Michigan's Best Public Schools Revealed for 2026

A new study from the personal finance website WalletHub ranks Michigan schools below the national average, but there are still some standout examples of excellent education opportunities in the Mitten State.

The WalletHub study evaluated school systems nationwide across nearly three dozen metrics, including performance, monetary funding, overall safety, class size and instructor credentials. Michigan ranked 37th overall for quality, and 24th in safety.

How Michigan's Schools Were Ranked

But the school rankings website Niche points out that there are quite a few schools in Michigan that make the grade.

International Academy sign — International Academy in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan. (Photo via Google Maps)

International Academy in Bloomfield Hills earns honors as Michigan's top-ranked public high school. It gets "A+" ratings for college prep, its academics, and its faculty. When it comes to safety, Niche reports that 98% of International Academy students say they feel safe at their school.

The Best Middle and Elementary Schools in Michigan

As far as middle schools go, Novi Middle School gets the top marks in Michigan according to Niche. Novi also claims the state's highest-rated elementary school with Village Oaks Elementary.

Why School Funding Isn't the Whole Story

WalletHub analyst Chip Lupo cautions that getting enough funding is essential for a productive school system.

"Simply having more money doesn’t guarantee success. How funds are applied also plays a big role in how good a school system is, as does the quality of educators, other professionals and the curriculum," Lupo says. "In addition, schools need to focus not just on test scores but also on making sure that students feel safe, comfortable and cared for.”