For the 2026 school year, there are 21 public high schools serving 6,712 students in Van Buren County, MI.
The top-ranked public high schools in Van Buren County, MI are Mattawan High School, Bert Goens Learning Center and Hartford Alternative Education. Overall testing rank is based on a school's combined math and reading proficiency test score ranking.
Van Buren County, MI public high schools have an average math proficiency score of 21% (versus the Michigan public high school average of 30%), and reading proficiency score of 43% (versus the 48% statewide average). High schools in Van Buren County have an average ranking of 3/10, which is in the bottom 50% of Michigan public high schools.
Van Buren County, MI public high school have a Graduation Rate of 75%, which is less than the Michigan average of 82%.
The school with highest graduation rate is Hartford High School, with ≥95% graduation rate. Read more about public school graduation rate statistics in Michigan or national school graduation rate statistics.
Minority enrollment is 34% of the student body (majority Hispanic), which is less than the Michigan public high school average of 36% (majority Black).
Best Public High Schools in Van Buren County (2026)
School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Quick Facts
Rank: #11.
Mattawan High School
(Math: 52% | Reading: 76%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 10%10
56720 Murray St
Mattawan, MI 49071
(269) 668-3361
Mattawan, MI 49071
(269) 668-3361
Gr: 9-12 | 1,126 students Student-teacher ratio: 19:1 Minority enrollment: 15%
Rank: #22.
Bert Goens Learning Center
Special Education School
(Math: 40-59% | Reading: ≥80%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
701 S Paw Paw St
Lawrence, MI 49064
(269) 539-5032
Lawrence, MI 49064
(269) 539-5032
Gr: PK-12 | 70 students Student-teacher ratio: 3:1 Minority enrollment: 41%
Rank: #33.
Hartford Alternative Education
Alternative School
(Math: <50% | Reading: <50% )
Rank:
Rank:
8/
Top 30%10
115 School St
Hartford, MI 49057
(269) 621-7143
Hartford, MI 49057
(269) 621-7143
Gr: 6-12 | 122 students Minority enrollment: 39%
Rank: #44.
Way South Haven
(Math: <50% | Reading: <50%)
Rank:
Rank:
8/
Top 30%10
125 Veterans Dr
South Haven, MI 49090
(269) 637-0500
South Haven, MI 49090
(269) 637-0500
Gr: 8-12 | 44 students Student-teacher ratio: 4:1 Minority enrollment: 36%
Rank: #55.
Communitybased Transition Center
Special Education School
(Math: ≥50% | Reading: ≥50% )
Rank:
Rank:
7/
Top 50%10
811 Hazen St
Lawrence, MI 49064
(269) 415-0270
Lawrence, MI 49064
(269) 415-0270
Gr: 10-12 | 53 students Student-teacher ratio: 5:1 Minority enrollment: 34%
Rank: #6 - 76. - 7.
Lawton High School
(Math: 25-29% | Reading: 50-54%)
Rank:
Rank:
6/
Top 50%10
101 Blue Pride Dr
Lawton, MI 49065
(269) 624-7800
Lawton, MI 49065
(269) 624-7800
Gr: 8-12 | 279 students Student-teacher ratio: 19:1 Minority enrollment: 22%
Rank: #6 - 76. - 7.
Paw Paw High School
(Math: 25-29% | Reading: 50-54%)
Rank:
Rank:
6/
Top 50%10
30609 E Red Arrow Hwy
Paw Paw, MI 49079
(269) 415-5600
Paw Paw, MI 49079
(269) 415-5600
Gr: 9-12 | 638 students Student-teacher ratio: 18:1 Minority enrollment: 18%
Rank: #88.
South Haven High School
(Math: 15-19% | Reading: 55-59%)
Rank:
Rank:
6/
Top 50%10
600 Elkenburg St
South Haven, MI 49090
(269) 637-0500
South Haven, MI 49090
(269) 637-0500
Gr: 9-12 | 588 students Student-teacher ratio: 17:1 Minority enrollment: 37%
Rank: #99.
Lawton Accelerated Academic Center
Alternative School
(Math: ≤20% | Reading: <50%)
Rank:
Rank:
5/
Bottom 50%10
101 Blue Pride Dr
Lawton, MI 49065
(269) 624-7542
Lawton, MI 49065
(269) 624-7542
Gr: 5-12 | 26 students Minority enrollment: 35%
Rank: #1010.
Gobles High School
(Math: 20-24% | Reading: 40-44%)
Rank:
Rank:
4/
Bottom 50%10
409 N State St
Gobles, MI 49055
(269) 628-9340
Gobles, MI 49055
(269) 628-9340
Gr: 6-12 | 396 students Student-teacher ratio: 16:1 Minority enrollment: 17%
Rank: #1111.
Lawrence Jrsr High School
(Math: 15-19% | Reading: 35-39%)
Rank:
Rank:
3/
Bottom 50%10
650 W Saint Joseph St
Lawrence, MI 49064
(269) 674-8232
Lawrence, MI 49064
(269) 674-8232
Gr: 7-12 | 179 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 46%
Rank: #1212.
Cedar Street Community And Family Center
Alternative School
(Math: ≤20% | Reading: 30-39%)
Rank:
Rank:
3/
Bottom 50%10
555 Cedar St
Paw Paw, MI 49079
(269) 415-5700
Paw Paw, MI 49079
(269) 415-5700
Gr: 6-12 | 76 students Student-teacher ratio: 11:1 Minority enrollment: 21%
Rank: #1313.
Hartford High School
(Math: 10-14% | Reading: 30-34%)
Rank:
Rank:
3/
Bottom 50%10
121 School St
Hartford, MI 49057
(269) 621-7100
Hartford, MI 49057
(269) 621-7100
Gr: 9-12 | 379 students Student-teacher ratio: 19:1 Minority enrollment: 65%
Rank: #1414.
Decatur Jr Sr High School
(Math: 16% | Reading: 31%)
Rank:
Rank:
3/
Bottom 50%10
110 Cedar St
Decatur, MI 49045
(269) 423-6851
Decatur, MI 49045
(269) 423-6851
Gr: 6-12 | 399 students Student-teacher ratio: 20:1 Minority enrollment: 31%
Rank: #1515.
Bloomingdale Middle And High School
(Math: 11% | Reading: 32%)
Rank:
Rank:
3/
Bottom 50%10
629 E Kalamazoo St
Bloomingdale, MI 49026
(269) 521-3910
Bloomingdale, MI 49026
(269) 521-3910
Gr: 6-12 | 516 students Student-teacher ratio: 17:1 Minority enrollment: 46%
Rank: #16 - 1716. - 17.
Covert High School
(Math: ≤20% | Reading: ≤20%)
Rank:
Rank:
3/
Bottom 50%10
35323 M 140 Hwy
Covert, MI 49043
(269) 764-3711
Covert, MI 49043
(269) 764-3711
Gr: 9-12 | 101 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 88%
Rank: #16 - 1716. - 17.
Maple Creek Education Center
Special Education School
(Math: ≤20% | Reading: ≤20%)
Rank:
Rank:
3/
Bottom 50%10
30 S Walnut St
Bangor, MI 49013
(269) 427-7961
Bangor, MI 49013
(269) 427-7961
Gr: K-12 | 33 students Student-teacher ratio: 5:1 Minority enrollment: 15%
Rank: #1818.
Bangor Career Academy
Alternative School
(Math: ≤20% | Reading: 11-19%)
Rank:
Rank:
2/
Bottom 50%10
801 W Arlington St
Bangor, MI 49013
(269) 427-6800
Bangor, MI 49013
(269) 427-6800
Gr: K-12 | 74 students Student-teacher ratio: 5:1 Minority enrollment: 38%
Rank: #1919.
Michigan Online School
Charter School
(Math: 5% | Reading: 32%)
Rank:
Rank:
2/
Bottom 50%10
209 S State St
Gobles, MI 49055
(269) 216-6972
Gobles, MI 49055
(269) 216-6972
Gr: K-12 | 1,268 students Student-teacher ratio: 24:1 Minority enrollment: 47%
Rank: #2020.
Bangor High School
(Math: ≤10% | Reading: 20-29%)
Rank:
Rank:
2/
Bottom 50%10
801 W Arlington St
Bangor, MI 49013
(269) 427-6800
Bangor, MI 49013
(269) 427-6800
Gr: 9-12 | 264 students Student-teacher ratio: 17:1 Minority enrollment: 57%
Rank: n/an/a
Van Buren Technical
Vocational School
250 South St
Lawrence, MI 49064
(269) 674-8091
Lawrence, MI 49064
(269) 674-8091
Gr: 11-12
Van Buren County Public Schools (Closed)
School
Location
Quick Facts
311 East Willow St
Bloomingdale, MI 49026
(269) 521-3910
Bloomingdale, MI 49026
(269) 521-3910
Gr: 6-8 | 305 students Minority enrollment: 32%
Bloomingdale Online Academy (Closed 2016)
Alternative School
629 E. Kalamazoo St.
Bloomingdale, MI 49026
(269) 521-3955
Bloomingdale, MI 49026
(269) 521-3955
Gr: 6-12 | 9 students Student-teacher ratio: 9:1 Minority enrollment: 44%
490 S Paw Paw Street
Lawrence, MI 49064
(269) 674-8091
Lawrence, MI 49064
(269) 674-8091
Decatur Alternative Choice School (Closed 2009)
Alternative School
312 School Street
Decatur, MI 49045
(269) 423-6145
Decatur, MI 49045
(269) 423-6145
Gr: 9-12 | 22 students Student-teacher ratio: 22:1 Minority enrollment: 36%
405 North Phelps St
Decatur, MI 49045
(269) 423-6851
Decatur, MI 49045
(269) 423-6851
Gr: 6-8 | 167 students Student-teacher ratio: 21:1 Minority enrollment: 31%
Mattawan Alternative Ed (Closed 2020)
Alternative School
56720 Murray St
Mattawan, MI 49071
(269) 668-3361
Mattawan, MI 49071
(269) 668-3361
15 East St
Hartford, MI 49057
(269) 621-7400
Hartford, MI 49057
(269) 621-7400
Gr: K-2 | 317 students Student-teacher ratio: 17:1 Minority enrollment: 56%
South Haven Alternative High School (Closed 2008)
Alternative School
554 Green Street
South Haven, MI 49090
(269) 637-0523
South Haven, MI 49090
(269) 637-0523
Gr: Inquire with school | 21 students Student-teacher ratio: 11:1 Minority enrollment: 33%
Southwest Michigan Community School (Closed 2016)
Alternative School
115 School St
Hartford, MI 49057
(269) 621-7000
Hartford, MI 49057
(269) 621-7000
Gr: 6-12 | 71 students Student-teacher ratio: 71:1 Minority enrollment: 31%
Van Buren Early College Health Alliance High School (Closed 2013)
Vocational School
250 South St
Lawrence, MI 49064
(269) 674-8091
Lawrence, MI 49064
(269) 674-8091
Gr: 7-12
Van Buren Virtual Academy At Lawrence (Closed 2014)
Alternative School
Van Buren Virtual Academy At L
Lawrence, MI 49064
(269) 674-8761
Lawrence, MI 49064
(269) 674-8761
Gr: 9-12 | 3 students
West Michigan Virtual - Hartford (Closed 2016)
Alternative School
36 W Main St
Hartford, MI 49057
(616) 232-3322
Hartford, MI 49057
(616) 232-3322
395 Woodside Dr
Hartford, MI 49057
(269) 621-7300
Hartford, MI 49057
(269) 621-7300
Gr: 3-5 | 311 students Student-teacher ratio: 17:1 Minority enrollment: 59%
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the top-ranked public high schools in Van Buren County, MI?
The top-ranked public high schools in Van Buren County, MI include Mattawan High School, Bert Goens Learning Center and Hartford Alternative Education.
How many public high schools are located in Van Buren County?
22 public high schools are located in Van Buren County.
What is the racial composition of students in Van Buren County?
Van Buren County public high schools minority enrollment is 34% of the student body (majority Hispanic), which is less than the Michigan public high schools average of 36% (majority Black).
Which public high schools in Van Buren County are often viewed compared to one another?
Popular comparisons of public high schools in Van Buren County include: Bangor Career Academy vs. Maple Creek Education Center, Paw Paw High School vs. Mattawan High School, Lawton High School vs. Mattawan High School
Recent Articles
How to Read a School Improvement Plan Before Choosing a School
Learn how to read a school improvement plan, identify meaningful goals, and evaluate whether a school's improvement efforts align with your child's educational needs.
Should You Move for a Better Public School? A Cost vs. Benefit Analysis
Considering a move to a better public school? Explore the financial, academic, and lifestyle tradeoffs before making one of your family's biggest decisions.
When a Higher-Rated School Isn't the Better Fit
Discover why the highest-rated public school may not always be the best choice and learn how to evaluate schools based on your child's unique needs.
