Saranac Community 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, or report a data error. Data current as of June 2026.

Saranac, Michigan - 2 schools

An equity score of 29/100 ranks Saranac Community Schools #649 of 707 districts in Michigan (state average 50). Derived live from how evenly resources are distributed across the district's schools.

At $11,278 per pupil, Saranac Community Schools ranks #674 of 821 Michigan districts by per-pupil spending (Michigan districts). NCES F-33 finance data.

852
Total Enrollment
2
Schools
$11,278
Per-Pupil Spending
Combined
School Types

District-Level NCES Analysis

Saranac Community Schools operates 2 public schools serving 852 students, placing it among the smallest districts in Michigan. The school portfolio breaks down into 2 combined schools, a small enough portfolio that most families will interact with nearly every campus in the district at some point. 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 $11,278 according to the NCES F-33 School District Finance Survey, in the lower half of 821 Michigan districts by per-pupil spending. See how Michigan compares in our national per-pupil spending analysis. The funding mix is 29.4% local, 61.3% state, and 9.3% 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 29/100, ranked #649 of 707 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 2 schools offering Advanced Placement (5 AP courses district-wide), a 406:1 student-counselor ratio, well above the ASCA benchmark though still under the roughly 408:1 national average, and 28.1% chronic absenteeism from the 2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection. Demographically, the student body averages 90.1% White, 6.0% Hispanic or Latino, 1.4% African American across the district's schools.

Its largest campus is Saranac Elementary School, enrolling 433 students (52% of the district's total enrollment).

Saranac Elementary School accounts for 50.8% of all Saranac Community Schools student enrollment

That is an overwhelming concentration, leaving the rest of Saranac Community Schools a distant remainder — means Saranac Community Schools-wide averages can mask substantial variation outside the dominant entity. Grade band: combined. A single dominant campus often anchors a district's program offerings and staffing patterns; the share helps explain why district-wide averages may not reflect the typical neighbourhood-school experience. When one entity dominates a region's footprint, its programmatic and budget decisions effectively set policy for a majority of the affected population.

Source: NCES Common Core of Data NCES Common Core of Data

Saranac Community Schools student-counselor ratio is 406:1 — high (typically associated with staffing constraints that limit per-student counselor time; CRDC data shows higher ratios cluster in larger urban systems)

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 Higher values may reflect larger urban scale or recent resource constraints that have widened the gap.

Source: NCES Civil Rights Data Collection NCES Civil Rights Data Collection

Saranac Community Schools chronic absenteeism rate is 28.1% — near the typical range (US average ~28) — aligned with the national post-pandemic baseline of roughly 28% chronic absenteeism

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 Variation between sub-units within Saranac Community Schools is typically wider than the Saranac Community Schools-aggregate figure suggests.

Source: NCES Civil Rights Data Collection 2021-22 NCES Civil Rights Data Collection 2021-22

Where does the funding come from?

9.3%
Federal
61.3%
State
29.4%
Local

Funding Equity

29
Equity Score
649 / 707
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 2 schools in Saranac Community Schools.

White 90.1%
Hispanic or Latino 6.0%
African American 1.4%
Multiracial 1.8%

Source: NCES CCD School Membership 2024-25.

Programs & Resources

1 / 2
Schools with AP
5 AP courses total
406:1
Student-Counselor Ratio
28.1%
Chronically Absent

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

Schools in Saranac Community Schools

School Enrollment
Saranac Elementary School
433
Saranac Jrsr High School
406

How Saranac Community Schools Compares to Similar-Size Districts

The Michigan districts closest to this one in total enrollment.

District Enrollment Spending Funding Mix
Centreville Public Schools Similar size Similar spending Similar funding mix
Landmark Academy Similar size Lower spending Less locally funded
Bridgman Public Schools Similar size Higher spending More locally funded
West Iron County Public Schools Similar size Higher spending Similar funding mix
Distinctive College Prep. Similar size Similar spending Less locally funded

Comparisons are relative to Saranac Community 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.

Utica Community Schools
25,744 students · 38 schools · $12,513/pupil
Compare vs Saranac Community Schools →
Dearborn City School District
20,128 students · 37 schools · $16,677/pupil
Compare vs Saranac Community Schools →
Ann Arbor Public Schools
17,026 students · 32 schools · $17,642/pupil
Compare vs Saranac Community Schools →
Plymouth-Canton Community Schools
16,294 students · 25 schools · $13,630/pupil
Compare vs Saranac Community Schools →

Compare Saranac Community 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 Saranac Community Schools?

Saranac Community Schools has 2 schools, including 2 combined. Total enrollment is 852 students.

How much does Saranac Community Schools spend per student?

Saranac Community Schools spends $11,278 per student. The district has an equity score of 29/100, ranking #649 in Michigan.

What is the demographic composition of Saranac Community Schools?

Saranac Community Schools students are 90.1% White, 6.0% Hispanic or Latino, 1.4% African American, 0.3% Asian, averaged across 2 schools. Source: NCES CCD Membership 2024-25.

What is the equity score for Saranac Community Schools?

Saranac Community Schools has an equity score of 29/100, ranking #649 out of 707 districts in Michigan.