Ionia Public Schools

Every figure on PlainSchools is rendered directly from the source NCES, CRDC and F-33 federal records, no number is typed in by an editor. District totals are aggregated directly from the schools reporting under this district in the source records. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, the data changelog, or report a data error. Data current as of August 2026.

Ionia, Michigan - 8 schools

An equity score of 33/100 ranks Ionia Public Schools #601 of 702 districts in Michigan (state average 50). Derived live from how evenly resources are distributed across the district's schools.

At $12,318 per pupil, Ionia Public Schools ranks #672 of 812 Michigan districts by per-pupil spending (Michigan districts). NCES F-33 finance data.

2,833
Total Enrollment
8
Schools
$12,318
Per-Pupil Spending
Combined, High
School Types

District-Level NCES Analysis

Ionia Public Schools operates 8 public schools serving 2,833 students, placing it among the smaller districts in Michigan. The school portfolio breaks down into 5 combined, 1 high, 1 middle, 1 elementary schools, a compact enough portfolio that families can compare every campus directly before they move, rent, or enrol. These enrollment and school figures come from the NCES Common Core of Data (CCD) 2024-25 release, and the district is based in Ionia County.

Per-pupil expenditure runs $12,318 according to the NCES F-33 School District Finance Survey, in the lower half of 812 Michigan districts by per-pupil spending. See how Michigan compares in our national per-pupil spending analysis. The funding mix is 20.1% local, 65.0% state, and 14.9% federal, a state-revenue-heavy mix that insulates the district somewhat from local property-tax volatility, though it ties funding to state budget cycles. The district's equity score is 33/100, ranked #601 of 702 in Michigan against a state average of 50, notably less even than the typical district in the state for how evenly funding reaches its schools.

Academic infrastructure includes 1 of 8 schools offering Advanced Placement (14 AP courses district-wide), a 251.8:1 student-counselor ratio, somewhat above the 250:1 ASCA recommendation, and 46.0% chronic absenteeism from the 2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection. Demographically, the student body averages 81.2% White, 13.6% Hispanic or Latino, 1.1% African American across the district's schools. Its most demographically mixed campus is Emerson School, with a diversity index of 43.8/100.

Its largest campus is Ionia High School, enrolling 774 students (29% of the district's total enrollment). Its smallest is Douglas R Welch High School, at 73 students, a 11x enrollment spread across the district's campuses.

Ionia High School accounts for 27.3% of all Ionia Public Schools student enrollment

That dominant concentration means Ionia Public Schools-wide averages can mask substantial variation outside the largest entity. Grade band: high. The share measures enrollment concentration only; it does not establish how the district allocates programs, capital, or staff. Enrollment-weighted aggregates give this entity more weight than any smaller peer, while an unweighted entity average treats every record equally.

Source: NCES Common Core of Data

Ionia Public Schools school enrollment varies 11× across entities

Ionia Public Schools school enrollment ranges from 73 students (lowest) to 774 students (highest), a spread of 701 students. That spread reflects typical mixed-portfolio variation between specialty programs and large neighbourhood schools. Per-school staffing ratios, programme availability, and capital-renovation cycles often diverge inside the same district based on enrollment shape.

Source: NCES Common Core of Data

Ionia Public Schools reports 53.5% free-lunch eligibility

The reported share clears the 50% majority mark. Title I operates under the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA, 2015), but its statutory allocation uses additional LEA-level counts and rules not represented by this average. This percentage is an economic-need context measure; it does not establish a Title I award, show dollars received, or describe how funds are distributed among campuses.

Source: NCES Common Core of Data

Ionia Public Schools student-counselor ratio is 252:1 — near the typical range (US average ~408) — within the typical range for U.S. public districts

student-counselor ratio is the simplest comparative metric but it does not capture the full picture: the ratio counts FTE counselors against total enrollment, districts that contract intervention or social-emotional staff outside the counselor classification may be under-counted Variation between sub-units within Ionia Public Schools is typically wider than the Ionia Public Schools-aggregate figure suggests.

Source: NCES Civil Rights Data Collection

Ionia Public Schools chronic absenteeism rate is 46.0% — well above typical (typically associated with unusually large scale or acute resource constraints)

chronic absenteeism rate is the simplest comparative metric but it does not capture the full picture: a student is chronically absent if they miss ≥10% of enrolled days for any reason, illness, family obligations, or disengagement Values this far above typical often signal acute resource constraints or a structurally different scale than most peers — worth reading alongside the underlying counts, not the ratio alone.

Source: NCES Civil Rights Data Collection 2021-22

Where does the funding come from?

14.9%
Federal
65.0%
State
20.1%
Local

Funding Equity

33
Equity Score
601 / 702
State Rank
50
State Average

This district scores below average on funding equity. High reliance on local revenue or lower spending may contribute.

Student Demographics

Average demographic composition across 8 schools in Ionia Public Schools.

White 81.2%
Hispanic or Latino 13.6%
African American 1.1%
Multiracial 3.9%

Source: NCES CCD School Membership 2024-25.

Student-body diversity

Average diversity index 31.5/100

Average Simpson diversity index across Ionia Public Schools's schools, below the Michigan average of 36.2.

Most mixed schools

  1. 1 Emerson School 43.8
  2. 2 Jefferson School 38.9
  3. 3 Douglas R Welch High School 36.1
  4. 4 Ionia High School 31.0
  5. 5 Ionia Middle School 29.3

Programs & Resources

1 / 8
Schools with AP
14 AP courses total
251.8:1
Student-Counselor Ratio
46.0%
Chronically Absent

Source: NCES Civil Rights Data Collection (CRDC) 2021-22.

Schools in Ionia Public Schools

School Enrollment
Ionia High School
774
Ionia Middle School
629
Aa Rather School
308
Jefferson School
272
Rb Boyce Elementary School
254
Twin Rivers Elementary School
183
Emerson School
166
Douglas R Welch High School
73

How Ionia Public Schools Compares to Similar-Size Districts

The Michigan districts closest to this one in total enrollment.

District Enrollment Spending Funding Mix
Holland City School District Similar size Higher spending More locally funded
Riverview Community School District Similar size Similar spending Similar funding mix
Flint School District of the City of Similar size Higher spending Similar funding mix
Kearsley Community School District Similar size Similar spending Similar funding mix
Harper Creek Community Schools Similar size Higher spending More locally funded

Comparisons are relative to Ionia Public Schools's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data and the F-33 Finance Survey.

Nearby Districts in Michigan

Top districts in the same state, compare side-by-side for enrollment, spending, and demographics.

Detroit Public Schools Community District
48,548 students · 107 schools · $22,002/pupil
Compare vs Ionia Public Schools →
Utica Community Schools
25,744 students · 38 schools · $14,295/pupil
Compare vs Ionia Public Schools →
Dearborn City School District
20,128 students · 37 schools · $18,204/pupil
Compare vs Ionia Public Schools →
Ann Arbor Public Schools
17,026 students · 32 schools · $19,271/pupil
Compare vs Ionia Public Schools →
Plymouth-Canton Community Schools
16,294 students · 25 schools · $14,974/pupil
Compare vs Ionia Public Schools →

Nationwide districts with similar enrollment or spending

Out-of-state peers matched by enrollment and by per-pupil expenditure, not the same-state lists above.

Compare Ionia Public Schools

See how this district compares to others in enrollment, spending, demographics, and academic resources.

Compare vs Detroit Public Schools Community District →

Frequently Asked Questions

How many schools are in Ionia Public Schools?

Ionia Public Schools has 8 schools, including 1 high, 1 middle, 5 combined, 1 elementary. Total enrollment is 2,833 students.

How much does Ionia Public Schools spend per student?

Ionia Public Schools spends $12,318 per student. The district has an equity score of 33/100, ranking #601 in Michigan.

What is the demographic composition of Ionia Public Schools?

Ionia Public Schools students are 81.2% White, 13.6% Hispanic or Latino, 1.1% African American, averaged across 8 schools. Source: NCES CCD Membership 2024-25.

What is the equity score for Ionia Public Schools?

Ionia Public Schools has an equity score of 33/100, ranking #601 out of 702 districts in Michigan.