20 Best Public High Schools in Michigan – 2025

Are you trying to decide between the best public high schools in Michigan? Well, today we’ll navigate the vast educational waters of the Great Lakes State. Just like those beloved lakes, the best public schools in Michigan are known for their depth and wonder. So grab your compass and set sail with us as we chart a course through the top educational harbors and dive into the details. (As any of these schools will provide a top-notch education, this list is presented alphabetically.)

20 Best Public High Schools in Michigan

1) Central High School

• Location: Grand Rapids (Forest Hills Public Schools)
• Enrollment: 1,053
• Student/teacher ratio: 21:1
• Average SAT: 1131

Apparently, Central High School was originally constructed as an open, “California-style” campus with several separate buildings. I’m not sure who thought that was a good idea in Michigan winters, but the entire campus was redesigned in 1986. Central is also home to Michigan’s largest high school homecoming parade. Unfortunately, FHPS’ website is noticeably sparse, but I can tell you that the current governor of Michigan, Gretchen Whitmer, attended Central High.

2) City High/Middle School

• Location: Grand Rapids (Grand Rapids Public Schools)
• Enrollment: 559
• Student/teacher ratio: 23:1 (grades 7-12)
• Average SAT: 1166

City Middle/High School in Grand Rapids is also an IB school. A 2019 National Blue Ribbon award winner, they consider each of their students a “scholar” and offer a scholar-focused education full of acceptance, belonging, and engagement.

3) Dexter High School

• Location: Dexter (Dexter Community School District)
• Enrollment: 1,106
• Student/teacher ratio: 16:1
• Average SAT: 1056.8

DHS is the home of the…[looks at notes]…dreadnaughts? To answer your unspoken question, Dexter, Michigan played an important role in the manufacture of battleships during WWI — hence “the dreadnaughts.” Aside from their unique mascot, DHS provides a challenging curriculum that offers many educational options to the students including: the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme, numerous Advanced Placement courses, as well as career and technical education programs available through a county-wide consortium.

4) East Grand Rapids High School

• Location: Grand Rapids (East Grand Rapids Public Schools)
• Enrollment: 914
• Student/teacher ratio: 19:1
• Average SAT: 1132.9

Another IB school, East Grand Rapids High School boasts a $21 million performing arts center featuring an orchestra pit, green room,  dressing/make-up rooms, and 671 seats. They also offer a varsity sailing team that competes within the Interscholastic Sailing Association and is open to all students, regardless of sailing experience. All this is exactly what you’d expect from one of the best public high schools in Michigan.

5) Elk Rapids High School

• Location: Elk Rapids (Elk Rapids Schools)
• Enrollment: 380
• Student/teacher ratio: 18:1
• Average SAT: 1063.8

With a 90% student participation rate in extracurricular activities and a 9% minority enrollment rate, you can bet you’re going to be surrounded by pale people at an Elk Rapids High School football game. At the same time, ERHS offers 10 AP courses, some online courses, and a bevy of Instagram-worthy fall activities. (Before you get too excited, you should know that there are only 1,500 people in Elk Rapids.)

6) Ernest W. Seaholm High School

• Location: Birmingham (Birmingham Public Schools)
• Enrollment: 1,182
• Student/teacher ratio: 15:1
• Average SAT: 1102.8

In Birmingham, Ernest W. Seaholm High School offers AP and honors courses, as well as an honors ELA/Social Studies program called Flex. Designed for intellectually curious students, Flex curriculum focuses on international literature as well as cultural and literary anthropology. Daily Flex schedules include counseling groups, core seminars, electives, AP courses, writing groups, computer technology, American government, and economics.

7) Forest Hills Northern High School

• Location: Grand Rapids (Forest Hills Public Schools)
• Enrollment: 1,134
• Student/teacher ratio: 19:1
• Average SAT: 1098.1

Another school in Grand Rapids, Northern High School has two Language Immersion programs in Spanish and Mandarin. These programs give students the opportunity to become bilingual and biliterate over time, beginning as early as kindergarten. Additionally, they’re committed to fostering an inclusive and equitable learning environment for all students with their Global Learners Initiative.

8) Grosse Pointe South High School

• Location: Grosse Pointe Farms (Gross Pointe Public Schools)
• Enrollment: 1,225
• Student/teacher ratio: 18:1
• Average SAT: 1117

Grosse Pointe South High School began as 23 acres of swamp before their beautiful Georgian, colonial-style building, designed by George J. Haas, was built. In addition to their many AP courses and club options, they have a MIPA award-winning TV production program that produces an in-school news show, as well as a MIPA award-winning newspaper. No surprise considering it’s one of the best public high schools in Michigan.

9) International Academy

• Location: Bloomfield Township / Troy / White Lake
• Enrollment: 1,370
• Student/teacher ratio: n/a
• Average SAT: 1310

With three campuses in three different school districts, the International Academy is another IB school that demonstrates appreciation for all cultures and global citizenship. Simultaneously, they strive for their classroom instruction to be innovative, engaging, student-focused, and inquiry-based.

10) International Academy of Macomb

• Location: Clinton Township (Chippewa Valley Schools)
• Enrollment: 446
• Student/teacher ratio: 19:1
• Average SAT: 1233

Another IB school, International Academy of Macomb offers students a supportive environment to take ownership of their education. Additionally, students can participate in a variety of clubs and activities. Some examples include: Creative Writing Club, Gaming Club, Chess Club, Math League, Model UN, Robotics, and National Art Honors Society.

11) Northville High School

• Location: Northville (Northville Public Schools)
• Enrollment: 2,499
• Student/teacher ratio: 23:1
• Average SAT: 1154

Home of the Mustangs, Northville High School operates in a modified block schedule. This means students take 4 courses that meet 2 days a week, while the remaining time is spent on coursework and enrichment.  Additionally, they offer a college-prep curriculum, 22 AP courses, 20 IB Diploma courses, 6 Project Lead the Way courses, and vocational training.

12) Novi High School

• Location: Novi (Novi Community School District)
• Enrollment: 2,101
• Student/teacher ratio: 18:1
• Average SAT: 1168

With over 400 student members, Novi High School is home to the biggest HOSA chapter in Michigan, providing community and opportunities for future healthcare professionals. The school is also a National Blue Ribbon award winner and offers both AP and IB courses.

13) Pioneer High School

• Location: Ann Arbor (Ann Arbor Public Schools)
• Enrollment: 1,700
• Student/teacher ratio: 16:1
• Average SAT: 1128

Another one in Ann Arbor, Pioneer High School’s music program has won 8 Grammy awards from the Grammy Foundation (best public high school in Michigan, perhaps?). One of those awards was a 2006 National Grammy Gold Signature Award, which honored them for having the best high school music department in the entire nation. Several professional musicians are alumni, including Grammy winners Iggy Pop and Bob Seger.

14) Rochester Adams High School

• Location: Rochester Hills (Rochester Community School District)
• Enrollment: 1,534
• Student/teacher ratio: 23:1
• Average SAT: 1114

Next, we have the alma mater of the one and only Madonna. In the spirit of the world-famous material girl, RAHS has upheld a yearly tradition of community-wide Summer Musical Theater since 1973. And they have a lush theater program during the school year as well.

15) Saginaw Arts and Sciences Academy

• Location: Saginaw (School District of the City of Saginaw)
• Enrollment: 217
• Student/teacher ratio: 15:1
• Average SAT: 1157

Home of the dragons, Saginaw Arts and Sciences Academy wants to give its students the chance to hone their individual talents and skills. So they allow their students to choose an area of concentration in either math/science, language arts, global studies, visual arts, theater, voice/keyboard, or dance.

16) Saline High School 

• Location: Saline (Saline Area Schools)
• Enrollment: 1,605
• Student/teacher ratio: 19:1
• Average SAT: 1096.8

Named for the French word for “salt” (and pronounced sə-LEEN), Saline, Michigan seems like a delightful small town. Unfortunately, the SHS website doesn’t give much info about their schools. From what I can see, SHS is a large school with all the modern amenities. Sometimes it’s a mystery why a school is one of the best public high schools in Michigan.

17) Skyline High School

• Location: Ann Arbor (Ann Arbor Public Schools)
• Enrollment: 1,315
• Student/teacher ratio: 23:1
• Average SAT: 1098.9

Nestled in Ann Arbor, Skyline High School empowers its students with project-based learning and mastery learning as well as 4 magnet programs. Additionally, they offer AP courses, accelerated courses, and dual enrollment opportunities.

18) Stoney Creek High School

• Location: Rochester Hills (Rochester Community School District)
• Enrollment: 1,524
• Student/teacher ratio: 24:1
• Average SAT: 1069.8

I’ve seen dozens of questionable acrostics, but Stoney Creek explodes every acrostic convention to become something well-nigh transcendent. Behold:  “Stoney Creek is a student-centered, / caring community with / high expectations, / successfully preparing students for the future” (SCHS). In a similar vein, Stoney Creek’s intro video (set to Barns Courtney’s “Champion”) speaks to the autonomy that SC’s students must have in producing the school’s web content. The juxtaposition of Courtney’s lyrics (e.g., “I been a long road with the devil beside me.) and (mostly) smiling young people doing banal high school activities (e.g., lyric dance, pottery, orchestra) is pure chaos.

19) Troy High School

• Location: Clinton Township (Chippewa Valley Schools)
• Enrollment: 2,094
• Student/teacher ratio: 19:1
• Average SAT: 1175

Troy High School offers 27 Advanced Placement courses, 6 bands, 3 choirs, 26 varsity and sub-varsity sports, as well as dual-enrollment opportunities. And if you’re a fan of the TV shows The Walking Dead or Beef, you might be excited to learn that Steven Yeun is an alumnus.

20) Washtenaw International High School

• Location: Ypsilanti (Washtenaw ISD)
• Enrollment: 493
• Student/teacher ratio: 16:1
• Average SAT: 1165

Washtenaw International High School is an International Baccalaureate school, so students can earn both a high school diploma and an IB diploma. In addition, they have over 50 clubs for students to choose from, such as Book Club, Pokemon Club, D&D Club, Backpacking Club, Ethics Bowl, Model UN, and Robotics Club.

Final Thoughts

Our journey through the best public high schools in Michigan has come to a close. I hope you’ve enjoyed sailing the educational waters with me. From the shores of the Great Lakes to the heart of the mitten, these schools offer much more than just academic excellence. Whether you’re a parent or student, understanding the many facets of the best public schools in Michigan is crucial for making informed decisions. So, as we dock our ship and prepare for the next step, remember that the right school can be the lighthouse guiding you to a bright and successful future. And if none of these are the right school for you, consider exploring the best private schools in Michigan next.

What to read more about top high schools in the US? Check out the links below.

• 20 Best Public High Schools in Illinois 
• 17 Best Performing Arts High Schools in the US
• 20 Best High Schools in North Carolina
• 20 Best Public High Schools in Chicago
• Best High Schools in Florida
• 10 Best Online High Schools
• 20 Best Public High Schools in NYC
• 20 Best Public High Schools in Maryland
• Best Public Schools in Georgia