Public schools in Carleton, MI
6 open public schools with an address in Carleton, operated by 1 education agency. Compare size, staffing, grade spans, and school type, then confirm assignment with the district.
Public schools
6
NCES preliminary directory 2025–26
Reported students
2,333
6 schools reporting · NCES 2024–25
Median student–teacher ratio
18.5:1
Michigan median 16.3:1
Charter schools
0
0 virtual
An overview of Carleton public schools
The federal directory lists 6 public schools in Carleton, MI: 2 elementary, 2 middle, 1 high, 1 combined or other. The 6 schools that reported 2024–25 membership enrolled 2,333 students, an average of 389 per school. The largest campus is Airport Senior High School (760 students), and the largest elementary school is Joseph C Sterling Elementary School (370).
Every listed school belongs to Airport Community Schools. 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 18.5:1, 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.
Among 2 high and combined schools with 2021–22 civil-rights data, 2 reported students enrolled in AP courses and 2 of 2 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 Carleton
Elementary schools in Carleton
2| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Joseph C Sterling Elementary School Airport Community Schools | PK–04 | 370 | 16.7:1 | |
| Loren Eyler Elementary School Airport Community Schools | PK–04 | 292 | 18.3:1 |
Middle schools in Carleton
2| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wagar Junior High School Airport Community Schools | 06–08 | 641 | 18.7:1 | |
| Wagar Middle School Airport Community Schools | 05–05 | 221 | 18.7:1 |
High schools in Carleton
1| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Airport Senior High School Airport Community Schools | 09–12 | 760 | 17.2:1 |
Combined, early-childhood, and other schools in Carleton
1| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Airport Center for Education Airport Community Schools · Alternative School | KG–12 | 49 | 25.4:1 |
Student demographics
Race and ethnicity share of reported enrollment
- White88.3%
- Hispanic6%
- Black2.3%
- Asian0%
- American Indian / Alaska Native0.1%
- Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander0%
- Multiracial3.2%
Enrollment-weighted across 6 Carleton schools with NCES CCD 2024–25 race/ethnicity counts (2,333 students). Privacy suppression can leave small gaps.
Questions about public schools in Carleton
How many public schools are in Carleton, MI?
The current NCES directory lists 6 open public schools with a location address in Carleton: 2 elementary, 2 middle, 1 high, 1 combined or other. Together they reported 2,333 students in 2024–25. The count includes charter, alternative, and special-purpose public schools; it excludes private schools.
Which school districts serve Carleton?
All listed public schools with an address in Carleton belong to Airport Community Schools. Mailing cities do not always match district boundaries, so confirm the district for a specific home address.
What is the largest public high school in Carleton?
Airport Senior High School reported the largest high-school enrollment in Carleton, with 760 students in 2024–25 (grades 09–12). Size is a description of the campus, not a quality measure.
Are there charter schools in Carleton?
No school with an address in Carleton 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 Carleton schools?
The median reported student–teacher ratio across Carleton public schools is 18.5:1, 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 Carleton 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