Public schools in Bay City, MI
20 open public schools with an address in Bay City, operated by 5 education agencies. Compare size, staffing, grade spans, and school type, then confirm assignment with the district.
Public schools
20
NCES preliminary directory 2025–26
Reported students
7,308
19 schools reporting · NCES 2024–25
Median student–teacher ratio
14.6:1
Michigan median 16.3:1
Charter schools
3
1 magnet · 0 virtual
An overview of Bay City public schools
The federal directory lists 20 public schools in Bay City, MI: 9 elementary, 2 middle, 5 high, 4 combined or other. The 19 schools that reported 2024–25 membership enrolled 7,308 students, an average of 385 per school. The largest campus is Bay City Central High School (921 students), and the largest elementary school is Kolb Elementary School (451).
Bay City School District operates the most schools here (10), and 2 regular districts have at least one Bay City campus, plus 3 charter, service, or other agencies. 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 14.6:1, lower than 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.
School choice options include 3 charter schools, 1 magnet school. Application windows and lotteries usually open months before the school year.
Among 6 high and combined schools with 2021–22 civil-rights data, 2 reported students enrolled in AP courses and 1 of 6 reported computer-science classes. Confirm current course catalogs directly with each school.
About 64% 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 Bay City
Bay City School District
Public school district
10 schools in Bay City · 13 total
Bangor Township Schools
Public school district
6 schools in Bay City
State Street Academy
Independent charter agency
2 schools in Bay City
Bay City Academy
Independent charter agency
1 school in Bay City · 2 total
Bay-Arenac ISD
Specialized public school district
1 school in Bay City · 3 total
Elementary schools in Bay City
9| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bangor Central School Bangor Township Schools | PK–05 | 332 | 22.6:1 | |
| Bangor Lincoln School Bangor Township Schools | PK–05 | 344 | 25.2:1 | |
| Bangor West Central School Bangor Township Schools | KG–05 | 361 | 26.4:1 | |
| Hampton Elementary School Bay City School District | PK–05 | 399 | 16.6:1 | |
| Kolb Elementary School Bay City School District · Magnet | PK–05 | 451 | 13.9:1 | |
| MacGregor Elementary School Bay City School District | PK–05 | 290 | 11.4:1 | |
| Mackensen Elementary School Bay City School District | PK–05 | 265 | 14.6:1 | |
| McAlearSawden Elem School Bay City School District | PK–05 | 378 | 14.5:1 | |
| Washington Elementary School Bay City School District | PK–05 | 362 | 12.1:1 |
Middle schools in Bay City
2| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Christa McAuliffe Middle School Bangor Township Schools | 06–08 | 608 | 21.9:1 | |
| Handy Middle School Bay City School District | 06–08 | 598 | 13.7:1 |
High schools in Bay City
5| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bay City Adult EducationCTP Bay City School District · Alternative School | 09–12 | 65 | — | |
| Bay City Central High School Bay City School District | 09–12 | 921 | 17:1 | |
| Bay City Eastern High School Bay City School District · Alternative School | 09–12 | 137 | 13.7:1 | |
| John Glenn High School Bangor Township Schools | 09–12 | 864 | 27.3:1 | |
| State Street Academy High School State Street Academy · Charter | 09–12 | — | — |
Combined, early-childhood, and other schools in Bay City
4| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bangor Township Virtual School Bangor Township Schools · Alternative School | KG–12 | 182 | 2.5:1 | |
| Bay City Academy Farragut Campus Bay City Academy · Charter | PK–12 | 373 | 18.6:1 | |
| ISDLocal Programs Bay-Arenac ISD · Special Education School | PK–12 | 92 | 7.1:1 | |
| State Street Academy State Street Academy · Charter | PK–12 | 286 | 12.9:1 |
Student demographics
Race and ethnicity share of reported enrollment
- White73.7%
- Hispanic13.1%
- Black3.9%
- Asian0.6%
- American Indian / Alaska Native0.3%
- Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander0%
- Multiracial8.4%
Enrollment-weighted across 19 Bay City schools with NCES CCD 2024–25 race/ethnicity counts (7,308 students). Privacy suppression can leave small gaps.
Questions about public schools in Bay City
How many public schools are in Bay City, MI?
The current NCES directory lists 20 open public schools with a location address in Bay City: 9 elementary, 2 middle, 5 high, 4 combined or other. Together they reported 7,308 students in 2024–25. The count includes charter, alternative, and special-purpose public schools; it excludes private schools.
Which school districts serve Bay City?
Schools with an address in Bay City belong to 5 education agencies, led by Bay City School District (10 schools), Bangor Township Schools (6 schools), State Street Academy (2 schools). A mailing city is not an attendance boundary; confirm the district for a specific address.
What is the largest public high school in Bay City?
Bay City Central High School reported the largest high-school enrollment in Bay City, with 921 students in 2024–25 (grades 09–12). Size is a description of the campus, not a quality measure.
Are there charter schools in Bay City?
Yes. 3 of the 20 public schools in Bay City are identified as charter schools in the NCES directory, including Bay City Academy Farragut Campus, State Street Academy, State Street Academy High School. Charter schools are public and tuition-free, but admission usually uses an application or lottery.
What is the typical student–teacher ratio in Bay City schools?
The median reported student–teacher ratio across Bay City public schools is 14.6:1, lower than 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 Bay City 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