Ann Arbor Public Schools, MI

Original Research by School Decision on Ann Arbor Public Schools

Ann Arbor Public Schools is a large, full-spectrum district serving pre-kindergarten through twelfth grade across more than thirty schools in Washtenaw County. The district's enrollment is substantial and diverse. About half the student body identifies as white, with the other half spread across Asian, Black, Hispanic, and multiracial students. The district operates three comprehensive high schools—Pioneer, Huron, and Skyline—alongside Community High School, the alternative Pathways To Success Academic Campus, and elementary and middle schools spread across the city. Families also have access to themed options like Ann Arbor Open at Mack, a progressive K-8 program, and Ann Arbor STEAM at Northside.

On state assessments, the district posts consistently strong results. In English language arts, proficiency rates across grades three through seven sit well above typical state levels, and eighth-grade ELA proficiency on the PSAT is especially high. Math proficiency holds steady across the elementary and middle grades, generally in the upper fifties to low sixties. Science proficiency in fifth and eighth grades is solid, and social studies results are mixed, with eighth grade substantially stronger than fifth. Measured against Washtenaw County's districts, Ann Arbor's overall proficiency sits above the midpoint, reflecting the district's academic strength relative to its neighbors. Chronic absenteeism, however, is also above the county midpoint, which is an area a parent may want to look into further with the school, since absenteeism at this level can affect both classroom momentum and individual student outcomes.

The district's financial picture is layered. Per-pupil current spending sits in the upper range among Washtenaw County districts, reflecting a community that has invested in its schools. Voters approved a large, long-term bond that funds a new elementary school, classroom renovations, and facility improvements, with construction projects ongoing. An operating millage renewal passed in November 2023, providing annual revenue that supports day-to-day operations. Even so, the district approved budget reductions for the current school year and anticipates further cuts to address structural deficit spending that has persisted for several years. This financial pressure could affect class sizes, programs, and services over multiple years, and families considering the district may want to follow how the school board balances these tensions. The district is also exploring opening a New Tech High School, a small, project-based program that would add a different academic pathway alongside the traditional comprehensive high schools.

The housing market in the district is expensive relative to both state and national benchmarks. Weighted home values across the district's zip codes sit well above the state benchmark and above the national benchmark, with the most expensive areas concentrated in central Ann Arbor and the most affordable stretching toward Ypsilanti. Rents follow a similar pattern, with the district's weighted rent above the state level. The price-to-income ratio is high, and estimated monthly mortgage costs exceed typical rent, which means families buying into the district face a steeper cost burden than renters. This housing market reflects Ann Arbor's position as a university town with strong demand, and it shapes who can access the district's schools.

Some data gaps are worth naming. Free-or-reduced-price lunch counts were not available, nor were individualized education program or English learner rates, so the picture of economic need and special populations within the district is incomplete. No graduation rate was available for comparison among the county's districts, and no multi-year academic trend data was provided, so it is not possible to describe whether proficiency is improving or declining over time. Program offerings beyond what is described in the district brief were not available in the data provided. What the evidence does show is a large, diverse, academically strong district operating in an expensive housing market, navigating financial pressure while investing in facilities and exploring new educational pathways.

See more original research from School Decision →

District Context

Officially reported figures, 2024-25.

Enrollment

16,978

Grades

PK–12

Schools

Student body

Hispanic 11%

Black 13%

White 50%

Asian 14%

Two+ 12%

Am. Indian / AK Native 0%

Hawaiian / Pac. Isl. 0%

By economic status

Percent proficient by grade, as reported

Economically disadvantaged

Not disadvantaged

ELA

Gr 3

23%

69%

Gr 4

31%

73%

Gr 5

27%

77%

Gr 6

29%

70%

Gr 7

29%

72%

Gr 8

56%

91%

Math

Gr 3

25%

73%

Gr 4

29%

77%

Gr 5

23%

74%

Gr 6

23%

65%

Gr 7

22%

69%

Gr 8

20%

66%

Science

Gr 5

25%

76%

Gr 8

30%

74%

Social studies

Gr 5

20%

63%

Gr 8

34%

80%

Schools in this District

32 schools are officially reported under this district.

Pathways To Success Academic Campus

Lakewood Elementary School

Abbot School

Angell School

Ann Arbor Open at Mack School

Burns Park Elementary School

Carpenter School

Dicken Elementary School

Eberwhite School

Forsythe Middle School

Haisley Elementary School

John Allen School

Uriah H Lawton School

Bach Elementary School

Mary D Mitchell School

Ann Arbor STEAM at Northside School

Pattengill School

Pittsfield School

Slauson Middle School

Tappan Middle School

Thurston Elementary School

Wines Elementary School

Pioneer High School

Scarlett Middle School

Huron High School

Community High School

Martin Luther King Elem School

Clague Middle School

Clifford E Bryant Comm School

Logan Elementary School

Skyline High School

Correctional Services

Academic Performance

Percent of students meeting or exceeding state standards, by grade.

Mathematics

6 grades reported

60%

Grade 3

63%

Grade 4

60%

Grade 5

52%

Grade 6

55%

Grade 7

52%

Grade 8

English Language Arts

6 grades reported

56%

Grade 3

61%

Grade 4

64%

Grade 5

58%

Grade 6

59%

Grade 7

81%

Grade 8

Science

2 grades reported

62%

Grade 5

61%

Grade 8

Social Studies

2 grades reported

52%

Grade 5

66%

Grade 8

Housing & Real Estate

Data as of April 2026 | District-weighted from constituent ZIP codes

Home Values

Typical home value$517,807

Year-over-year change+2.9%

Range across 10 ZIP codes$229K to $586K

vs. state typical1.96x

vs. national typical1.41x

Home value trend (12 months)

ZIP code home values (10 ZIP codes)

ZIP	City	Value	YoY	Weight
48105	Ann Arbor	$561K	+3.0%	38.9%
48103	Ann Arbor	$530K	+2.9%	30.7%
48108	Ann Arbor	$446K	+2.4%	11.5%
48104	Ann Arbor	$586K	+4.7%	7.6%
48197	Ypsilanti	$347K	+1.3%	5.3%
48198	Ypsilanti	$229K	+1.4%	2.2%
48170	Plymouth	$481K	+4.8%	1.2%
48189	Whitmore Lake	$360K	+2.0%	0.9%
48130	Dexter	$508K	+3.6%	0.3%
48176	Saline	$470K	+1.9%	0.1%

Rental Market

Typical monthly rent$2,181/mo

Year-over-year change+1.6%

Range across 9 ZIP codes$1,307 to $2,424/mo

Rent trend (12 months)

ZIP code rents (9 ZIP codes)

ZIP	City	Rent/mo	YoY	Weight
48105	Ann Arbor	$2,424	+0.8%	38.9%
48103	Ann Arbor	$2,091	+0.8%	30.7%
48108	Ann Arbor	$2,063	+4.2%	11.5%
48104	Ann Arbor	$2,398	+1.3%	7.6%
48197	Ypsilanti	$1,307	+4.2%	5.3%
48198	Ypsilanti	$1,488	+3.4%	2.2%
48170	Plymouth	$1,825	+4.9%	1.2%
48189	Whitmore Lake	$1,850	—	0.9%
48176	Saline	$1,525	—	0.1%

Affordability

Est. monthly mortgage (20% down at 6.48%)$2,613/mo

Home price / national median income6.2x

Annual rent / national median income31.3%

Est. mortgage exceeds rent by$432/mo

Comparison

State typical home value$263,590 (+4.2% YoY)

National typical home value$368,198 (+0.6% YoY)

State ZHVI trend (12 months)

National ZHVI trend (12 months)

Economic Context

30-year fixed mortgage rate6.48%

National unemployment rate4.3%

National median household income$83,730

CPI: Rent of shelter (index)447.05

30-year fixed mortgage rate (12 months)

National unemployment rate (12 months)

National median household income (12 months)

CPI: Rent of shelter (index) (12 months)

Sources: Zillow Home Value Index and Zillow Observed Rent Index (Zillow Group), Realtor.com via Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis (FRED)

Data Currently Unavailable

Civil Rights Data (CRDC)

This profile is derived exclusively from publicly available federal and state datasets. It may not reflect the most current information available. We encourage parents and families to supplement this data with information published directly on the school’s website, which may include more recent figures, additional programs, or updated enrollment data.