Tri County Area Schools

SAND LAKE, Michigan — 4 schools

1,719
Total Enrollment
4
Schools
$21,008
Per-Pupil Spending
Elementary, High
School Types

District-Level NCES Analysis

Tri County Area Schools operates 4 public schools serving 1,719 students, placing it among the smaller districts in Michigan. The school portfolio breaks down into 1 elementary, 1 high, 1 other, 1 middle schools, giving families a clear picture of grade-band coverage before they move, rent, or enrol. Aggregated across those campuses, enrollment totals 2,022 pupils using the NCES Common Core of Data (CCD) 2022-23 release, and the district is geographically located in Kent County County.

Per-pupil expenditure runs $21,008 according to the NCES F-33 School District Finance Survey, which aggregates every revenue and spending line reported under federal accounting standards. The funding mix is 22.6% local, 62.9% state, and 14.6% federal — a breakdown that matters because districts leaning heavily on local revenue are more exposed to property-tax swings, while higher federal shares typically track Title I concentration. Average teacher compensation clocks in at $62,504 per NCES F-33, a signal of the district's ability to recruit and retain staff against neighbouring districts. The district's equity score — 72/100, ranked #75 of 756 in Michigan against a state average of 50 — measures how evenly funding reaches schools within its boundaries.

Academic infrastructure includes 1 of 4 schools offering Advanced Placement (2 AP courses district-wide), a 236.5:1 student-counselor ratio that meets the ASCA-recommended benchmark, and 24.6% chronic absenteeism from the 2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection. Demographically, the student body averages 87.4% White, 6.3% Hispanic or Latino, 0.6% Asian across the district's schools.

Sand Lake Elementary School accounts for 38.6% of all Tri County Area Schools student enrollment

That concentration — well above the 8.4% national median for largest-entity share — means Tri County Area Schools-wide averages can mask substantial variation outside the dominant entity. Grade band: elementary. 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

Tri County Area Schools school enrollment varies 2.0× across entities

Tri County Area Schools school enrollment ranges from 381 students (lowest) to 780 students (highest), a spread of 399 students. That relatively narrow ratio reflects an unusually homogeneous campus portfolio — most districts have a wider mix of school sizes. 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 NCES Common Core of Data

Tri County Area Schools has higher-than-average Title I eligibility — 52.0% of the population qualifies for free or reduced-price lunch

free or reduced-price lunch eligibility is the federal threshold for Title I funding allocations, established under the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA, 2015). Areas above 75% eligibility receive concentration grants on top of the basic Title I formula. Regions with eligibility this high typically draw a substantially larger federal funding share relative to their local tax base, which can either offset or reinforce existing gaps depending on allocation policy.

Source: ESSA Title I Part A; ED EDFacts file system ESSA Title I Part A; ED EDFacts file system

Tri County Area Schools student-counselor ratio is 237:1 — low (typically associated with meeting or exceeding the American School Counselor Association (ASCA) recommended 250:1 benchmark, which correlates with stronger college and career counseling capacity)

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 Lower values often correlate with smaller scale and population characteristics rather than higher resource budgets per se.

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

Tri County Area Schools chronic absenteeism rate is 24.6% — 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 Tri County Area Schools is typically wider than the Tri County Area 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?

14.6%
Federal
62.9%
State
22.6%
Local

Funding Equity

72
Equity Score
75 / 756
State Rank
50
State Average

This district scores well on funding equity, with balanced funding sources and good resource allocation.

Local Rent Costs

Fair Market Rents in Kent County county, where this district is located.

$1,232
Studio/mo
$1,278
1 BR/mo
$1,531
2 BR/mo
$1,980
3 BR/mo
$2,189
4 BR/mo

Average Teacher Salary

$62,504
Average annual teacher salary

Source: NCES CCD F-33 (Finance Survey).

Teacher salary data from NCES CCD F-33 Finance Survey.

Student Demographics

Average demographic composition across 4 schools in Tri County Area Schools.

White 87.4%
Hispanic or Latino 6.3%
Asian 0.6%
Multiracial 4.8%

Source: NCES CCD School Membership 2024-25.

Programs & Resources

1 / 4
Schools with AP
2 AP courses total
236.5:1
Student-Counselor Ratio
24.6%
Chronically Absent

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

Schools in Tri County Area Schools

School Enrollment
Sand Lake Elementary School
780
Tri County Senior High School
473
Macnaughton School
388
Tri County Middle School
381

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 · $13,844/pupil
Compare vs Tri County Area Schools →
Dearborn City School District
20,128 students · 37 schools · $17,609/pupil
Compare vs Tri County Area Schools →
Ann Arbor Public Schools
17,026 students · 32 schools · $22,548/pupil
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Plymouth-Canton Community Schools
16,294 students · 25 schools · $16,462/pupil
Compare vs Tri County Area Schools →

Compare Tri County Area 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 Tri County Area Schools?

Tri County Area Schools has 4 schools, including 1 elementary, 1 high, 1 other, 1 middle. Total enrollment is 1,719 students.

How much does Tri County Area Schools spend per student?

Tri County Area Schools spends $21,008 per student. The district has an equity score of 72/100, ranking #75 in Michigan.

What is the average teacher salary in Tri County Area Schools?

The average teacher salary in Tri County Area Schools is $62,504 per year, according to the NCES CCD F-33 Finance Survey.

What is the average rent near Tri County Area Schools?

The HUD Fair Market Rent for a 2-bedroom in Kent County County is $N/A/month (2026). This affects housing affordability for families in the district.

What is the demographic composition of Tri County Area Schools?

Tri County Area Schools students are 87.4% White, 6.3% Hispanic or Latino, 0.6% Asian, 0.5% African American, averaged across 4 schools. Source: NCES CCD Membership 2024-25.

What is the equity score for Tri County Area Schools?

Tri County Area Schools has an equity score of 72/100, ranking #75 out of 756 districts in Michigan. This score measures resource distribution fairness across schools in the district.

Federal data Last updated 2026 Free public data

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