ISD Comparisons › ISD 28 — Northwest Education Services

ISD 28 — Northwest Education Services

Comparison of 16 traditional local public school districts (FY 2025).

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ISD Cohort:

Traditional LEAs 16 Charter Academies 6 All Districts 22

Traditional LEAs Benchmarks calculated across constituent school districts with taxing authority.

Member Districts

Traditional LEAs (of 22 total)

Total Student Enrollment

17,976

Audited FY 2025 blended FTE

Total Operating Budget

$291.8M

Fund 11 General Operating

Median Reserve Margin

33.8%

ISD Member District Median

Median Pupil:Teacher

17.8:1

Enrolled Pupils / Teacher FTE

At-Risk Districts

0 Early Warning, 0 Deficit

Member District Comparisons

Audited student enrollment, staffing, operating budgets, and reserve margins for all districts in ISD 28 — Northwest Education Services.

District Name & Code	Enrollment (FTE)	Operating Spend (F11)	Annual Net (FY 2025)	Reserve Margin
Traverse City Area Public Schools Code: 28010	8,751.6 pupils -11.1% (10y)	$124.9M Fund 11 Spend	+$442K surplus	11.73%
Kingsley Area Schools Code: 28090	1,424.3 pupils -0.2% (10y)	$18.6M Fund 11 Spend	+$737K surplus	33.82%
Kalkaska Public Schools Code: 40040	1,329.0 pupils -15.6% (10y)	$21.8M Fund 11 Spend	-$332K deficit	18.91%
Benzie County Central Schools Code: 10015	1,132.1 pupils -24.8% (10y)	$19.1M Fund 11 Spend	-$713K deficit	29.33%
Elk Rapids Schools Code: 05060	942.5 pupils -27.4% (10y)	$18.7M Fund 11 Spend	+$1.3M surplus	27.33%
Mancelona Public Schools Code: 05070	777.7 pupils -18.7% (10y)	$12.2M Fund 11 Spend	+$92K surplus	36.68%
Glen Lake Community Schools Code: 45010	733.0 pupils -0.3% (10y)	$19.7M Fund 11 Spend	+$30K surplus	46.36% Capital-Encumbered
Buckley Community Schools Code: 28035	490.2 pupils +14.4% (10y)	$6.7M Fund 11 Spend	+$431K surplus	55.6% Capital-Encumbered
Frankfort-Elberta Area Schools Code: 10025	487.6 pupils +2.7% (10y)	$10.0M Fund 11 Spend	+$609K surplus	42.67%
Forest Area Community Schools Code: 40020	487.1 pupils -2.1% (10y)	$7.3M Fund 11 Spend	+$49K surplus	28.59%
Suttons Bay Public Schools Code: 45050	477.2 pupils -18.9% (10y)	$9.1M Fund 11 Spend	+$164K surplus	15.09%
Leland Public School District Code: 45020	417.8 pupils -19.5% (10y)	$8.4M Fund 11 Spend	-$105K deficit	22.82%
Bellaire Public Schools Code: 05040	258.3 pupils -32.1% (10y)	$6.9M Fund 11 Spend	-$179K deficit	34.38%
Northport Public School District Code: 45040	125.9 pupils -21.1% (10y)	$6.2M Fund 11 Spend	+$249K surplus	69.47% Capital-Encumbered
Alba Public Schools Code: 05010	96.1 pupils -28.3% (10y)	$1.6M Fund 11 Spend	-$163K deficit	10.68%
Excelsior Township S/D #1 Code: 40060	45.7 pupils +6.0% (10y)	$673K Fund 11 Spend	-$81K deficit	71.85% Capital-Encumbered

Reserve Key: Deficit (< 0%) Early Warning (< 5%) Fiscal Watch (5%–10%) Standard (10%–50%) High (> 50%)

Source: Michigan Department of Education (MDE) Bulletin 1014 (Operating Expenditures & Staffing) and Bulletin 1011 (Balance Sheet). Audited FY 2025. Capital facility funds restricted under MCL 380.1212.