What share of students in Michigan are proficient in math?

In 2024, 24% of eighth graders in Michigan public schools were at or above NAEP Proficient in mathematics (19th lowest among the 50 states and DC) and 24% in reading, compared with 31% and 31% in 2019 (national public 2024: 27% and 29%).

Education in Michigan, United States: official figures

81.0% of public high school students in Michigan graduated within four years of starting ninth grade in the 2021-22 school year (the adjusted cohort graduation rate); 5th lowest among the 49 states (including DC) with data (U.S.: 86.6%).

High school graduation rate (4-year ACGR)

81.0%

2021-22

NAEP fourth-grade reading score

209

2024

NAEP eighth-grade mathematics score

270

2024

Current spending per pupil, public schools

$18,314

FY2024

Public school enrollment

1,426,491

Fall 2023

Adults 25+ with a bachelor's degree or higher

33.3%

2024

Is the graduation rate in Michigan rising?

The four-year graduation rate in Michigan was 81.0% in 2021-22, compared with 76% in 2011-12 and 81.4% in 2018-19, before the pandemic; nationally the rate went from 80% in 2011-12 to 86.6% in 2021-22.

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

What is the graduation rate for disadvantaged students in Michigan?

In 2021-22 the four-year graduation rate in Michigan was 69.6% for economically disadvantaged students, 58.1% for students with disabilities and 72.5% for English learners (U.S.: 81.3%, 71.4%, 72.1% respectively).

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

What is the graduation rate by race in Michigan?

By race and ethnicity, the 2021-22 graduation rate in Michigan was 70.1% for Black, 74.3% for Hispanic and 84.4% for White students (U.S.: 81.0%, 82.8%, 89.8%).

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

How do students in Michigan score in grade 4 reading?

Public school students in Michigan averaged 209 in fourth-grade reading on the 2024 National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), joint 8th lowest among the 50 states and DC, down from 218 in 2019 (national public: 214, 219 in 2019). 25% scored at or above Proficient and 45% below Basic.

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

How do students in Michigan score in grade 8 reading?

Public school students in Michigan averaged 255 in eighth-grade reading on the 2024 National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), joint 21st lowest among the 50 states and DC, down from 263 in 2019 (national public: 257, 262 in 2019). 24% scored at or above Proficient and 35% below Basic.

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

How do students in Michigan score in grade 4 math?

Public school students in Michigan averaged 235 in fourth-grade mathematics on the 2024 National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), joint 18th lowest among the 50 states and DC, down from 236 in 2019 (national public: 237, 240 in 2019). 37% scored at or above Proficient and 26% below Basic.

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

How do students in Michigan score in grade 8 math?

Public school students in Michigan averaged 270 in eighth-grade mathematics on the 2024 National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), joint 23rd lowest among the 50 states and DC, down from 280 in 2019 (national public: 272, 281 in 2019). 24% scored at or above Proficient and 43% below Basic.

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

How much does Michigan spend per student?

Public school systems in Michigan spent $18,314 per pupil on current operations in fiscal year 2024, 19th highest among the 50 states and DC (U.S.: $17,619), according to the Census Bureau's Annual Survey of School System Finances.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Is school spending per pupil in Michigan going up?

Current spending per pupil in Michigan rose from $12,756 in fiscal 2019 to $18,314 in fiscal 2024, up 43.6% before inflation (U.S.: up 33.6%); the change on fiscal 2023 was up 4.4%.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

What does Michigan spend school money on?

Of the $18,314 spent per pupil in Michigan in fiscal 2024, $9,993 went on instruction and $7,611 on support services; salaries and wages came to $8,210 per pupil and employee benefits $6,154.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Where does school funding in Michigan come from?

Public school systems in Michigan received $28.4 billion in revenue in fiscal 2024: 10.9% from the federal government, 56.7% from the state and 32.4% from local sources such as property taxes (U.S.: 11.6%, 45.2% and 43.2%).

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How much does Michigan spend on public schools in total?

Total spending by public school systems in Michigan was $27.4 billion in fiscal 2024, of which $22.8 billion was current spending and $3.7 billion capital outlay on buildings and equipment; the systems owed $20.9 billion in debt at the end of the year.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How many students are in public schools in Michigan?

1,426,491 pupils were enrolled in public elementary and secondary schools in Michigan in fall 2023, down 4.6% on fall 2019 (1,495,925) and down 7.9% on fall 2013; nationally enrollment was down 2.5% since 2019.

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

What is the student-teacher ratio in Michigan?

Public schools in Michigan had 85,880 full-time-equivalent teachers in fall 2022, about 16.7 pupils per teacher, 12th most among the 50 states and DC (U.S.: 15.4; Michigan in fall 2019: 17.6).

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

What percentage of people in Michigan have a college degree?

33.3% of adults aged 25 and over in Michigan, about 2,367,000 people, held a bachelor's degree or higher in 2024; joint 18th lowest among the 50 states and DC (U.S.: 36.8%). That is up 1.6 percentage points on 2021 (31.7%), according to the American Community Survey.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How many people in Michigan have a graduate degree?

In 2024, 13.1% of adults 25 and over in Michigan had a graduate or professional degree and 9.9% an associate degree as their highest qualification (U.S.: 14.7% and 8.8%).

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How many adults in Michigan did not finish high school?

92.2% of adults 25 and over in Michigan had at least a high school diploma or equivalent in 2024, leaving 7.8% without one; that share is joint 21st lowest among the 50 states and DC (U.S.: 10.1%).

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How Michigan compares with other states

Public high school 4-year graduation rate (ACGR) (2021-22)

Michigan ranks 45 of 49, highest first. Adjusted cohort graduation rate; New Mexico and Oklahoma did not report for 2021-22

Rank	Region	Public high school 4-year graduation rate (ACGR)
42	Wyoming	81.8%
43	Nevada	81.7%
44	Oregon	81.3%
45	Michigan	81.0%
46	Idaho	79.9%
47	Alaska	77.8%
48	Arizona	77.3%

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

Graduation rate of economically disadvantaged students (2021-22)

Michigan ranks 43 of 48, highest first. Adjusted cohort graduation rate

Rank	Region	Graduation rate of economically disadvantaged students
40	Colorado	71.9%
41	Minnesota	71.1%
42	Alaska	70.2%
43	Michigan	69.6%
44	Idaho	69.6%
45	North Dakota	69.0%
46	Wyoming	68.0%

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

NAEP fourth-grade reading, average score (2024)

Michigan ranks 44 of 51, highest first. Public school students; scale 0-500

Rank	Region	NAEP fourth-grade reading, average score
41	Arkansas	210
42	Maine	210
43	Delaware	210
44	Michigan	209
45	District of Columbia	209
46	Arizona	208
47	Oregon	207

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

NAEP eighth-grade reading, average score (2024)

Michigan ranks 32 of 51, highest first. Public school students; scale 0-500

Rank	Region	NAEP eighth-grade reading, average score
29	Virginia	256
30	Nebraska	256
31	North Carolina	255
32	Michigan	255
33	Missouri	255
34	Oregon	255
35	Arkansas	255

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

NAEP fourth-grade mathematics, average score (2024)

Michigan ranks 34 of 51, highest first. Public school students; scale 0-500

Rank	Region	NAEP fourth-grade mathematics, average score
31	Illinois	236
32	Georgia	236
33	Alabama	236
34	Michigan	235
35	Missouri	235
36	Louisiana	235
37	Vermont	235

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

NAEP eighth-grade mathematics, average score (2024)

Michigan ranks 29 of 51, highest first. Public school students; scale 0-500

Rank	Region	NAEP eighth-grade mathematics, average score
26	Maine	273
27	New York	271
28	Kentucky	271
29	Michigan	270
30	Arizona	270
31	Missouri	270
32	Hawaii	270

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

Eighth graders at or above NAEP Proficient in mathematics (2024)

Michigan ranks 33 of 51, highest first. Public school students

Rank	Region	Eighth graders at or above NAEP Proficient in mathematics
30	Maryland	24.7%
31	Maine	24.5%
32	Kentucky	24.3%
33	Michigan	23.9%
34	Texas	23.7%
35	Georgia	23.7%
36	South Carolina	23.7%

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

Fourth graders below NAEP Basic in reading (2024)

Michigan ranks 8 of 51, highest first. Public school students

Rank	Region	Fourth graders below NAEP Basic in reading
5	West Virginia	47.4%
6	Arizona	46.5%
7	Oklahoma	46.4%
8	Michigan	45.4%
9	Delaware	44.6%
10	Maine	44.5%
11	Arkansas	43.8%

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

Current spending per pupil, public schools (FY2024)

Michigan ranks 19 of 51, highest first. Census Bureau Annual Survey of School System Finances

Rank	Region	Current spending per pupil, public schools
16	Maryland	$20,208
17	Maine	$19,962
18	Washington	$18,564
19	Michigan	$18,314
20	Oregon	$18,083
21	New Mexico	$17,664
22	Ohio	$17,257

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Change in current spending per pupil since FY2019 (FY2019-FY2024)

Michigan ranks 7 of 51, highest first. Current dollars, not adjusted for inflation

Rank	Region	Change in current spending per pupil since FY2019
4	Hawaii	+48.0%
5	Oregon	+45.2%
6	Colorado	+44.2%
7	Michigan	+43.6%
8	Vermont	+41.9%
9	Utah	+41.6%
10	Georgia	+41.0%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Share of public school revenue from local sources (FY2024)

Michigan ranks 38 of 51, highest first. Census Bureau

Rank	Region	Share of public school revenue from local sources
35	Arizona	34.7%
36	Indiana	32.7%
37	Mississippi	32.5%
38	Michigan	32.4%
39	Delaware	31.8%
40	Alabama	31.3%
41	Minnesota	30.2%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Pupils per teacher, public schools (Fall 2022)

Michigan ranks 12 of 51, highest first. Common Core of Data

Rank	Region	Pupils per teacher, public schools
9	Louisiana	17.5
10	Idaho	17.5
11	Washington	17.2
12	Michigan	16.7
13	Oklahoma	16.6
14	Ohio	16.4
15	Colorado	16.3

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

Change in public school enrollment, fall 2019 to fall 2023 (2019-2023)

Michigan ranks 36 of 51, highest first. Common Core of Data

Rank	Region	Change in public school enrollment, fall 2019 to fall 2023
33	Wyoming	-3.8%
34	Washington	-4.2%
35	Maine	-4.3%
36	Michigan	-4.6%
37	Massachusetts	-4.6%
38	Wisconsin	-4.8%
39	Illinois	-5.0%

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

Adults 25 and over with a bachelor's degree or higher (2024)

Michigan ranks 34 of 51, highest first. American Community Survey 1-year estimates

Rank	Region	Adults 25 and over with a bachelor's degree or higher
31	South Dakota	34.2%
32	North Dakota	34.0%
33	Missouri	33.5%
34	Michigan	33.3%
35	South Carolina	33.3%
36	Idaho	33.0%
37	Alaska	32.8%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Adults 25 and over without a high school diploma or equivalent (2024)

Michigan ranks 32 of 51, highest first. American Community Survey 1-year estimates

Rank	Region	Adults 25 and over without a high school diploma or equivalent
29	Kansas	8.0%
30	District of Columbia	8.0%
31	Ohio	7.8%
32	Michigan	7.8%
33	Washington	7.7%
34	Oregon	7.7%
35	Pennsylvania	7.6%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

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Sources

National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education): Digest of Education Statistics 2023, Table 219.46: Public high school 4-year adjusted cohort graduation rate (ACGR), by selected student characteristics and state, 2011-12 through 2021-22, read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 1913b92e5e75…)
U.S. Census Bureau: American Community Survey 2024 1-year estimates, table-based summary file: Educational attainment for the population 25 years and over (B15003), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 0c933281d2c2…)
National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education): Digest of Education Statistics 2024, Table 203.20: Enrollment in public elementary and secondary schools, by state, fall 1990 through fall 2023 (Common Core of Data), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 8e370b60d62a…)
U.S. Census Bureau: 2024 Annual Survey of School System Finances: summary tables (Public Elementary-Secondary Education Finance Data, fiscal year 2024), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 848133174f29…)
National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education): NAEP mathematics grade 4, 2019 and 2024: average scale score and achievement-level percentages for public school students by state (NAEP Data Service), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 913ed194a3d5…)
National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education): NAEP mathematics grade 8, 2019 and 2024: average scale score and achievement-level percentages for public school students by state (NAEP Data Service), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 7dc207d5418d…)
National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education): NAEP reading grade 4, 2019 and 2024: average scale score and achievement-level percentages for public school students by state (NAEP Data Service), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 7da857933d83…)
National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education): NAEP reading grade 8, 2019 and 2024: average scale score and achievement-level percentages for public school students by state (NAEP Data Service), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 790de8a24822…)
National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education): Digest of Education Statistics 2023, Table 208.40: Public elementary and secondary teachers, enrollment, and pupil/teacher ratios, by state, fall 2000 through fall 2022 (Common Core of Data), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 c15568f58c4c…)

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