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Soo Michigan skylinePhoto: P199 · CC BY-SA 3.0
B+
Schools in Sault Ste. Marie · Sault Ste. Marie Area Schools

Sault Ste. Marie’s public schools outscore 71% of Michigan districts

The grade covers the public school district serving Sault Ste. Marie, 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.

#313of 699 Michigan townsK–12Where will my kid go?

From Michigan state tests taken in spring 2022, when 97% 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
49%
▲ 4 pts vs MI 45%
2021–22
Math proficiency
37%
▲ 3 pts vs MI 34%
2021–22
Graduate on time
85–89%
▲ 3–7 pts vs MI 82%
class of 2023
Spent per student
$13.6K
▼ 18% vs MI $16.5K
FY2024
Students per teacher
17.1
MI 16.5 · larger classes
Schools in town
7
1,723 students on the public path
In brief

Sault Ste. Marie’s schools, in brief

Better than its incomes would predict

Among the 943 Michigan towns with household incomes within a quarter of Sault Ste. Marie’s, its schools beat 81%, higher than their 71% against all the state’s districts. The grade ↓

Above the state on both counts

Reading proficiency is 49% and math 37% in spring 2022, against 45% and 34% statewide; 85–89% of the class of 2023 graduated in four years, against 82%. Test scores ↓

Spending and class size

The district spends $13,581 per student, against $16,528 across Michigan (FY2024). Spending doesn’t count toward the grade. Districts ↓

Two elementary schools, then two middle schools

Which school depends on the address at every step. Enrollment is down 6% since 2020–21. See the path ↓

Choice beyond the district

Joseph K Lumsden Bahweting Anishnabe Academy and St. Mary's 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 Sault Ste. Marie’s grade

B+ Test scoresB Graduation

B+: better than 71% of Michigan school districts, #313 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 71%
Lower resultsHigher results
Michigan towns with similar household incomes (943)Better than 81%
BA−A fairly firm grade. Ordinary sampling error in 912 test results and a graduating class of 198 could put Sault Ste. Marie anywhere from B to A−. The tests are from spring 2022, when 97% of Sault Ste. Marie’s students in the tested grades sat them (913 in math, 912 in reading).

How TownRatings grades schools →

Where will my kid go?

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

The path, start to finish
PK–72 schoolsDepends on your addressB−
8–122 schoolsDepends on your addressB to B+

Sault Ste. Marie’s public schools are run by Sault Ste. Marie Area Schools, which also serves Bruce, Dafter, Soo and Sugar Island. 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.

Sault Ste. Marie Area SchoolsGrades PK–12 · 5 schools · 1,794 students, down 6% since 2020–21 · 17.1 per teacher (MI 16.5)
$13,581MI $16,528 · FY2024
B+
Test scores · 2021–22

Above the state in reading

Reading49%
State average 45.4% · 912 students tested
Math37%
State average 33.6% · 913 students tested

Sault Ste. Marie vs. its neighbors

Schools grades for the Michigan towns that share Sault Ste. Marie’s borders.

Schools next door
TownSchoolsMain districts
Sault Ste. MarieB+Sault Ste. Marie Area Schools
SooB+Sault Ste. Marie Area Schools
Sugar Island—Sault Ste. Marie Area Schools

All 2 neighbors share Sault Ste. Marie Area Schools with Sault Ste. Marie, so their letters differ mainly through other districts.

Every school in Sault Ste. Marie

7 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 Sault Ste. Marieby address
Lincoln School
Elementary · Grades PK–7 · Sault Sainte Marie
B−
342 students13:1Rate it →
Washington Elementary School
Elementary · Grades K–1 · Sault Sainte Marie
195 students13:1Rate it →
Sault Area Middle School
Middle · Grades 5–10 · Sault Sainte Marie
B
498 students17:1Rate it →
Sault Area High School
High · Grades 8–12 · Sault Sainte Marie
B+
688 students24:1Rate it →
Charter schoolsfree, open by application
Joseph K Lumsden Bahweting Anishnabe Academy
Elementary · Grades K–8 · Sault Sainte Marie
B−
Charter
601 students12:1Rate it →
Other public schools in Sault Ste. Marierun by other districts or the state
Joseph K. Lumsden Bahweting Anishnabe School
Grades K–12
389 studentsRate it →
Private schoolstuition; no state tests, so no grade
St. Mary's School
Elementary · Grades PK–8 · Sault Sainte Marie
Private · Catholic
91 students12:1Rate it →

Left off: 2 public programs with fewer than 25 students (Sault Area Career Center and EUPISD Project Search).

Questions about Sault Ste. Marie’s schools

Are Sault Ste. Marie’s schools good?

By Michigan’s own tests, yes: the public schools Sault Ste. Marie children attend outscore 71% of Michigan’s school districts on tests and graduation, a B+ Schools grade, #313 of 699 Michigan towns. Among towns with similar incomes they beat 81%. Tests are from 2021–22, graduation from the class of 2023.

What school district is Sault Ste. Marie in?

Sault Ste. Marie Area Schools, which runs grades PK–12 and enrolls 1,794 students in 5 schools (2024–25).

What is Sault Ste. Marie’s graduation rate?

85–89% of the class of 2023 in Sault Ste. Marie Area Schools graduated in four years, against 82% across Michigan.

How much does Sault Ste. Marie spend per student?

$13,581 in Sault Ste. Marie Area Schools (FY2024), against $16,528 across Michigan. Spending doesn’t count toward the grade.

Are there private schools in Sault Ste. Marie?

Yes: St. Mary's School (Catholic, grades PK–8, 91 students). Sault Ste. Marie also has 1 charter school, free and open by application.

Parents talk

What Sault Ste. Marie families are saying about school.

Town Square →
Start the conversation

Looking for colleges? Colleges near Sault Ste. Marie → 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.