⁺

Schools in Lake Township · Lake City Area School District, McBain Rural Agricultural Schools

Lake Township’s public schools outscore 67% of Michigan districts

Math proficiency in Lake Township’s districts is 39%, above the Michigan average (34%). The grade covers the two public school districts serving Lake Township, 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.

#340of 699 Michigan townsK–12Where will my kid go?

From Michigan state tests taken in spring 2022, when 98% 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

47%

▲ 2 pts vs MI 45%

2021–22

Math proficiency

39%

▲ 5 pts vs MI 34%

2021–22

Graduate on time

75–79%

▼ 3–7 pts vs MI 82%

class of 2023

Spent per student

$14.2K

▼ 14% vs MI $16.5K

FY2024 · Lake City Area

Students per teacher

16.9

MI 16.5

Schools in town

2,223 students on the public path

In brief

Lake Township’s schools, in brief

Above the state on tests

Reading proficiency is 47% and math 39% across both districts in spring 2022, against 45% and 34% statewide; 75–79% of the class of 2023 graduated in four years, against 82%. Test scores ↓

Spending and class size

Lake City Area spends $14,224 per student and McBain Rural Agricultural Schools $14,602, against $16,528 across Michigan (FY2024). Neither counts toward the grade. Districts ↓

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 Lake Township’s grade

B⁺ Test scoresC Graduation

B+: better than 67% of Michigan school districts, #340 of 699 Michigan towns. Test scores are above the Michigan average; graduation is below it.

Michigan school districts we grade (815)Better than 67%

Lower resultsHigher results

Michigan towns with similar household incomes (1208)Better than 65%

Towns in Missaukee County (15)Better than 60%

BA⁻A fairly firm grade. Ordinary sampling error in 1,082 test results and a graduating class of 92 could put Lake Township anywhere from B to A−. The tests are from spring 2022, when 98% of Lake Township’s students in the tested grades sat them (1,082 in math, 1,083 in reading).

How TownRatings grades schools →

Where will my kid go?

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

Kindergarten in Lake Township · depends on your address

McBain Elementary School

Grades PK–5 · 520 students · 19:1 students per teacher · in Mc Bain

B⁺

Lake City Elementary School

Grades K–5 · 508 students · 16:1 students per teacher · in Lake City

B⁻

The path, start to finish

PK–52 elementary schoolsDepends on your addressB⁻ to B⁺

6–82 middle schoolsDepends on your addressC⁺ to B⁺

9–122 high schoolsDepends on your addressC⁺ to B⁺

Lake Township runs its own schools through grade 12 (McBain Rural Agricultural Schools). From grade K, students attend the Lake City Area School District, shared with Aetna, Bloomfield, Caldwell, Forest, Lake City, Norwich, Pioneer, Reeder and West Branch. Its elementary school is in Mc Bain. To confirm the school for a specific address, ask the district.

Two districts serve Lake Township

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

Lake City Area School DistrictGrades K–12 · 3 schools · 1,142 students, down 1% since 2020–21 · 15.8 per teacher (MI 16.5)

$14,224MI $16,528 · FY2024

B⁻

McBain Rural Agricultural SchoolsGrades PK–12 · 3 schools · 1,081 students, up 7% since 2020–21 · 18.3 per teacher (MI 16.5)

$14,602MI $16,528 · FY2024

A⁻

Test scores · 2021–22

Above the state in reading

Reading · K–12, Lake City Area School District40%

State average 45.4% · 577 students tested

Math · K–12, Lake City Area School District32%

State average 33.6% · 576 students tested

Reading · PK–12, McBain Rural Agricultural Schools55%

State average 45.4% · 506 students tested

Math · PK–12, McBain Rural Agricultural Schools47%

State average 33.6% · 506 students tested

Lake Township vs. its neighbors

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

Schools next door

Town	Schools	Main districts
Lake Township	B⁺	McBain Rural Agricultural Schools PK–12 · Lake City Area K–12
Lake City	—	Lake City Area
Haring	B⁺	Cadillac Area
Caldwell	B	Lake City Area K–12 · Manton Consolidated Schools K–12
Reeder	B⁺	McBain Rural Agricultural Schools PK–12 · Lake City Area K–12
Richland	A⁻	McBain Rural Agricultural Schools

3 of the 5 neighbors share Lake City Area with Lake Township for grades K–12, so their letters differ mainly through the lower grades.

Every school in Lake Township

6 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).

Also serving Lake Townshipin other towns

McBain Elementary School

Elementary · Grades PK–5 · Mc Bain

B⁺

520 students19:1Rate it →

Lake City Elementary School

Elementary · Grades K–5 · Lake City

B⁻

508 students16:1Rate it →

McBain Middle School

Middle · Grades 6–8 · Mc Bain

B⁺

267 students19:1Rate it →

Lake City Middle School

Middle · Grades 6–8 · Lake City

C⁺

265 students17:1Rate it →

Lake City High School

High · Grades 9–12 · Lake City

C⁺

369 students15:1Rate it →

McBain High School

High · Grades 9–12 · Mc Bain

B⁺

294 students17:1Rate it →

Questions about Lake Township’s schools

Are Lake Township’s schools good?

By Michigan’s own tests, yes: the public schools Lake Township children attend outscore 67% of Michigan’s school districts on tests and graduation, a B+ Schools grade, #340 of 699 Michigan towns. Among towns with similar incomes they beat 65%. Tests are from 2021–22, graduation from the class of 2023.

What school district is Lake Township in?

Two districts: McBain Rural Agricultural Schools runs grades PK–12, and Lake City Area School District runs grades K–12, shared with Aetna, Bloomfield, Caldwell, Forest, Lake City, Norwich, Pioneer, Reeder and West Branch.

Where do Lake Township kids go to high school?

One of 2 high schools, depending on your address: Lake City High School and McBain High School.

What is Lake Township’s graduation rate?

75–79% of the class of 2023 in Lake City Area School District graduated in four years, against 82% across Michigan.

How much does Lake Township spend per student?

$14,224 in Lake City Area School District and $14,602 in McBain Rural Agricultural Schools (FY2024), against $16,528 across Michigan. Spending doesn’t count toward the grade.

Parents talk

What Lake Township families are saying about school.

Town Square →

Start the conversation

Looking for colleges? Colleges near Lake Township → 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.