Public schools in Alpena, MI
8 open public schools with an address in Alpena, operated by 2 education agencies. Compare size, staffing, grade spans, and school type, then confirm assignment with the district.
Public schools
8
NCES preliminary directory 2025–26
Reported students
3,177
8 schools reporting · NCES 2024–25
Median student–teacher ratio
16:1
Michigan median 16.3:1
Charter schools
0
0 virtual
An overview of Alpena public schools
The federal directory lists 8 public schools in Alpena, MI: 4 elementary, 1 middle, 2 high, 1 combined or other. The 8 schools that reported 2024–25 membership enrolled 3,177 students, an average of 397 per school. The largest campus is Alpena High School (1,091 students), and the largest elementary school is Besser Elementary School (470).
Alpena Public Schools operates the most schools here (7), plus 1 charter, service, or other agency. City names come from school mailing addresses, which often differ from district or municipal boundaries.
Across schools that reported staffing, the median student–teacher ratio is 16:1, similar to the statewide school median of 16.3:1. A ratio counts classroom-teacher FTE against total enrollment, so specialized programs and part-time staffing can move it; ask schools for actual class sizes by grade.
Among 3 high and combined schools with 2021–22 civil-rights data, 1 reported students enrolled in AP courses and 1 of 3 reported computer-science classes. Confirm current course catalogs directly with each school.
About 62% of students in reporting schools were eligible for free or reduced-price meals in 2024–25. This describes the community served; it is not a quality signal, and community-eligibility schools can report differently.
School districts and agencies serving Alpena
Elementary schools in Alpena
4| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Besser Elementary School Alpena Public Schools | PK–05 | 470 | 18.4:1 | |
| Ella M White Elementary Alpena Public Schools | KG–05 | 440 | 17.8:1 | |
| Hinks Elementary Alpena Public Schools | KG–05 | 132 | 16.4:1 | |
| Lincoln Elementary Alpena Public Schools | KG–05 | 146 | 14.5:1 |
Middle schools in Alpena
1| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thunder Bay Junior High School Alpena Public Schools | 06–08 | 796 | 15.6:1 |
High schools in Alpena
2| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ACES Academy Alpena Public Schools · Alternative School | 07–12 | 57 | 8.1:1 | |
| Alpena High School Alpena Public Schools | 08–12 | 1,091 | 18:1 |
Combined, early-childhood, and other schools in Alpena
1| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pied Piper School Alpena-Montmorency-Alcona ESD · Special Education School | PK–12 | 45 | 6.4:1 |
Student demographics
Race and ethnicity share of reported enrollment
- White91.4%
- Hispanic3.3%
- Black0.4%
- Asian0.5%
- American Indian / Alaska Native0.1%
- Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander0%
- Multiracial4.2%
Enrollment-weighted across 8 Alpena schools with NCES CCD 2024–25 race/ethnicity counts (3,177 students). Privacy suppression can leave small gaps.
Questions about public schools in Alpena
How many public schools are in Alpena, MI?
The current NCES directory lists 8 open public schools with a location address in Alpena: 4 elementary, 1 middle, 2 high, 1 combined or other. Together they reported 3,177 students in 2024–25. The count includes charter, alternative, and special-purpose public schools; it excludes private schools.
Which school districts serve Alpena?
Schools with an address in Alpena belong to 2 education agencies, led by Alpena Public Schools (7 schools), Alpena-Montmorency-Alcona ESD (1 school). A mailing city is not an attendance boundary; confirm the district for a specific address.
What is the largest public high school in Alpena?
Alpena High School reported the largest high-school enrollment in Alpena, with 1,091 students in 2024–25 (grades 08–12). Size is a description of the campus, not a quality measure.
Are there charter schools in Alpena?
No school with an address in Alpena is identified as a charter school in the current NCES directory. Families may still have charter or virtual options elsewhere in Michigan.
What is the typical student–teacher ratio in Alpena schools?
The median reported student–teacher ratio across Alpena public schools is 16:1, similar to the Michigan school median of 16.3:1. The ratio divides enrollment by classroom-teacher FTE; it is not an average class size.
Does living in Alpena guarantee a seat at a specific school?
No. Assignment depends on the district's attendance boundaries, programs, and enrollment rules, which can split a city or cross city lines. Use the district profile and its official boundary or school-locator tool to confirm the assigned school for an exact address.
Nearby Michigan cities
Sources: NCES Common Core of Data 2025–26 preliminary directory (schools, grades, addresses, charter status) and 2024–25 nonfiscal files (enrollment, teachers, race/ethnicity, meal eligibility); Civil Rights Data Collection 2021–22 (AP and computer science). Cities are grouped by school mailing address. Methodology · All Michigan cities