Public schools in Traverse City, MI
26 open public schools with an address in Traverse City, operated by 6 education agencies. Compare size, staffing, grade spans, and school type, then confirm assignment with the district.
Public schools
26
NCES preliminary directory 2025–26
Reported students
10,270
26 schools reporting · NCES 2024–25
Median student–teacher ratio
16:1
Michigan median 16.3:1
Charter schools
5
0 virtual
An overview of Traverse City public schools
The federal directory lists 26 public schools in Traverse City, MI: 13 elementary, 2 middle, 6 high, 5 combined or other. The 26 schools that reported 2024–25 membership enrolled 10,270 students, an average of 395 per school. The largest campus is West Senior High (1,384 students), and the largest elementary school is Central Grade School (510).
Traverse City Area Public Schools operates the most schools here (16), plus 5 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 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.
School choice options include 5 charter schools. Application windows and lotteries usually open months before the school year.
Among 10 high and combined schools with 2021–22 civil-rights data, 3 reported students enrolled in AP courses and 4 of 10 reported computer-science classes. Confirm current course catalogs directly with each school.
About 29% 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 Traverse City
Traverse City Area Public Schools
Public school district
16 schools in Traverse City
Northwest Education Services
Specialized public school district
5 schools in Traverse City
The Greenspire School
Independent charter agency
2 schools in Traverse City
Grand Traverse Academy
Independent charter agency
1 school in Traverse City
Old Mission Peninsula School
Independent charter agency
1 school in Traverse City
Woodland School
Independent charter agency
1 school in Traverse City
Elementary schools in Traverse City
13| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Blair Elementary School Traverse City Area Public Schools | PK–05 | 202 | 11.2:1 | |
| Central Grade School Traverse City Area Public Schools | PK–07 | 510 | 17:1 | |
| Cherry Knoll Elementary School Traverse City Area Public Schools | PK–05 | 333 | 15.1:1 | |
| Courtade Elementary School Traverse City Area Public Schools | PK–05 | 215 | 14.3:1 | |
| Eastern Elementary School Traverse City Area Public Schools | PK–05 | 475 | 18.5:1 | |
| Long Lake Elementary School Traverse City Area Public Schools | PK–05 | 364 | 16.4:1 | |
| Old Mission Peninsula School Old Mission Peninsula School · Charter | KG–06 | 146 | 11.2:1 | |
| Silver Lake Elementary School Traverse City Area Public Schools | PK–05 | 286 | 16:1 | |
| TCAPS Montessori School Traverse City Area Public Schools | PK–08 | 331 | 16.4:1 | |
| Traverse Heights Elem School Traverse City Area Public Schools | PK–05 | 245 | 13.3:1 | |
| Westwoods Elementary School Traverse City Area Public Schools | PK–05 | 365 | 17.8:1 | |
| Willow Hill Elementary School Traverse City Area Public Schools | PK–05 | 429 | 18.3:1 | |
| Woodland School Woodland School · Charter | KG–08 | 209 | 15.9:1 |
Middle schools in Traverse City
2| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| East Middle School Traverse City Area Public Schools | 06–08 | 829 | 19.9:1 | |
| West Middle School Traverse City Area Public Schools | 06–08 | 1,081 | 20.8:1 |
High schools in Traverse City
6| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Central High School Traverse City Area Public Schools | 08–12 | 1,326 | 23.7:1 | |
| North EdCareer Tech Northwest Education Services · Career and Technical School | 11–12 | 0 | 0:1 | |
| The Greenspire High School The Greenspire School · Charter | 09–12 | 176 | 17.6:1 | |
| The Greenspire School The Greenspire School · Charter | 06–12 | 93 | 10.3:1 | |
| Traverse City High School Traverse City Area Public Schools · Alternative School | 09–12 | 171 | 16.4:1 | |
| West Senior High Traverse City Area Public Schools | 09–12 | 1,384 | 24.7:1 |
Combined, early-childhood, and other schools in Traverse City
5| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grand Traverse Academy Grand Traverse Academy · Charter | PK–12 | 824 | 15.3:1 | |
| Life Skills Center Northwest Education Services · Special Education School | UG–UG | 67 | 3.4:1 | |
| North EdBridgeway Northwest Education Services · Special Education School | PK–12 | 70 | 2.9:1 | |
| North EdCreekside School Northwest Education Services · Special Education School | KG–12 | 64 | 6.4:1 | |
| North EdNew Horizons Northwest Education Services · Special Education School | PK–12 | 75 | 5.4:1 |
Student demographics
Race and ethnicity share of reported enrollment
- White88.4%
- Hispanic3.8%
- Black2.6%
- Asian1.9%
- American Indian / Alaska Native2.4%
- Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander0.4%
- Multiracial0.7%
Enrollment-weighted across 25 Traverse City schools with NCES CCD 2024–25 race/ethnicity counts (10,270 students). Privacy suppression can leave small gaps.
Questions about public schools in Traverse City
How many public schools are in Traverse City, MI?
The current NCES directory lists 26 open public schools with a location address in Traverse City: 13 elementary, 2 middle, 6 high, 5 combined or other. Together they reported 10,270 students in 2024–25. The count includes charter, alternative, and special-purpose public schools; it excludes private schools.
Which school districts serve Traverse City?
Schools with an address in Traverse City belong to 6 education agencies, led by Traverse City Area Public Schools (16 schools), Northwest Education Services (5 schools), The Greenspire School (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 Traverse City?
West Senior High reported the largest high-school enrollment in Traverse City, with 1,384 students in 2024–25 (grades 09–12). Size is a description of the campus, not a quality measure.
Are there charter schools in Traverse City?
Yes. 5 of the 26 public schools in Traverse City are identified as charter schools in the NCES directory, including Grand Traverse Academy, Old Mission Peninsula School, The Greenspire 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 Traverse City schools?
The median reported student–teacher ratio across Traverse City 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 Traverse 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