2020 Best High Schools in the Kalamazoo Area

Best Schools

80 results

Portage Northern High School
Portage Public Schools, MI
9-12
203 reviews
#1 Best Public High Schools in Kalamazoo Area
Alum: Portage Northern High School shaped who I am today with their talented teachers, to the friendships I made while there. Not only do you get top of the line education in all of Michigan, you also get so many opportunities to participate in extra curricular activities, including their top ranked teams, award winning forensics team, and a number of clubs. One thing that I would like to see changed is how they handle sending kids to PCEC (Portage Community Education Center). PCEC is a great opportunity for kids that are running low on credits to graduate. However, it is mostly known for being the school for troubled teens that can be disruptive, failing, or violent. While I do agree with good cause that those types of students should be sent there, I however do not agree with sending kids such as pregnant young women there. The administration of the Portage schools do not need to be alarmed with having a pregnant teen walking through their schools when they are on track to graduate.
Read 203 Reviews
A
Overall Niche Grade
1,350 Students
21:1 Student-Teacher Ratio
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Portage Central High School
Portage Public Schools, MI
9-12
218 reviews
#2 Best Public High Schools in Kalamazoo Area
Junior: This school has tons and tons of opportunities to really put yourself out there. Teachers care about their students and make sure they are giving them what they need to be successful in the future. Our school is safe thanks to the school police officer, and the rules of conduct in our planners. The counselors work around what classes you desire and help you figure out your game plan. Classes are moderately easy if you pay attention and take notes. I would recommend this school to anyone who wants to be successful!
Read 218 Reviews
A
Overall Niche Grade
1,349 Students
22:1 Student-Teacher Ratio
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Hackett Catholic Prep
Private School
Kalamazoo, MI
9-12
32 reviews
#1 Best Private High Schools in Kalamazoo Area
Senior: I’m a senior transfer at Hackett Catholic Prep and I love it! The teachers are all very supportive and they encourage you voice your virtues no matter how difficult. They have outstanding sports teams and fantastic extracurriculars and a wide variety of clubs and organizations for all tastes and personalities. Their theatre program is especially amazing and it’s a wonderful way to meet new people and discover your talents! Hackett is also full of history and there are a great deal of legacy families who are all very welcoming. It’s a great environment with strong academics and helpful teachers!
Read 32 Reviews
A
Overall Niche Grade
254 Students
11:1 Student-Teacher Ratio
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Kalamazoo Christian High School
Private School
Kalamazoo, MI
9-12
60 reviews
#2 Best Private High Schools in Kalamazoo Area
Sophomore: Staff and teachers are wonderful! They care about the student and show a genral interest in their lives! Children generally excell here, with high GPA averages and athletic opportunities in various sports. To be noted, it is a largely conservative school, and a great many of students go on to attend christian universities. Additionally, this is a very sheltered community of children, with a lack of real world exposure. There is an international student program but most people are white/caucasion. They have most major sports, not including lacrosse. This school does lack in clubs, there is no newspaper, yearbook, or photography clubs. There is a yeatbook class but nothing is offered outside of school hours. There is no regular lunch offered, on wednesday’s there is food brought in from various fast food places and on Friday the school brings in pizza from Cottage Inn. Some AP/honors classes are offered but not many.
Read 60 Reviews
A-
Overall Niche Grade
250 Students
13:1 Student-Teacher Ratio
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Gull Lake High School
Gull Lake Community Schools, MI
9-12
151 reviews
#3 Best Public High Schools in Kalamazoo Area
Senior: I have had a lot of fun and good experiences while at Gull Lake. The friends I have made through school are wonderful. I have learned a lot through interesting and helpful classes, and feel that I am well prepared for high school. I am a member of many clubs and groups, and there are lots offered for various interests. The sports programs are very strong, with lots of options. I wish there was more support for the arts, since we don't have an auditorium. Also, there is very little ethnic diversity in the school, and I would love to see a wider range of races in the school.
Read 151 Reviews
A-
Overall Niche Grade
944 Students
19:1 Student-Teacher Ratio
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Mattawan High School
Mattawan Consolidated School, MI
9-12
290 reviews
#4 Best Public High Schools in Kalamazoo Area
Senior: Mattawan High School offers a great education and gives great preparation for college readiness.Mattawan offers Honors, Advanced Placement, and regular classes to ensure students are able to take the level class they want to help them succeed in the future. If a student requires extra help with any topic, teachers are regularly available to help them understand the topic better. Mattawan has a strict learning environment. Class sizes in Mattawan are 20-30 students per class, meaning students can build a 1 on 1 relationship with teachers.With laptops available to use during classes, top of the line calculators for math, and a library full of computers and printers, all devices needed for electronic success are provided for students. Mattawan also offers a wide range of classes, meaning all students can find their best fit. After school activities such as sports, clubs, etc. are highly encouraged at Mattawan. Overall, Mattawan is a great choice for the best college preparation.
Read 290 Reviews
A-
Overall Niche Grade
1,188 Students
21:1 Student-Teacher Ratio
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Vicksburg High School
Vicksburg Community Schools, MI
9-12
130 reviews
#5 Best Public High Schools in Kalamazoo Area
Senior: Vicksburg High School takes a very firm stance on bullying and all students are treated equally. When I first came to Vicksburg, it was a breath of fresh air! The teachers are (almost) all great! The students are nice and friendly and I feel like I am actually learning when I go to class. At no point do I feel like the teachers do not care or that they do not have enough resources. The little that I feel needs to change is that one of the older teachers need to go, he no longer can really teach his classes, two of which are AP, effectively anymore.
Read 130 Reviews
A-
Overall Niche Grade
813 Students
22:1 Student-Teacher Ratio
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Marshall High School
Marshall Public Schools, MI
9-12
138 reviews
#6 Best Public High Schools in Kalamazoo Area
Senior: Through my years at Marshall High School I was given the chance to grow and learn the best methods to be a smart, and responsible student. I took on challenges through classses like AP, and learned how important doing your best and getting good grades were. All the things I learned through Marshall High School I believe helped prepare me for what college would be. I recommend this school for others because the students are nice and we don’t really have bullying problems, you can easily make friends, a good majority of the students are responsible and get good grades, so you have people to lead you in the right direction, and the teachers are very understanding and are always there to help you be the best you can be and be successful!!!
Read 138 Reviews
B+
Overall Niche Grade
856 Students
20:1 Student-Teacher Ratio
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St. Philip Catholic Central High School
Private School
Battle Creek, MI
9-12
17 reviews
#3 Best Private High Schools in Kalamazoo Area
Senior: I wouldn't want to attend fourteen years of my life anywhere else! My graduating class has 27 students, and I wouldn't want it to be any other way. We are all brothers and sisters and are all constantly hanging out. Saint Philip has also prepared me for college. With the intense, above average, classes, I can easily say that college will come easy for me. The teachers and staff are so approachable, and I can talk to them and they know who I am, even if I don't have their class. I am a huge sport enthusiast and I wouldn't transfer to any other school for sports. I love all of the girls on my teams, and the coaches. The majority of the school participates in at least one school sport, and everyone participates in at least one club. Saint Phil has been nothing but a blessing, and I thank my parents everyday for sending me here.
Read 17 Reviews
B+
Overall Niche Grade
147 Students
13:1 Student-Teacher Ratio
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Paw Paw High School
Paw Paw Public School District, MI
9-12
171 reviews
#7 Best Public High Schools in Kalamazoo Area
Senior: Paw Paw High School is a very great school. It’s staff and students create an amazing culture and support each other in every way. They offer many activities and sports. Paw Paw has many classes that prepare you for college as well as courses that offer college credit. The administration does many things to make the students and other staff members feel safe and supported. Overall, Paw Paw is a great school that is involved in the community, offers great academics, and many activities for students to participate in.
Read 171 Reviews
B+
Overall Niche Grade
680 Students
21:1 Student-Teacher Ratio
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Heritage Christian Academy
Private School
Kalamazoo, MI
PK, K-12
33 reviews
#4 Best Private High Schools in Kalamazoo Area
Alum: I absolutely loved Heritage! It prepared you for college and holds you to a high academic standard while having a great atmosphere. The teachers and staff are incredible and are truely committed to their students. Smaller class sizes allow students more attention and help from their teachers. This school is one of the best out there!
Read 33 Reviews
B+
Overall Niche Grade
232 Students
11:1 Student-Teacher Ratio
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Battle Creek Academy
Private School
Battle Creek, MI
K-12
10 reviews
#5 Best Private High Schools in Kalamazoo Area
Alum: The teachers at Battle Creek Academy are very friendly and care about your education. The band program is excellent, and the students are also friendly.
Read 10 Reviews
B+
Overall Niche Grade
111 Students
11:1 Student-Teacher Ratio
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Plainwell High School
Plainwell Community Schools, MI
9-12
196 reviews
#8 Best Public High Schools in Kalamazoo Area
Senior: Plainwell High School provided me with challenging academic courses, an opportunity to receive an Honors Diploma, numerous advanced placement classes and a variety of sports and clubs. The teachers are top notch; they will work with you before or after school if needed and they have always given the students clear expectations for the class you are taking. Although Plainwell High School is not diverse with ethnicity, it is with the various clubs and activities that are available to students. Plainwell High School is a very safe school with no incidents during my time here. The culture is positive, students here take pride in their school. The administration is approachable and have an answer to any question one might have. The parents are present at every event; whether working or cheering on a team. I am 100% prepared for college, giving credit to Plainwell High School!
Read 196 Reviews
B+
Overall Niche Grade
807 Students
20:1 Student-Teacher Ratio
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Lakeview High School
Lakeview School District, MI
9-12
168 reviews
#9 Best Public High Schools in Kalamazoo Area
Senior: I have been attending Lakeview for 3 years now, currently being in my senior year, and I love it! My school is extremely diverse, having foreign exchange students from all over the world. It creates a warm and open atmosphere, as everyone is brought together, despite their differences.
Lakeview offers an abundant amount of challenging classes for higher level students, including opportunities to dual enroll in college classes. The staff tries their best to help their students grow academically, physically, and mentally, and they truly do care about everyone who attends. I am proud to say that I attend a school as amazing as Lakeview.
Read 168 Reviews
B+
Overall Niche Grade
1,397 Students
22:1 Student-Teacher Ratio
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Otsego High School
Otsego Public Schools, MI
9-12
144 reviews
#10 Best Public High Schools in Kalamazoo Area
Senior: Otsego High School is a rapidly changing environment for students to learn. Technology is always updating, and Otsego is keeping up with the pace. Every student has their own personal chromebook, and all the students have access to the Media Center. Which houses anything you could need for a project, including a 3D printer!
Read 144 Reviews
B
Overall Niche Grade
696 Students
22:1 Student-Teacher Ratio
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Parchment High School
Parchment School District, MI
9-12
64 reviews
#11 Best Public High Schools in Kalamazoo Area
Senior: Parchment was a wonderful place to attend school for me, and my family. Really enjoyed all my years with Parchment; every teacher there was so kind, and such a wonderful help to me! Even though it was a smaller school, I think that's what it made it so great, being able to know a lot of people made things in high school easy, and made all the extracurricular activities easy to join!
Read 64 Reviews
B
Overall Niche Grade
460 Students
21:1 Student-Teacher Ratio
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Loy Norrix High School
Kalamazoo Public Schools, MI
9-12
133 reviews
#12 Best Public High Schools in Kalamazoo Area
Senior: What I Iike about Norrix is that they do their best to get kids graduated and prepared for the next step in life, especially through classes like parenting, finance, and college readiness. Some of the rules can be kind of weird, because some teachers are very strict about them and some are lenient. There are many different cultures within the school. Most of the teachers know what they are doing. There is always a police officer or two in the building along side the security guards. The school is within the area for both Kalamazoo and Portage police station. Most of the kids really enjoy their school overall and don’t understand why the public views our school poorly. Sports are pretty good except for the varsity football team (sorry guys). Students can get a little out of control with fights and not helping on the upkeep of the building, but the staff does their best to try and fix that problem. I liked the school, I just wish there was a little more control over the kids.
Read 133 Reviews
B
Overall Niche Grade
1,613 Students
22:1 Student-Teacher Ratio
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Galesburg-Augusta High School
Galesburg-Augusta Community Schools, MI
9-12
51 reviews
#14 Best Public High Schools in Kalamazoo Area
Alum: Galesburg-Augusta High School was an amazing school to attend. I as an alumni loved going there and all of the different opportunities I had. I was involved in many extracurricular activities, and it kept my busy and happy. I was so thankful for the many opportunities that were offered at the High School, and how all of the staff members would work with each individual student to make sure that they would succeed not only in their academic life but also in their social and personal lives as well.
Read 51 Reviews
B
Overall Niche Grade
298 Students
18:1 Student-Teacher Ratio
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Lawton High School
Lawton Community School District, MI
8-12
22 reviews
#15 Best Public High Schools in Kalamazoo Area
Senior: Lawton High School is the ideal small town school. From morning math class to Friday night football, the people of Lawton are close-knit and personable. The staff at LHS is unmatched. Held to high standards, teachers and administrators work diligently to ensure that students are reaching their full potential and thriving during their high school years. Extra curriculars, such as sports and the arts, are well-funded when necessary, due to the hard work of the members of the community. The only area in which it can be improved upon is diversity. Multiculturalism is a vital aspect of life, and should be highly encouraged in adolescence. However, located in rural southwest Michigan, there isn't much diversity as it is. While Lawton may not have the most ethnic diversity, there are numerous elements that positively counterbalance that. Overall, the small-scale community's support for the school and the well-being of its students truly makes Lawton High School a great place to learn.
Read 22 Reviews
B
Overall Niche Grade
316 Students
19:1 Student-Teacher Ratio
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Harper Creek High School
Harper Creek Community Schools, MI
9-12
118 reviews
#16 Best Public High Schools in Kalamazoo Area
Senior: Harper Creek High School is overall an above average school. The teachers there all seem to be interested and happy to teach, which in turn can make their classes more fun to participate in. A lot of the people there are also pretty friendly and easy to get along with. The food is also decent, with the best lunch option, in my opinion, being the build-your-own sub sandwich bar. The classes themselves aren't too challenging, so many kids opt to take courses at Kellogg Community College or the Battle Creek Area Math and Science Center. Many of these classes the school does offer either give you little to no homework (which is nice) or stick you with huge workloads so you have no time for anything else (which is stressful). One of my biggest complaints is that I wish there were more language courses to take since only Spanish and French classes are offered, but I understand that the school might not have the budget for more teachers.
Read 118 Reviews
B
Overall Niche Grade
898 Students
21:1 Student-Teacher Ratio
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Howardsville Christian School
Private School
Marcellus, MI
PK, K-12
11 reviews
#6 Best Private High Schools in Kalamazoo Area
Senior: Howardsville Christian School has a great environment. The teachers at the school are very nice and love to work with you. They do not leave you in the dust when you are struggling to understand a topic. There are a lot of young energetic teachers, but there are also some older wise ones too. Chapels on Thursdays are very inspirational. The praise team and sermon can really encourage you spiritually. The students are really fun to hang out with; they include everyone and do not leave anyone out. The sports’ teams sometimes struggle to do well, but there are times when the school has a great season. The food though is not that good. They do not have a lot of options to chose from. Overall, the school has a great Christian foundation, and you will graduate stronger in your faith.
Read 11 Reviews
B
Overall Niche Grade
152 Students
11:1 Student-Teacher Ratio
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Comstock High School
Comstock Public Schools, MI
9-12
69 reviews
#17 Best Public High Schools in Kalamazoo Area
Senior: Comstock High School is an extremely diverse school. A major chunk of the population is colored, and a lot of students come from around the poorest end to the richer end of the middle class specturm. The school is also mostly an athletic school than academic. If you like sports and you're good at it, you’ll recieve plenty of funding from the athletic administration, as well as plenty of support from the stands. However, if you’re more academic driven, taking advance or AP classes is a definite way to ensure your college readiness. Other than that, some teachers are more than qualified and some not so. And even though Comstock isn’t the richest and fanciest of schools, they do their best to provide students the best resources and path for success.
Read 69 Reviews
B
Overall Niche Grade
459 Students
17:1 Student-Teacher Ratio
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Calhoun Christian School
Private School
Battle Creek, MI
PK, K-12
27 reviews
#7 Best Private High Schools in Kalamazoo Area
Parent: CCS is an amazing school. My children have attended for eight years and are thriving. The teachers love the students and work to meet the needs of each individual student within the classroom. The school continues to increase the support given to students that have learning differences. The athletic programs provide variety, especially due to the thriving co-op with St. Phil. The administration seeks to guide students and staff to be academically excellent while learning from a Biblical perspective. Students that have graduated and attended college or university often report being very well prepared and grateful for the rigor of their classes. There is very little bullying in the school and the little that is present is dealt with promptly when brought to the attention of staff. No school is perfect, but CCS is a wonderful place to be and to have my children grow and learn.
Read 27 Reviews
B
Overall Niche Grade
300 Students
15:1 Student-Teacher Ratio
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Allegan High School
Allegan Public Schools, MI
9-12
127 reviews
Alum: I had a wonderful school experience at Allegan High School. My professors were caring and encouraged me to do my best every step of the way. I'm still in contact with many of them today! The students are very involved in the community and show their school spirit in every game, in every sport. Here I made friendships that I know will last for a lifetime.
Read 127 Reviews
B-
Overall Niche Grade
733 Students
20:1 Student-Teacher Ratio
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Schoolcraft High School
Schoolcraft Community Schools, MI
9-12
125 reviews
Alum: The staff at Schoolcraft is absolutely amazing. Everyone is there to help you succeed. It's so tight-knit that it feels like a family. I made sure to do as much as I could through the school to ensure I had a great experience, and they make it fairly easy. I wish there were more options and opportunities, but with the sheer size of the school, I know it can be hard to make different opportunities available. Overall, my experience at Schoolcraft has been great. While there are things I think the district could do better (like focusing less on sports and more on the arts), I have a love for the school that will never diminish.
Read 125 Reviews
B-
Overall Niche Grade
366 Students
20:1 Student-Teacher Ratio
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Paramount Charter Academy
Public School
Kalamazoo, MI
PK, K-8
C+
Overall Niche Grade
363 Students
15:1 Student-Teacher Ratio
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Portage Northern High School

Portage Central High School

Hackett Catholic Prep

Kalamazoo Christian High School

Gull Lake High School

Mattawan High School

Vicksburg High School

Marshall High School

St. Philip Catholic Central High School

Paw Paw High School

Heritage Christian Academy

Battle Creek Academy

Plainwell High School

Lakeview High School

Otsego High School

Parchment High School

Loy Norrix High School

Galesburg-Augusta High School

Lawton High School

Harper Creek High School

Howardsville Christian School

Comstock High School

Calhoun Christian School

Allegan High School

Schoolcraft High School

Paramount Charter Academy