West Iron County 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, or report a data error. Data current as of June 2026.

Iron River, Michigan - 2 schools

An equity score of 50/100 ranks West Iron County Public Schools #348 of 707 districts in Michigan (state average 50). Derived live from how evenly resources are distributed across the district's schools.

At $12,998 per pupil, West Iron County Public Schools ranks #367 of 821 Michigan districts by per-pupil spending (Michigan districts). NCES F-33 finance data.

846
Total Enrollment
2
Schools
$12,998
Per-Pupil Spending
Combined
School Types

District-Level NCES Analysis

West Iron County Public Schools operates 2 public schools serving 846 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 Iron County.

Per-pupil expenditure runs $12,998 according to the NCES F-33 School District Finance Survey, in the upper half of 821 Michigan districts by per-pupil spending. See how Michigan compares in our national per-pupil spending analysis. The funding mix is 35.1% local, 53.7% state, and 11.2% 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 50/100, ranked #348 of 707 in Michigan against a state average of 50, in line with the typical spread seen across the state for how evenly funding reaches its schools.

and 35.3% chronic absenteeism from the 2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection. Demographically, the student body averages 86.5% White, 5.7% Hispanic or Latino, 0.7% African American across the district's schools.

Its largest campus is West Iron County Middle High School, enrolling 407 students (54% of the district's total enrollment).

West Iron County Middle High School accounts for 48.1% of all West Iron County Public Schools student enrollment

That is an overwhelming concentration, leaving the rest of West Iron County Public Schools a distant remainder — means West Iron County Public 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

West Iron County Public Schools has higher-than-average Title I eligibility — 68.2% 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). Eligibility here is approaching the 75% concentration-grant threshold; it does not yet unlock the extra funding tier but sits meaningfully above the baseline 50% majority mark. 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

West Iron County Public Schools chronic absenteeism rate is 35.3% — high (typically associated with higher-than-average disruption; recent CRDC data showed elevated rates persisting after pandemic-era schooling changes)

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

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

Where does the funding come from?

11.2%
Federal
53.7%
State
35.1%
Local

Funding Equity

50
Equity Score
348 / 707
State Rank
50
State Average

This district has moderate funding equity. There may be room to improve funding diversity or resource allocation.

Student Demographics

Average demographic composition across 2 schools in West Iron County Public Schools.

White 86.5%
Hispanic or Latino 5.7%
African American 0.7%
Multiracial 6.8%

Source: NCES CCD School Membership 2024-25.

Programs & Resources

35.3%
Chronically Absent

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

Schools in West Iron County Public Schools

School Enrollment
West Iron County Middle High School
407
Stambaugh Elementary School
353

How West Iron County Public Schools Compares to Similar-Size Districts

The Michigan districts closest to this one in total enrollment.

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

Comparisons are relative to West Iron County 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.

Compare West Iron County 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 West Iron County Public Schools?

West Iron County Public Schools has 2 schools, including 2 combined. Total enrollment is 846 students.

How much does West Iron County Public Schools spend per student?

West Iron County Public Schools spends $12,998 per student. The district has an equity score of 50/100, ranking #348 in Michigan.

What is the demographic composition of West Iron County Public Schools?

West Iron County Public Schools students are 86.5% White, 5.7% Hispanic or Latino, 0.7% African American, averaged across 2 schools. Source: NCES CCD Membership 2024-25.

What is the equity score for West Iron County Public Schools?

West Iron County Public Schools has an equity score of 50/100, ranking #348 out of 707 districts in Michigan.