Best Public Schools in Sturgis, MI

The city of Sturgis, Michigan, is served by seven schools across two districts—Sturgis Public Schools and Nottawa Community School—educating roughly 2,949 students from early elementary through high school in a community where economic challenges are widespread.

For parents comparing schools, Nottawa Community School stands out as the clear academic leader despite having the lowest per-student spending in the area. This PK-8 school posts proficiency rates above state averages in 7th grade ELA (45%) and math (40%), plus strong 8th grade science and social studies scores. It also has the lowest chronic absenteeism (13.1%) and the lowest poverty rate (49.74% free/reduced lunch). In contrast, Sturgis Middle School struggles most, with 7th grade math proficiency at just 13.5%—nearly 20 points below the state average—and chronic absenteeism climbing to 28.2%. The elementary schools show a mixed picture: Eastwood School (grades 3-5) trails state averages by 10-16 points across subjects, while the K-2 schools (Wall School, Congress School, and Wenzel School) have no test data but show encouraging attendance, with Wenzel at just 12.4% chronic absenteeism despite an 85.81% poverty rate.

At the secondary level, Sturgis High School offers some optimism: its graduation rate (86.9%) exceeds the state average, its state ranking improved from the 43rd to 51st percentile, and its science and social studies gaps are narrow (within 3 points of state averages). However, SAT reading/writing (41.9%) and math (20.4%) still lag. A district-wide concern is the widening math gap as students age—from 8-12 points below state averages in early grades to 17-20 points by middle school—suggesting earlier intervention could help. Notably, spending shows no clear link to outcomes: Nottawa achieves the best results with the least funding ($11,461 per student), while Wall School spends the most ($15,274) but serves only K-2. For parents, Nottawa offers the strongest academics, while the Sturgis district provides stability through high school, though middle school math remains a critical area needing attention.