Sizing up School Options for Your Children
No question about it, as parents, we want to provide our children with the academic foundation for success in life.
Luckily, Greater Kalamazoo offers a thriving network of educational options to best serve your family and your family lifestyle.
Find your child’s learning home with the comprehensive Kalamazoo, Portage, and Surrounding Area Schools Guide.
Get started with a full list of Southwest Michigan school options for every family – private, secular, religious, public, charter, online, language immersion and more.
Greater Kalamazoo Area School Guide
Southwest Michigan parents, you have options. A schooling experience for your child that is designed for your family’s needs.
Today, Southwest Michigan parents have a wide range of options when making important decisions about their child’s education.
Whether you are looking for Kalamazoo, Portage, or outlying communities, we have them listed for you.
Want a language immersion school, a charter school, or a school to help a child with learning differences? There are tons of choices.
Start with this guide as you research your K-12 options and find your child’s learning home.
Have little ones? Our Preschools Guide can help them get started in school.
The Kalamazoo Area School Directory
includes sponsored listings
This information is updated for 2026.
Includes public, private, charter, religious schools and more in Kalamazoo, Portage, Schoolcraft, Battle Creek and surrounding cities.
SWMI Schools
Private Religious Schools
Private schools are established, maintained, and supported by private individuals or a corporation.
This structure allows these schools to operate independently, choose their own curricula, and offer specialized programs or those geared toward particular religious beliefs, if they so desire.
Since they are independently run, these schools are not required to accept all applicants and may be selective in their acceptance procedures.
We build compassionate relationships in the classroom and the community, where all are welcome, regardless of faith affiliation.
With Christ as the center of our education, we are committed to providing private, quality education at an affordable price.
Our high academic standards provide individualized attention from outstanding teachers. Our curriculum offers the greatest diversity of programming among area private schools.
• Technology integration supports meaningful learning
• Sports, Music & Visual Arts Programs encourage students to discover their passions
• Year-round Mission Projects cultivate compassionate leaders
• Certified Michigan Green School
• Tuition Assistance Programs available
• PPS bus pickup & drop-off point for K-8
Grade Levels: Elementary, Middle School, PreK, Young 5's
My son has been attending St Michael for two years; both its academic and value systems are to be commended. My son has made great progress academically through the individual attention each teacher provides.
SWMI Private Religious Schools
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Battle Creek Academy 480 Parkway Dr, Battle Creek, MI 49037
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Battle Creek Area Catholic Schools 63 North 24th St, Battle Creek, MI 49015
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Battle Creek Christian School 1035 Wagner Dr, Battle Creek, MI 49017
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Calhoun Christian School 20 Woodrow Ave S, Battle Creek, MI 49015
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East Martin Christian School 516 118th Ave, Martin, MI
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Gift Of Grace Montessori 6339 Atlantic Ave, Kalamazoo, MI 49009
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Gobles Junior Academy 32110 6th Ave, Gobles, MI 49055
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Hackett Catholic Prep 1000 W Kilgore Rd, Kalamazoo, MI 49008
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| Heritage Christian Academy |
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Immaculate Conception School 601 S Douglas Ave, Three Rivers, MI 49093
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Kalamazoo Christian Schools 2121 Stadium Dr, Kalamazoo, MI 49008
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Kalamazoo Junior Academy 1601 Nichols Rd, Kalamazoo, MI 49006
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Light of Christ Academy 12648 E D Ave, Augusta, MI 49012
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Prairie Baptist School 11210 PQ Ave E, Scotts, MI 49088
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Reformed Heritage Christian School 700 N Fletcher Ave, Kalamazoo, MI 49006
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St. Augustine Cathedral School 600 W Michigan Ave, Kalamazoo, MI 49007
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St. Joseph Catholic Elementary School 47 N 23rd St, Battle Creek, MI 49015
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St. Joseph Catholic Middle School 44 N 25th St, Battle Creek, MI 49015
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St. Margaret School 736 S Farmer St, Otsego, MI 49078
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St. Mary's Catholic School 500 E Paw Paw St, Paw Paw, MI 49079
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St. Michael Lutheran School 7211 Oakland Dr, Portage, MI 49024
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St. Monica Catholic School 530 W Kilgore Rd, Kalamazoo, MI 49008
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St. Phillip Catholic Central HS 20 Cherry St, Battle Creek, MI 49017
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Trinity Lutheran School 725 Pine St, Paw Paw, MI 49079
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Secular Private Schools
Secular Private Schools are established, maintained, and supported by private individuals or a corporation, but do not have a religious affiliation.
Families pay tuition, but schools may offer scholarships and/or other financial assistance.
We strive to educate the whole child and inspire them to be caring, socially responsible participants in their community and world.
Our carefully prepared classrooms are staffed with highly qualified, Montessori-certified Lead Guides and specially trained staff.
Multi-aged classrooms allow the children to learn from one another and be valued contributors to the community and the classroom community.
Grade Levels: PreK, Middle School, Elementary
From the minute we enrolled our two kids, our experience has been second to none and we couldn’t be happier.​ - Steve A
Our mission is to provide each student with a well-rounded, progressive, and compassionate education.
We keep class sizes small to ensure that every student receives individualized attention.
Grade Levels: PreK, Young 5's, Elementary, Middle School
SWMI Secular Private Schools
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Gagie School 615 Fairview Ave, Kalamazoo, MI 49008
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Kalamazoo Country Day School 4221 E Milham Ave, Portage, MI 49002
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Shamrock Montessori Preschool 7508 Oakland Dr, Portage, MI 49024
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The Montessori School 750 Howard St, Kalamazoo, MI 49008
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Public Schools
Southwest Michigan is fortunate to have exceptional public schools. Public schools are often close to home and tuition-free.
Graduates of the Kalamazoo Public School (KPS) district are eligible to receive scholarships for post-secondary education through The Kalamazoo Promise, a program launched in 2005 and funded by anonymous donors.
Students and graduates of Portage Public Schools achieve success both academically and in a wide range of extracurricular activities including the arts, athletics, science, forensics and debate, and community service.
Grade Levels: Elementary, High School, Middle School, PreK
Open House: Please visit portageps.com and go to the enrollment page for information and enrollment timelines.
"What makes me the most proud about our school district has to be the connections between the teachers and students here. The teachers genuinely care about us and are passionate about if we succeed or not."- student
SWMI Public Schools
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Allegan Public Schools 550 5th St, Allegan, MI 49010
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Battle Creek Public Schools 3 Van Buren West, Battle Creek, MI 49017
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Comstock Public Schools 3010 Gull Rd, Kalamazoo, MI 49048
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Curious Kids 1010 W Milham Ave, Portage, MI 49024
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Galesburg- Augusta Community Schools 1076 N 37th St, Galesburg, MI 49053
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Gobles Public Schools 409 N State St, Gobles, MI 49055
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Gull Lake Community Schools 10100 E D Ave, Richland, MI 49083
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Harper Creek Community Schools 7454 B Dr North, Battle Creek, MI 49014
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Kalamazoo Public Schools 1220 Howard St, Kalamazoo, MI 49008
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Lakeview School District 15 Arbor St, Battle Creek, MI 49015
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Mattawan Consolidated Schools 56720 Murray St, Mattawan, MI 49071
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Otsego Public Schools 400 Sherwood St, Otsego, MI 49078
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Parchment School District 520 N Orient St, Parchment, MI 49004
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Paw Paw Public Schools 119 Johnson Rd, Paw Paw, MI 49079
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Plainwell Community Schools 600 School Dr, Plainwell, MI 49080
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Portage Public Schools 8107 Mustang Dr, Portage, MI 49002
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Schoolcraft Community Schools 551 E Lyon St, Schoolcraft, MI 49087
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Three Rivers Community Schools 851 Sixth Ave, Three Rivers, MI 49093
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Vicksburg Community Schools 301 S Kalamazoo St, Vicksburg, MI 49097
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Charter Schools
Charter schools are publicly funded schools that are held to the same standards as other public schools, but are usually allowed flexibility on certain rules and regulations. You do not pay tuition at a charter school.
Charter schools in Michigan operate independently and often have curricular and educational philosophies that may differ from those of other public schools.
Many charter schools require a high level of parent involvement, and some are theme-focused.
Families seeking a more personalized alternative to large districts choose Oakland. Flexible hybrid learning is also available.
Now enrolling!
Grade Levels: Young 5's, Elementary, Middle School
Open House: 2026 Open Houses: Mar 12, Apr 23 + May 14 from 5-6 PM
SWMI Charter Schools
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Arbor Academy 55 Arbor St, Battle Creek, MI 49015
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Battle Creek Montessori Academy 399 N 20th St, Springfield, MI 49037
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Calhoun Community High School 765 Upton Ave, Springfield, MI 49015
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Endeavor Charter Academy 380 Helmer Rd N, Battle Creek, MI 49037
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Kalamazoo Covenant Academy 400 W Crosstown Pkwy, Kalamazoo, MI 49008
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Oakland Academy 6325 Oakland Dr, Portage, MI 49024
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Paramount Charter School 3624 S Westnedge Ave, Kalamazoo, MI 49008
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Bilingual Education Schools
Select schools around Kalamazoo provide opportunities to learn a second language in the classroom.
Chinese and Spanish are introduced to students through differing techniques: language immersion, bilingualism or preschool instruction are all options locally.
Language immersion programs foster learning by teaching most of the classwork in a second language. Bilingualism encourages learning by splitting teaching equally between the two languages.
Admission to these programs may require residency in public school districts. Check with the schools you’re interested in for more details.
SWMI Bilingual Educaton Schools
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El Concilio: Escuelita Nuevo Horizonte 930 Lake St # A, Kalamazoo, MI 49001
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El Sol Elementary School 604 W Vine St, Kalamazoo, MI 49008
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Fremont International Academy 115 E Emmett St, Battle Creek, MI 49017
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Kalamazoo Chinese Academy 1903 W Michigan Ave, Kalamazoo, MI 49008
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Kalamazoo Christian Schools 2121 Stadium Dr, Kalamazoo, MI 49008
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Tutoring and Enrichment Programs
All of our kids have different strengths and different challenges. Academic support programs and tutoring options can give a child extra tools to master their skills.
One of the first places parents can start when considering a tutor is by asking at their child’s school. Also, online searches and local college websites may be avenues to find tutoring assistance.
You’ll need to invest the time to find the right match – contact, interview, and thoroughly review the tutor’s background to ensure the right fit. Sometimes the best tutor may be a qualified neighbor or family friend.
Questions You Might Want to Ask a Prospective Tutor
• What kind of teaching experience do you have, and what are your credentials?
• How do you evaluate each student’s needs?
• Where does the tutoring take place (library, in-home) and how often?
• How much does it cost?
• How do you measure results? What if my child doesn’t improve?
SWMI Tutoring & Enrichment Providers
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Kalamazoo Institute of Arts 314 S Park St, Kalamazoo, MI 49007
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Kumon Math and Reading Center 90 S 20th St Unit 91, Battle Creek, MI 49015
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Math from the Mitten 3500 Stolk Dr, Kalamazoo, MI 49004
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SLD Read - Battle Creek 50 Jackson St W, Battle Creek, MI 49017
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SLD Read - Kalamazoo 5250 Lovers Ln, Kalamazoo, MI 49002
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Sylvan Learning Center 4625 Beckley Rd, Battle Creek, MI 49015
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Thompson Tutoring LLC 5955 West Main St, Kalamazoo, MI 49009
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School Support
If your child needs a little extra support to succeed in school, Southwest Michigan has several options.
From ADHD screenings to autism support, there are services available to supplement instruction and learning in a positive environment.
Many of these supports are county-level; be sure to check residency requirements.
SWMI School Support Resources
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Allegan AESA 310 Thomas St, Allegan, MI 49010
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Calhoun County ISD 17111 G-Dr N, Marshall, MI 49068
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Great Lakes Center for Autism Treatment & Research 9616 Portage Rd, Portage, MI 49002
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Kalamazoo Autism Center 4200 S Westnedge Ave, Kalamazoo, MI 49008
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Kalamazoo Regional Education Service Agency (KRESA) 1819 E Milham Ave, Portage, MI 49002
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Kalamazoo Youth Development (KYD) Network 4000 Portage St, Kalamazoo, MI 49001
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Lawrence Autism Center 1800 S 35th St, Galesburg, MI 49053
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Lighthouse Autism Center 2314 Helen Ave Ste 200, Portage, MI 49002
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St. Joseph County ISD 62445 Shimmel Rd, Centreville, MI 49032
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Van Buren ISD 490 S Paw Paw St, Lawrence, MI 49064
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Virtual Online Schools
Virtual schools offer education and instruction primarily online.
They can be publicly or privately funded and, therefore, depending on the school, can be categorized as public, private, or charter schools.
This means that some virtual schools are free, and others require tuition.
Virtual Online Schools
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Comstock K-12 Virtual Academy Comstock, MI
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Great Lakes Connections East Lansing, MI
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Gull Lake Virtual Partnership Gull Lake, MI
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iCademy Global Zeeland, MI
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Kalamazoo Public Schools Virtual Program Kalamazoo, MI
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Link Learning Three Rivers, MI
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Michigan Connections Okemos, MI
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Michigan Online School Gobles, MI
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Michigan Virtual Charter Academy Hazel Park, MI
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Restored Faith Prep Academy Troy, MI
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Uplift Michigan Stephenson, MI
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Vicksburg Pathways Vicksburg, MI
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Virtual Learning Academy Consortium Waterford, MI
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Homeschool Resources
The homeschooling community is growing in Kalamazoo and the surrounding areas.
With the programming and support available to families today, parents are choosing to educate their kids at home and enjoy a strong community atmosphere with other homeschooled families.
An extensive list of resources is available in the Kalamazoo Homeschool Resource Guide.
Need to add a school to our guide?
Is your school missing? Email our Sales Lead (amy@kzookids.com) to be included.
More to Explore
