Reed City Area Public Schools

Reed City Area Public Schools
Address
220 W. Lincoln Ave, Suite 1[1]
, Osceola County, Michigan, 49677
United States
District information
GradesPre-Kindergarten-12
SuperintendentMichael Sweet[2]
Schools3[1]
Budget$18,307,000 2021-2022 expenditures[3]
NCES District ID2629490[3]
Students and staff
Students1,421 (2023-2024)[3]
Teachers80.51 (on an FTE basis) (2023-2024)[3]
Staff194.42 FTE (2023-2024)[3]
Student–teacher ratio17.65 (2023-2024)[3]
Other information
Websitewww.reedcityschools.org

Reed City Area Public Schools is a public school district in West Michigan.

Geographic Area

In Osceola County, it serves Hersey, Reed City, Richmond Township, and parts of the townships of Cedar, Hersey, and Lincoln.[4] In Lake County, it serves Chase Township and part of Pinora Township.[5] In Mecosta County, it serves parts of Grant and Green Townships.[6] It also serves part of Barton Township in Newaygo County.[7]

History

Reed City's first school was established in 1872 above a downtown store. The furniture was old planks and wooden boxes, and a local carpenter made the blackboard. Enrollment grew quickly and the school moved to a nearby church. By 1874, the public school had its own dedicated building, with two stories and several classrooms. The first high school class graduated in 1884.[8]

Voters approved funds for a new grade school/high school building in 1893.[8] Hersey had a high school of its own since at least 1897, when it is mentioned in The Saginaw News as a competitor in the annual Field Day of High Schools of Northern Michigan. Among the events was a baseball game between Hersey and Reed City High Schools, which ended in a tie.[9]

The next Reed City High School was built in 1923, and would serve the community until the current high school opened, and then serve as the district's middle school. The current middle school opened in 1993.[8]

Hersey's school district operated its high school until the end of the 1956-1957 school year, but it only had 44 students.[10] Hersey retained its independence and rebuilt its school in 1960, before ultimately consolidating with Reed City in 1963. It was one of many outlying rural school districts that consolidated with Reed City's district between 1950 and 1968, bringing the district to its current geographic area that spans four counties. [8]

The current Reed City High School was dedicated in November 1963.[11]

Schools

Schools in Reed City Area Public Schools district[1][3]
School Address Notes
Reed City High School 225 W Church Ave., Reed City Grades 9-12. Built 1963.[11]
Reed City Middle School 233 W Church Ave., Reed City Grades 5-8. Built 1993.[12]
G.T. Norman Elementary 338 W Lincoln Ave., Reed City Grades PreK-4. Built 1954. Additions and renovations built 2005. Preschool annex built 1950.[12]

References

  1. ^ a b c Reed City Area Public Schools. "Reed City Area Public Schools". Retrieved November 20, 2025.
  2. ^ Reed City Area Public Schools. "Central Office Staff". Retrieved November 20, 2025.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g "Search for Public School Districts – District Detail for Reed City Area Public Schools". National Center for Education Statistics. Institute of Education Sciences.
  4. ^ Michigan Department of Technology, Management and Budget. "Osceola County School Districts" (PDF). Retrieved November 20, 2025.
  5. ^ Michigan Department of Technology, Management and Budget. "Lake County School Districts" (PDF). Retrieved November 20, 2025.
  6. ^ Michigan Department of Technology, Management and Budget. "Mecosta County School Districts" (PDF). Retrieved November 20, 2025.
  7. ^ Michigan Department of Technology, Management and Budget. "Newaygo County School Districts" (PDF). Retrieved November 20, 2025.
  8. ^ a b c d Reed City Area Public Schools. "About Reed City". Retrieved November 20, 2025.
  9. ^ "Reed City". Saginaw News. June 22, 1897. p. 2.
  10. ^ "Sixth ballot spells end of Hersey High School". Grand Rapids Press. November 12, 1956. p. 30.
  11. ^ a b "To dedicate new Reed City High School Sunday". Grand Rapids Press. November 8, 1963. p. 45.
  12. ^ a b Reed City Area Public Schools. "2023 Facilities Assessment" (PDF). Retrieved November 20, 2025.