Manistee Area Public Schools

Last updated
Manistee Area Public Schools
Address
525 12th Street [1]
Manistee
, Manistee County , Michigan , 49660
United States
District information
GradesPre-Kindergarten-12
SuperintendentRonald Stoneman [2]
Schools3 [3]
Budget$21,298,000 2021-2022 expenditures [3]
NCES District ID 2622410 [3]
Students and staff
Students1,222 (2023-2024) [3]
Teachers63.44 (on an FTE basis) (2023-2024) [3]
Staff149.22 FTE (2023-2024) [3]
Student–teacher ratio19.26 (2023-2024) [3]
Other information
Website www.manisteemariners.org

Manistee Area Public Schools is a public school district in Northern Michigan. In Manistee County, it serves Manistee, Eastlake, Filer Township, and parts of the townships of Manistee and Stronach. [4] In Mason County, it serves part of Grant Township. [5]

Contents

History

The first school in Manistee was established in 1852. In 1867, a new school was built that contained all grades in the city. It was expanded in 1870. The first high school classes were held in 1874 and the first class graduated in 1879. [6]

A high school was built in Manistee around 1886. [7] It was used until a new high school was built, then became an elementary school before being torn down in 1958. [8] It was succeeded by the following high school buildings:

Five elementary schools were built between 1936 and 1964: [10] [1]

The district has faced challenges related to declining enrollment and revenue. Four factory closures during the 1980s resulted in the loss of about 1,500 jobs in Manistee. In response to the associated drop in funding, the district made cuts to services and programs and some classes became overcrowded. The football field fell into disrepair and certain textbooks became scarce. In 1993, with an enrollment of about 2,000 students, the Associated Press profiled the district's financial difficulties, describing Manistee as "a case study in the inequities created by Michigan's school financing system," and noting, "Many students say their interests are overlooked as adults squabble over money and responsibility." [14]

By 2012, enrollment had declined to approximately 1,600 students, and the district offered buyouts to teachers due to a budget deficit. [15]

In 2022, voters felt that the district's financial condition had improved enough to approve a $30.855 million bond issue to renovate district facilities, [16] including creating a consolidated elementary school within Kennedy Elementary (which the 1967 former high school building was later called). That school, now called Manistee Elementary, reopened in fall 2025. [12]

Mascot controversy

In an effort to avoid the offensive stereotypes associated with Native American imagery, the district discontinued use of the Chippewas mascot in 2022. In 2023, Mariners was chosen as the new mascot, beating the Whitecaps in a community vote. [17] [18]

Schools

Schools in Manistee Area Public Schools district [1]
SchoolAddressNotes
Manistee Middle/High School 525 Twelfth Street, ManisteeGrades 6-12. Built 2003. [13]
Manistee Elementary550 Maple St, ManisteeGrades 1-5. Built 1967. [10]
Manistee Early Childhood Center515 Bryant Ave, ManisteeGrades PreK-K. Formerly Jefferson Elementary. Built 1964. [10]
Michigan Great Lakes Virtual AcademyOnline charter school authorized by Manistee Area Public Schools

References

  1. 1 2 3 Manistee Area Public Schools. "Manistee Area Public Schools" . Retrieved December 21, 2025.
  2. ↑ Manistee Area Public Schools. "Our MAPS Staff" . Retrieved December 21, 2025.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "Search for Public School Districts – District Detail for Manistee Area Public Schools". National Center for Education Statistics . Institute of Education Sciences.
  4. ↑ Michigan Department of Technology, Management and Budget. "Manistee School Districts" (PDF). Retrieved December 21, 2025.
  5. ↑ Michigan Department of Technology, Management and Budget. "Mason County School Districts" (PDF). Retrieved December 21, 2025.
  6. ↑ Russell, Edwin. "Manistee Public Schools". Manistee County MiGen Web. Retrieved December 21, 2025.
  7. ↑ "Solid facts". Saginaw Evening News. May 24, 1886. p. 1.
  8. ↑ Editorial staff of Manistee High School yearbook. Manistee High School Centennial Yearbook 1878-1978 (Manistee High School 1978 yearbook). pp. 4–5.
  9. ↑ "Manistee High School is near completion". Flint Daily Journal. January 17, 1927. p. 8.
  10. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Manistee Area Public Schools. "Facilities History" . Retrieved December 21, 2025.
  11. ↑ Kotecki, Kyle (July 12, 2022). "MAPS begins work at Madison to accommodate students for 2022-23 school year". Manistee News Advocate.
  12. 1 2 3 Kotecki, Kyle (September 2, 2025). "Photos: Manistee Elementary School welcomes students for 1st time". Manistee News Advocate.
  13. 1 2 Associated Press (February 18, 2003). "Manistee High wins praises for new site". Lansing State Journal. p. 4B.
  14. ↑ Flesher, John (September 5, 1993). "Manistee case study in school finance mess". Jackson Citizen Patriot (Jackson, Mich.). Associated Press. p. A12.
  15. ↑ Scott, Monica (December 15, 2012). "Manistee schools offer teachers midyear buyout". Muskegon Chronicle (Muskegon, Mich.). p. A4.
  16. ↑ Michigan Department of Treasury. "STATE QUALIFIED SCHOOL BOND ELECTION RESULTS MANISTEE COUNTY Manistee Area Schools" . Retrieved December 22, 2025.
  17. ↑ Thompson, Tyler (February 1, 2023). "Manistee Area Public Schools holds public vote to change mascot". Interlochen Public Radio.
  18. ↑ Manistee Area Public Schools. "A new mascot for MAPS" . Retrieved December 22, 2025.
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