2024 Best High Schools in the Kalamazoo Area

• Portage Public Schools, MI•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 4.14 out of 5  245 reviews

Alum: I had a pretty good experience at PN, the teachers were all mostly friendly and loved the job they had and a lot of the students were nice and participated in a lot of activities that the school put on. There were lots of spirit weeks and assemblies put on by the many different clubs and groups at the school that helped people to be aware of what was going on such as inclusive week and having a Black history month assembly. A lot of the teachers enjoyed what they do and you could tell that being around students was what made their day. Especially when Covid had hit many of the students had lost motivation to try their best but teachers encouraged them and were understanding when it came time to come back. All the extracurricular activities and events were fun to go to and along with everything else made my four years at portage northern pretty good!... Read 245 reviews

• grade A

• Students 1,289

• Student-teacher ratio 21:1

• Kalamazoo, MI•

• Private School•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.63 out of 5  40 reviews

Senior: I transferred from public school into Hackett freshmen year due to covid and I couldn't be more grateful. At my public school, I lacked academic challenges; I would pass with A's in every class without trying. At Hackett, we are pushed to do more than the average high school class. We are constantly intertwined in the Hackett community and are able to join sports and clubs we wouldn't get the chance to otherwise. Students here are interested in learning which definitely helped me to gain an interest in what I am doing as well. As a former public school student, I can tell that my teachers care about how well I am doing, for example, we have mandatory peer tutoring available for every student if a teacher thinks you could benefit from the extra help. We also are being pushed to complete many assignments at a college level rather than the standard high school level. The difference this makes becomes apparent when I hear my former graduated friends tell me how easy college is for them.... Read 40 reviews

• grade A

• Students 235

• Student-teacher ratio 10:1

• Portage Public Schools, MI•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 4.15 out of 5  268 reviews

Junior: While at Portage Central High School, I have experienced a lot of ups and very few downs. For example, in Freshman year, there were many ways to get involved. Being the "newbies" in the building of about 1,140 kids, it was extremely intimidating and hard to get used to being in high school. The upperclassmen, as well as the administrators, were very welcoming and led us along the way the entire year. But, by being so nurturing, Sophomore year hit everyone like a train. By treating us like babies, they made life way harder than it needed to be that year, making this year (junior year) a lot easier. Changing the note, the academics here at PC are very good, as a school that offers both the IB diploma, and some AP courses, it is very rigorous: helping us get prepared for college, and to be our best selves academically. Overall, PC is a school where I have found a lot of growth personally and have learned more than I could ever imagined.... Read 268 reviews

• grade A

• Students 1,424

• Student-teacher ratio 21:1

• Battle Creek, MI•

• Private School•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.59 out of 5  22 reviews

Senior: I love the Catholic roots of this school; it has been around for many centuries and I always enjoy listening to how it has changed over the years. Praying and going to church every day helps me to focus on God and what is really important. There is a great balance between school and life, and there is a great union between those that are part of this community.... Read 22 reviews

• grade A minus

• Students 78

• Student-teacher ratio 8:1

• Battle Creek, MI•

• Private School•

• K-12

• •
  Rating 3.83 out of 5  18 reviews

Middle School Student: I would definitely recommend Battle Creek Academy. Our sports program is outstanding! It provides JH and Highschool basketball, soccer, and volleyball. I have had a excellent experience attending Battle Creek Academy. Though they can be strict all the staff our very nice and helpful.... Read 18 reviews

• grade A minus

• Students 95

• Student-teacher ratio 9:1

• Gull Lake Community Schools, MI•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.74 out of 5  174 reviews

Senior: I have spent the last 11 years at Gull Lake Community Schools, and I am soaking in this final year. The best part of these years has been the community in which I have felt a part of. Richland is a smaller town, and as I get older, I appreciate this community more and more. My peers at Gull Lake High School are the same peers I have gone through each stage of our student lives- from elementary to middle, and up to our final year in high school. The worst part of my experience is the lack of a sports program in our district, specifically lacrosse. I began playing around the age of 7, and I love the sport. I had always wanted to be involved in an extracurricular activity, represent my school, earn a varsity letter, and be part of a team with peers. I consider myself an introvert, so being part of a team would have been very helpful for me. With the good and the bad, I consider myself fortunate to be graduating from Gull Lake High School.... Read 174 reviews

• grade A minus

• Students 849

• Student-teacher ratio 19:1

• Kalamazoo Public Schools, MI•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.51 out of 5  169 reviews

Senior: When i first got to school it was in my second trimester of my sophmore year all I really knew was online school because of covid I never had the freshman experince so when i came to school there was no one to help me but my friends. The atmosphere was scared there were fights , I didn’t connect with any teachers, and no taught me about school activities, school was just boring. Untill my junior and senior year there was still fights everyday but i started becoming more involved with my school I joined our theatre department and music department where I met some of the best teachers and students i could ever imagine there like a home to me now ,then I discoved a art teacher who belives in me by pushing me to the best of my ability through critique some teachers at the school arent as engaged in teaching but all of my teachers where. Now there are way less fights then there ever where I think the only thing I would change is the food because it is horrible other than that i love it.... Read 169 reviews

• grade B+

• Students 1,807

• Student-teacher ratio 27:1

• Mattawan Consolidated School, MI•

• 7-12

• •
  Rating 3.84 out of 5  332 reviews

Senior: Mattawan High School, is widely regarded for its commitment to academic excellence and the provision of diverse extracurricular activities, fostering a strong sense of community. The school offers a range of academic programs, including honors and Advanced Placement courses, designed to challenge and support students in their educational journey. Beyond academics, Mattawan High School provides numerous opportunities for students to engage in extracurricular activities, spanning sports, arts, music, and various clubs, contributing to a well-rounded educational experience. Community engagement is a focal point, organizing events and initiatives to connect students with the local community. The quality of school facilities, encompassing classrooms, labs, and sports facilities, is another integral aspect of the overall experience. Recognized for educational achievements, student awards, and outstanding performance in various areas, continues to uphold a positive reputation.... Read 332 reviews

• grade B+

• Students 1,185

• Student-teacher ratio 21:1

• Vicksburg Community Schools, MI•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.78 out of 5  151 reviews

Senior: Vicksburg is overall a good school, the education is fairly good and I feel like I have good opportunities. My teachers have always encouraged me to do advanced programs. The worst part about Vicksburg is that sometimes it can be unwelcoming to LGBT students. Right now, many parents are sueing the school over trans students being allowed to use the right bathroom. That's more a community issue, but the thing is, the school wasn't letting trans kids use the right bathroom anyway, despite it being state law. Anyone who asks has to use the staff bathrooms.... Read 151 reviews

• grade B+

• Students 777

• Student-teacher ratio 19:1

• Kalamazoo, MI•

• Private School•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 4.18 out of 5  74 reviews

Alum: I transferred to this school during Covid-19. I was terrified to be switching schools during high school, little did I know that this transition would be the best outcome that could have happened. The very minute I walked through the doors to my new high school, I felt welcomed by all the students and staff. I ended up staying at Kalamazoo Christian and finished my high school career here. I became apart of the community and met so many wonderful people I can truly call my friends. I couldn't of asked for a better last three years of school. This was the best decision we made for my education and I thrived in this environment like never before.... Read 74 reviews

• grade B+

• Students 275

• Student-teacher ratio 13:1

• Kalamazoo, MI•

• Private School•

• PK, K-12

• •
  Rating 3.98 out of 5  45 reviews

Senior: Heritage Christian Academy has been an amazing experience for me. I attended in middle school and I will be finishing out there also. It is a great school, but we are private so there is not a lot of extra money laying around. The administration at Heritage is amazing though and the staff are so good at leading our school. It has overall been a great experience for me.... Read 45 reviews

• grade B+

• Students 185

• Student-teacher ratio 8:1

• Lakeview School District, MI•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.63 out of 5  191 reviews

Junior: My experience at Lakeview High School was pretty neutral. The staff are nice and you get to meet lots of interesting students. Lakeview’s a somewhat large school with students from different backgrounds, including the many transfer students we get every year. Lakeview High School offers a diverse amount of classes to choose from, this includes many AP classes ranging from AP Psychology classes to AP Macroeconomics. Taking these types of classes was a good experience for me because it gives you the opportunity to prepare yourself for future careers you want to pursue in while also boosting your GPA. Besides AP classes, I also enjoyed how Lakeview offers hands-on classes such as Philharmonic, Theatre, Woodworking , etc. which allows students to explore their abilities and interests. Overall, Lakeview high School has a multitude of programs that students can choose from. They can also seek help about scheduling classes, programs, etc. with school counselors.... Read 191 reviews

• grade B+

• Students 1,364

• Student-teacher ratio 21:1

• Otsego Public Schools, MI•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.83 out of 5  159 reviews

Senior: I have always went to Otsego since kindergarten and the full twelve years have been amazing! I absolutely love the staff and the passion and dedication they have to make sure their students succeed in their education. I have always been proud to call myself a bulldog and all the schools in this district are amazing. If there is ever a situation, the staff are quick to take action and make sure the problem is always solved. I personally have never experienced problems here at Otsego and if ever I needed help the teachers were always right there to help out and guide me whenever I needed it. Otsego will always be a place that I can call home.... Read 159 reviews

• grade B+

• Students 741

• Student-teacher ratio 22:1

• Kalamazoo Public Schools, MI•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.41 out of 5  291 reviews

Junior: My experience with Kalamazoo Central has been pretty good overall. The learning aspect is fine, most teachers are very thorough and knowledgeable about what they’re teaching, making learning here easy and sometimes fun. The social aspect is also pretty good as well. School events are very fun and exciting with a good turnout of students most of the time. The student culture is also very bonded, with most people of all grades and backgrounds finding common bondage through school activities. There has been a lot of trouble and conflict between students here, but that’s the only negative found here.... Read 291 reviews

• grade B

• Students 1,803

• Student-teacher ratio 24:1

• Marshall Public Schools, MI•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.79 out of 5  155 reviews

Alum: The school had many academic opportunities, including AP classes and advanced course pathways. There were few extracurriculars, but a decent amount of sports. I wish there was more emphasis placed on student support, however.... Read 155 reviews

• grade B

• Students 749

• Student-teacher ratio 20:1

• Martin Public Schools, MI•

• 6-12

• •
  Rating 3.52 out of 5  27 reviews

Senior: I liked the staff for the most part, even though some of the staff weren't as encouraging as they should be, for the most part everyone got the fair chance at education and advancement they deserved. I played many sports throughout since 4th grade until my senior year and multi sport athlete and even our sports are very fair and opportunity giving. I would like to see education not progressing to be more encouraging on students rather than bashful and embarrassing for the student receiving the treatment, aswell as light being shed onto how important it is to make all students of all education levels feel included. Very good school and perfect to feel all like family.... Read 27 reviews

• grade B

• Students 329

• Student-teacher ratio 11:1

• Lawton Community School District, MI•

• 8-12

• •
  Rating 3.3 out of 5  27 reviews

Senior: My experience with Lawton High School has been an enlightening one, as both the school and its teachers have given me the tools and opportunity to not only engage in learning through class work but also, through the school's partnership with Van Buren Tec, I have gotten real life certifications and work experience in the field of engineering that I wish to pursue a career in.... Read 27 reviews

• grade B

• Students 300

• Student-teacher ratio 20:1

• Three Rivers Community Schools, MI•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.5 out of 5  109 reviews

Senior: The kids at Three Rivers are beyond friendly! We aim to treat everyone with kindness and respect and I think that is very admirable. Also, you cant tell that the faculty here are very passionate about their careers and enjoy teaching their students every day. We have dedication!... Read 109 reviews

• grade B

• Students 684

• Student-teacher ratio 19:1

• Paw Paw Public School District, MI•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.71 out of 5  188 reviews

Senior: Overall, Paw Paw High School is a pretty good place to be! I’m not involved all that much in sports, but there are multiple different teams available and many different activities on top of that. I personally participate in the performing arts, and the department is really wonderful. If I would change anything about the school it would be to spruce it up a bit, make it look a bit nicer. BUT there is currently an NHS committee working to do just that, so it’s on its way already.... Read 188 reviews

• grade B

• Students 684

• Student-teacher ratio 20:1

• Plainwell Community Schools, MI•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.76 out of 5  214 reviews

Senior: My experience being a high schooler at Plainwell was a very emotional experience. While I loved being in school everyone goes through their high school challenges. For me it was being a minority in a primarily white school. I struggled a lot with people being racist and saying horrible things about me and others. It really upsetted me to want to change the schools agenda. So I co founded the multicultural club where we welcome everyone to come and learn about other people cultures and experiences. We’ve done outreach’s with the city of Kalamazoo, helped clean up a church and really just gave back to the community I’ve seen some improvement just from having this club in our school. Being the president of this club I’ve had to handle many things dealing with racially issues and how we can motivate students to be more educated. I hope that as I move on the club can flourish without me and continue heading in the right direction for change.... Read 214 reviews

• grade B

• Students 766

• Student-teacher ratio 21:1

• Parchment School District, MI•

• 8-12

• •
  Rating 3.81 out of 5  75 reviews

Senior: I like Parchment High School. I'd say the best part about it is the teachers. There is not one teacher there who doesn't care about their students and their success. They aren't lazy and went above and beyond to provide their students with the best education. Parchment High School is a smaller school, which entails a tighter-knit community. It seems like everyone knows each other which is what sets it apart from other local schools that are bigger in size of student population. I'd say Parchment High School can work on making more kids feel welcome and valued as they are, and they can provide students with more clubs and opportunities to get involved with school activities while also having fun.... Read 75 reviews

• grade B minus

• Students 471

• Student-teacher ratio 18:1

• Schoolcraft Community Schools, MI•

• 7-12

• •
  Rating 3.75 out of 5  134 reviews

Senior: There isn't a better place I could have asked to grow up on. Through and through, they are there for their students and the tight knit community is unlike that of any other town I've ever seen. It may be a small school, but love grows best in small places.... Read 134 reviews

• grade B minus

• Students 478

• Student-teacher ratio 19:1

• Marcellus Community Schools, MI•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.37 out of 5  41 reviews

Senior: One thing I love about Marcellus is the care and love for sports and keeping the kids active in school activities and keeping tradition alive. A thing that I would like to see change is the teaching staff. They got rid of a teacher that connects to the students because he treats us with respect and he believed that even though we talked and messed around his class almost all of us passed. Not because it was easy, it was quite difficult honestly. Now we have teachers that are stricter than collage professors.... Read 41 reviews

• grade B minus

• Students 187

• Student-teacher ratio 17:1

• Harper Creek Community Schools, MI•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.52 out of 5  130 reviews

Alum: Loved it here! Absolutely great experience. So many great people and instructors who want you to succeed. 10/10 recommend Harper Creek.... Read 130 reviews

• grade B minus

• Students 891

• Student-teacher ratio 20:1

• Comstock Public Schools, MI•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.59 out of 5  73 reviews

Sophomore: The district of Comstock shares there commitment through many different courses offered, as well in application, involving the teacher efforts to give, but as well as the students motive to recognize and call for a resolution on the cause. Extracurriculars and community involvement programs as NHS, community charities, constant ideas for new programs and additions to the community. A supportive environment that almost always contains supervision for whichever such program is decided to be created, providing many dual enrollments, AP courses and many more for the college success. And the meaning to be part of Comstock is shared in positives and negatives, that is based on the individual; As so the individual is stressed to be while getting ready for college and viewing success in the future.... Read 73 reviews

• grade B minus

• Students 392

• Student-teacher ratio 16:1