Public schools in Big Rapids, MI
10 open public schools with an address in Big Rapids, operated by 3 education agencies. Compare size, staffing, grade spans, and school type, then confirm assignment with the district.
Public schools
10
NCES preliminary directory 2025–26
Reported students
2,643
10 schools reporting · NCES 2024–25
Median student–teacher ratio
17.7:1
Michigan median 16.3:1
Charter schools
1
0 virtual
An overview of Big Rapids public schools
The federal directory lists 10 public schools in Big Rapids, MI: 3 elementary, 1 middle, 2 high, 4 combined or other. The 10 schools that reported 2024–25 membership enrolled 2,643 students, an average of 264 per school. The largest campus is Big Rapids High School (755 students), and the largest elementary school is Riverview Elementary School (346).
Big Rapids Public Schools operates the most schools here (6), plus 2 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 17.7:1, higher 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 1 charter school. Application windows and lotteries usually open months before the school year.
Among 4 high and combined schools with 2021–22 civil-rights data, 1 reported students enrolled in AP courses and 0 of 4 reported computer-science classes. Confirm current course catalogs directly with each school.
About 48% 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 Big Rapids
Elementary schools in Big Rapids
3| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brookside Elementary School Big Rapids Public Schools | PK–04 | 336 | 17.7:1 | |
| Eastwood Elementary Big Rapids Public Schools | PK–KG | 209 | 16.1:1 | |
| Riverview Elementary School Big Rapids Public Schools | KG–04 | 346 | 18.2:1 |
Middle schools in Big Rapids
1| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Big Rapids Middle School Big Rapids Public Schools | 05–08 | 644 | 20.5:1 |
High schools in Big Rapids
2| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Big Rapids High School Big Rapids Public Schools | 09–12 | 755 | 20.4:1 | |
| MecostaOsceola Career Center Mecosta-Osceola ISD · Career and Technical School | 11–12 | 0 | 0:1 |
Combined, early-childhood, and other schools in Big Rapids
4| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Big Rapids Virtual School Big Rapids Public Schools · Alternative School | KG–12 | 115 | 115:1 | |
| Crossroads Charter Academy Crossroads Charter Academy · Charter | KG–12 | 117 | 10.4:1 | |
| EarlyOn Mecosta-Osceola ISD · Special Education School | PK–PK | 0 | — | |
| MecostaOsceola Education Center Mecosta-Osceola ISD · Special Education School | PK–12 | 121 | 10.9:1 |
Student demographics
Race and ethnicity share of reported enrollment
- White86.7%
- Hispanic2.8%
- Black3.3%
- Asian0.5%
- American Indian / Alaska Native0.7%
- Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander0.1%
- Multiracial6%
Enrollment-weighted across 8 Big Rapids schools with NCES CCD 2024–25 race/ethnicity counts (2,643 students). Privacy suppression can leave small gaps.
Questions about public schools in Big Rapids
How many public schools are in Big Rapids, MI?
The current NCES directory lists 10 open public schools with a location address in Big Rapids: 3 elementary, 1 middle, 2 high, 4 combined or other. Together they reported 2,643 students in 2024–25. The count includes charter, alternative, and special-purpose public schools; it excludes private schools.
Which school districts serve Big Rapids?
Schools with an address in Big Rapids belong to 3 education agencies, led by Big Rapids Public Schools (6 schools), Mecosta-Osceola ISD (3 schools), Crossroads Charter Academy (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 Big Rapids?
Big Rapids High School reported the largest high-school enrollment in Big Rapids, with 755 students in 2024–25 (grades 09–12). Size is a description of the campus, not a quality measure.
Are there charter schools in Big Rapids?
Yes. 1 of the 10 public schools in Big Rapids are identified as charter schools in the NCES directory, including Crossroads Charter Academy. Charter schools are public and tuition-free, but admission usually uses an application or lottery.
What is the typical student–teacher ratio in Big Rapids schools?
The median reported student–teacher ratio across Big Rapids public schools is 17.7:1, higher 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 Big Rapids 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