Public school systems play a crucial role in shaping local economies, influencing everything from property values to workforce development. The economic impact of local public schools extends far beyond education, affecting businesses, government budgets, and community well-being. Below are key ways in which public schools contribute to local economic health.
- Boosting Property Values and Municipal Revenue
A strong public school system increases demand for housing in the district, driving up property values. Studies consistently show that homes in high-performing school districts command higher prices than comparable homes in weaker districts. Higher property values, in turn, generate more property tax revenue for local governments, which can be reinvested in infrastructure, public safety, and other community services.
Additionally, businesses are more likely to establish themselves in areas with well-regarded schools, knowing that educated communities attract skilled workers and stable families. This creates a positive feedback loop where better schools lead to economic growth, which then further supports school funding.
- Workforce Development and Economic Competitiveness
Public schools are the primary source of skilled labor for local industries. By providing foundational education, vocational training, and college preparation, schools ensure that businesses have access to qualified employees. Areas with strong school systems tend to have lower unemployment rates and higher average incomes because educated workers are more productive and adaptable to changing job markets.
Investments in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) programs, career and technical education (CTE), and partnerships with local businesses further enhance workforce readiness. Companies often consider school quality when deciding where to locate, as they need a pipeline of talent to sustain operations.
- Direct Employment and Local Spending
Public schools are among the largest employers in many communities, providing jobs for teachers, administrators, custodians, and support staff. These employees spend their salaries locally, supporting restaurants, retail stores, and service providers. The multiplier effect means that every dollar spent on school payroll circulates through the economy multiple times, stimulating additional business activity.
Beyond salaries, schools also contribute to local economies through construction projects (e.g., building new facilities or renovating old ones), purchasing supplies from area vendors, and contracting services like transportation and food supply. These expenditures create jobs and generate tax revenue.
- Reducing Long-Term Public Costs
Quality education correlates with lower crime rates, reduced reliance on social welfare programs, and better public health outcomes. Students who graduate from strong school systems are less likely to require government assistance, engage in criminal activity, or face chronic unemployment. This reduces the burden on taxpayers, who would otherwise fund prisons, healthcare for the uninsured, and social services.
Early childhood education programs, in particular, have been shown to yield high long-term returns by improving graduation rates and future earnings while decreasing incarceration costs.
- Attracting and Retaining Families and Businesses
Families with children prioritize school quality when choosing where to live. Communities with reputable schools experience population growth, which sustains local businesses and services. Conversely, declining school performance can lead to outmigration, shrinking the tax base and harming economic vitality.
Similarly, corporations evaluating relocation opportunities assess school systems to ensure employees will have access to good education for their children. A weak school system can deter investment, while a strong one can attract high-paying jobs and stimulate economic diversification.
Conclusion
The local public school system is not just an educational institution but a cornerstone of economic stability and growth. By enhancing property values, developing a skilled workforce, employing residents, reducing public costs, and attracting businesses, schools create a thriving economic ecosystem. Policymakers and community leaders must recognize that investing in education yields broad economic benefits, making it one of the most impactful ways to ensure long-term prosperity.
The following report contains those school districts that are completely or partially within the county. The school districts are sorted in a left to right order based on the number of students that are estimated to live in the county, although they may actually attend a school outside the county boundary. Except where noted all figures are for the entire disctrict population and not just that portion that are in the county.
Where available, the district's name contains a link to that district's website.
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Brown City Community School District |
Croswell-Lexington Community School District |
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Almont Community Schools |
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Armada Area Schools |
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Memphis Community Schools |
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Capac Community School District |
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Richmond Community Schools |
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Algonac Community School District |
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Yale Public Schools |
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Anchor Bay School District |
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Marysville Public Schools |
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East China School District |
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Port Huron Area School District |
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Grade Span of Agency Number of Schools Total Classroom Teachers Student/Teachers
Prekindergarten Kindergarten Grade 1 Grade 2 Grade 3 Grade 4 Grade 5 Grade 6 Grade 7 Grade 8 Grade 9 Grade 10 Grade 11 Grade 12 PK thru 12 Students Ungraded Students Adult Education and Other Students Special Ed IEP Students Total Students
White Black Asian Hispanic Native American Hawaiian/Pacific Islander Undefined or Multiple Races
Prekindergarten Teachers Kindergarten Teachers Elementary Teachers Secondary Teachers Ungraded Class Teachers Total FTE Teachers
Elementary School Counselors Secondary School Counselors School Counselors Total Counselors
School Administrators School Administrative Support Staff Instr. Coord. and Super. to Staff Student Support Services Staff Librarians/media specialists Library/Media Support Staff School Psychologists Paraprofessionals/Instructional Aides Total School Staff
LEA Administrators LEA Administrative Support Staff Total LEA Staff
All Other Support Staff Total Other Staff
|
PK-12
16
480
15.05
69
545
542
558
497
512
524
494
527
523
573
601
596
586
7,147
0
0
78
7,225
5,346
567
25
448
30
7
724
7
28
155
180
110
480
0
3
13
16
31
50
0
48
1
3
0
78
211
23
6
28
150
150 |
PK-12
9
227
15.85
30
238
223
261
228
243
278
278
252
275
269
343
293
330
3,541
0
0
58
3,599
3,373
45
13
61
8
0
41
5
14
81
105
22
227
0
4
2
6
11
32
10
28
1
0
0
58
129
13
1
24
133
133 |
PK-12
5
137
19.93
20
250
195
215
186
232
197
213
203
218
217
211
191
173
2,721
0
0
10
2,731
2,508
23
8
78
7
2
95
3
10
56
62
6
137
0
3
0
3
8
28
0
10
0
0
0
10
56
6
1
7
67
67 |
PK-12
11
287
18.99
55
446
388
388
358
370
389
389
390
423
409
444
461
487
5,397
0
0
53
5,450
4,729
177
51
172
17
4
247
8
20
112
116
31
287
0
6
3
9
16
37
4
50
0
7
3
53
165
16
6
26
154
154 |
PK-12
6
97
18.32
12
155
116
142
127
109
141
153
119
137
131
127
143
136
1,748
0
0
29
1,777
1,623
7
4
56
2
0
56
2
7
34
42
12
97
0
3
0
3
6
18
1
8
0
5
0
29
66
7
0
8
55
55 |
PK-12
4
73
18.73
14
94
91
95
99
85
74
104
106
129
107
105
121
124
1,348
0
0
19
1,367
1,298
8
3
15
9
0
15
4
3
27
30
9
73
0
0
0
0
5
9
2
12
0
0
0
19
46
2
1
4
66
66 |
PK-12
3
95
16.46
19
118
105
127
117
112
110
113
108
111
112
133
133
124
1,542
0
0
21
1,563
1,376
16
8
83
1
21
37
7
6
36
40
6
95
0
2
1
3
6
9
3
6
0
3
0
21
45
8
1
12
62
62 |
PK-12
3
43
16.75
8
61
44
50
49
38
41
53
52
37
69
67
63
82
714
0
0
6
720
598
7
3
96
2
0
8
1
2
15
23
2
43
0
1
0
1
2
8
0
5
0
1
0
6
23
4
1
5
32
32 |
PK-12
2
51
14.80
3
63
52
53
49
57
54
58
60
61
47
66
68
51
742
0
0
13
755
699
5
5
16
0
2
15
5
3
15
21
7
51
0
2
0
2
6
16
0
10
0
0
0
13
45
7
1
8
83
83 |
PK-12
4
102
17.09
16
133
121
130
125
124
125
135
114
138
124
144
138
137
1,704
0
0
39
1,743
1,636
2
9
28
5
1
23
1
6
37
54
4
102
1
3
0
4
6
19
0
24
0
1
1
39
89
9
2
11
66
66 |
PK-12
3
73
19.48
0
131
93
116
130
92
99
110
99
107
113
100
124
83
1,397
0
0
25
1,422
1,262
2
5
81
9
0
38
0
6
26
35
6
73
0
0
1
1
6
8
1
9
0
2
0
25
51
4
1
6
45
45 |
PK-12
5
104
17.36
0
101
114
139
139
127
132
133
131
128
185
151
151
135
1,766
0
0
40
1,806
1,578
8
2
133
1
0
44
6
0
42
46
10
104
0
2
1
3
9
14
2
6
0
3
0
40
72
6
1
9
57
57 |
PK-12
2
41
17.59
0
59
68
51
47
46
48
48
53
50
55
74
57
48
704
0
0
17
721
649
3
4
21
0
0
27
2
3
16
17
3
41
1
1
0
2
5
4
0
3
0
1
0
17
30
8
0
9
29
29 |
Sources: STI: PopStats and STI: Colossus
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