School districts across Michigan have decided whether to begin the school year in person or online. Now, with the official start quickly approaching, school leaders are spending time perfecting their plans and preparing for challenges.
We’ve tracked reopening plans for school districts across Michigan, with a particular focus on the Detroit region that includes Macomb, Oakland and Wayne counties. A few dozen districts in the region are offering parents a choice between in-person learning and online learning. Many are starting the school year remotely and planning to transition to face-to-face instruction when conditions allow.
All these plans could be moot if Gov. Gretchen Whitmer decides shortly before Sept. 8 that COVID data indicates it isn’t safe for students and staff to return to school buildings.
Read the list below to find out how various school districts in Michigan plan to start the school year. We’ll be repeatedly updating this list to include more districts. And catch up on our latest stories about expected learning losses affecting the most vulnerable students, concerns about school meals, Detroit schools going all-remote, and more.
Addison Community Schools in Lenawee County will begin the school year Aug. 31 with students learning in person or online.
Adrian Public Schools in Lenawee County will begin the school year Sept. 8 with students learning either in person or online.
Allen Park Public Schools in Wayne County will begin the school year Sept. 2 with students learning online through at least Oct. 2. The plan is to transition to in-person learning as conditions allow.
Anchor Bay School District in Macomb County will begin the school year Sept. 8 with two options for families. Students can attend in-person classes or sign up for a fully online program.
Ann Arbor Public Schools in Washtenaw County will begin the year Sept. 8 with learning online. The district is offering three options Under the first option, students will receive remote instruction from district teachers until the district deems it is safe to return to school buildings for in-person instruction. In the second option, students would receive remote instruction from district teachers for the whole school year. The third option will allow students to learn online at their own pace while receiving feedback from district teachers.
Armada Area Schools in Macomb County will begin the school year Aug. 31 with students learning either in person or online.
Avondale School District in Oakland County will begin the school year Sept. 1 with students learning online, through Nov. 6. The district is also offering the option of a fully online program.
Bay City School District in Bay County will begin the school year Sept. 1 with students learning online. The remote start will continue for the first quarter, at which point the district will transition to in-person learning if conditions allow. Parents can choose a fully online option.
Benton Harbor Area Schools in Berrien County plans to begin the school year Aug. 31 with multiple options for families. K-8 students will choose a fully online program or a hybrid program that blends in-person and remote learning. High school students will attend fully online.
Berkley School District in Oakland County will begin the school year Aug. 31 online and continue until at least the end of the first marking period on Oct. 30. Once it is safe to return to in-person learning, the district will survey parents to determine which students want to continue with online learning and who will return to school buildings.
Birmingham Public Schools in Oakland County will begin the school year Aug. 31 online. The plan will be revisited Nov. 1.
Boggs School, a charter school in Detroit, will begin the school year Aug. 31 with students learning online. In a note on its website, the school said it will reevaluate the plan throughout the fall.
Bloomfield Hills Schools in Oakland County will begin the school year Sept. 8 online.
Brandon School District in Oakland County will begin the school year Sept. 8 with two options: Students can attend in person or enroll in a fully online program.
Brighton Area Schools in Livingston County will begin the school year Sept. 8 with students learning in person four days a week. The fifth day will be spent learning online. The district also is offering online only options.
Cadillac Area Public Schools in Wexford County will begin the school year Aug. 31 with students learning in person five days a week.
Center Line Public Schools in Macomb County will begin the school year Sept. 8 with two options. Students can attend in-person as part of a hybrid program that will have half attending Mondays and Tuesdays, the other half attending Thursdays and Fridays, and all students learning online on Wednesdays. Students can also choose a fully online option.
Cesar Chavez Academy, a K-12 charter school in Detroit, will begin the school year Sept. 8 with in-person learning or remote learning for students in elementary and middle school. High school students might be able to attend as part of a hybrid program that includes both in-person and remote instruction, according to the reopening plan.
Chippewa Valley Schools in Macomb County will begin the school year online, with plans to transition to face-to-face learning when conditions allow.
Clarenceville School District in Wayne and Oakland counties will begin the school year Aug. 31 online, with plans to transition students to in-person learning. The district is also offering a fully online option for students who don’t plan to make that transition.
Clarkston Community Schools in Oakland County will begin the school year Aug. 31 with students learning online. District officials say they’ll evaluate the remote learning weekly.
Clawson Public Schools in Oakland County will begin the school year Aug. 31 online. The district expects to phase in the transition to in-person learning, with most students returning in October. Elementary students would return in person five days a week, while middle and high school students would return to a hybrid program that includes in-person and online learning.
Clintondale Community Schools in Macomb County will begin the school year Sept. 8 with students learning either in person or online.
Constantine Public Schools in St. Joseph County will begin the school year Aug. 24 with in-person learning for some students and online learning for others.
Crestwood School District in Wayne County will begin the school year Aug. 31 with students learning online.
Davison Community Schools in Genesee County will begin the school year Sept. 8 with some students learning in person and other students learning online.
Dearborn Heights School District No. 7 in Wayne County planning to begin the school year Aug. 31 with students learning either in person or through a fully online program.
Dearborn Public Schools in Wayne County will begin the school year Aug. 31 online until Oct. 1. In-person learning labs will be available for students who need social-emotional and academic assistance. When the district returns to face-to-face learning, there will still be an online only option available for students who want it.
Detroit Public Schools Community District, the state’s largest school district, is giving parents the choice between in-person learning and online learning. The school year begins Sept. 8. Read the plan here. The district is asking parents to fill out a survey by Aug. 21 to choose an option.
East Lansing Public Schools in Ingham County has a plan that still must be approved by the school board that includes online only instruction until at least Sept. 30. The district, which begins the school year Aug. 25, will decide then whether to continue with online learning or bring students back to school buildings. If the latter happens, students would return in phases, with the youngest students returning first.
Eastpointe Public Schools in Macomb County will begin the school year Sept. 8 with students learning either in person and online, or fully online.
Ecorse Public Schools in Wayne County will begin the school year with students learning either in person or fully online.
Farmington Public Schools in Oakland County is planning to begin the school year Aug. 31 online. The remote learning will be in place at least until Oct. 30. The district is working with the YMCA to provide child care within its schools for K-5 students. The program would have a 9:1 student-to-staff ratio.
Ferndale Public Schools in Oakland County is planning to begin the school year Aug. 31 online. There will be opportunities for some students who need extra support to come into buildings for two hours a day. Read the plan here.
Fitzgerald Public Schools in Macomb County will begin the school year Sept. 8 with students learning online.
Flat Rock Community Schools in Wayne County will begin the school year Sept. 1 with students learning in person or fully online.
Flint Community Schools in Genesee County began the school year Aug. 5 fully online. Classes will remain online until at least mid-September, district officials said.
Flushing Community Schools in Genesee County will begin the school year Sept. 8 online and delay in-person instruction until at least Oct. 5.
Fraser Public Schools in Macomb County said in a July 13 Facebook post that it “will offer face-to-face, blended and virtual learning options with curriculum created and taught by our Fraser teachers.” The school year begins Sept. 8.
Frontier International Academy, a Detroit charter school, is beginning the school year online. The school plans to transition to in-person instruction after Sept. 30.
Garden City Public Schools in Wayne County will begin the school year with students learning online, with plans to transition to in-person learning when it is safe.
Gibraltar School District in Wayne County will begin the school year Sept. 8 with students learning in person four days a week, while one day is spent learning remotely. The district is also offering a fully online option.
Grand Blanc Community Schools in Genesee County will begin the school year Sept. 8 online. Students will transition to in-person learning when conditions allow. The district also is offering a fully online option for students who opt not to make that transition.
Grand Haven Area Public Schools in Ottawa County will begin the school year with in-person learning and the option for online only learning.
Grand Rapids Public Schools in Kent County has a plan that still must be approved by the school board that will have students learning online until the end of the first marking period on Oct. 21. The district will decide then whether to continue with online only or provide a mixture of online and in-person learning. The school year begins Aug. 25.
Grosse Ile Township Schools in Wayne County will begin the school year Sept. 8 with students learning either in person or online.
Grosse Pointe Public Schools in Wayne County will begin with remote learning “with a gradual plan to bring everyone back,” Superintendent Gary Niehaus said in a letter to families.
When it’s safe to do so, students whose parents chose a “traditional” school year program will return to the school building full-time or as part of a hybrid program that includes online learning. Those who choose a fully online program will continue learning from home, but parents can change programs after the first semester.
The district also plans to offer students with the most need, such as at-risk and special education, an opportunity to return to in-person learning soon after the school year starts. Those students would receive small group in-person instruction.
Hamtramck Public Schools in Wayne County will begin the school year Sept. 8 with students learning online.
Harper Woods School District in Wayne County will begin the school year with multiple options for enrollment. Students can learn in person every day, fully online, or a combination of the two.
Hazel Park Schools in Oakland County will begin the school year Sept. 1 with students learning either in person or fully online.
Highland Park School District in Wayne County will begin the school year Sept. 8 with a plan that includes a gradual shift to in-person learning.
Holland Public Schools in Ottawa County will begin the school year Aug. 26 with face to face instruction. An online only option will be offered to families who aren’t ready to return to school buildings.
Holly Area Schools in Oakland County will begin the school year Aug. 31 with students attending school online.
Howell Public Schools in Livingston County will begin the school year Sept. 8 with students learning either in person or online.
Huron Valley Schools in Oakland County will begin the school year Aug. 31 with students in grades K-7 learning in person two days a week and online three days a week. Students in grades 8-12 will begin the year with two weeks of remote instruction and return to a mix of in-person and online learning on Sept. 14. The district is also giving families the option of a fully online program.
Huron Schools in Wayne County will begin the school year Aug. 31 with in-person learning and fully online learning.
Kalamazoo Public Schools in Kalamazoo County will begin the school year Aug. 31 online. Students will remain learning only through the end of the first trimester, through Nov. 24. At that point, students will return to in-person learning two days a week for the second semester, while learning online the rest of the week. During the third trimester, students will be in school five days a week. Families will be able to choose an online only option.
Lake Orion Community Schools in Oakland County will begin the school year Sept. 8 with students learning online. The district is planning for a return to in-person learning by Nov. 9, after the end of the first marking period.
Lakeview Public Schools in Macomb County will begin the school year Sept. 8 with two options for families. A hybrid option will have students spending half their time learning in person and the other half learning online. Another option provides fully online learning.
Lake Shore Public Schools in Macomb County will begin the school year Sept. 8 with students either enrolled in a phased in, in-person learning program or in a fully online program.
Lamphere Schools in Oakland County will begin the school year Aug. 31 with students learning online. The remote learning will continue throughout the first quarter, which ends Oct. 30. The district will decide then whether to begin in-person learning.
Lansing School District in Ingham County is beginning the school year Aug. 31 online. Students will receive a combination of live instruction from teachers and some self-paced learning. The district announced Aug. 6 that all sports and extracurricular activities have been cancelled.
Lapeer Community Schools in Lapeer County will begin the school year Sept. 8 with students learning online. The district hopes to begin in-person instruction by Oct. 5.
L’Anse Creuse Public Schools in Macomb County will begin the school year with students either learning in person or fully online.
Lincoln Park Public Schools in Wayne County will begin the school year with students learning either in person or fully online.
Livonia Public Schools in Wayne County is beginning the school year Sept. 8 online. The remote start will be followed by a gradual return to in-person learning. Parents are being asked to decide if they want that option or a fully online option.
Madison District Public Schools in Oakland County is beginning the school year Sept. 8 online, with plans to reassess at the end of the first marking period, which is Nov. 13.
Melvindale-Northern Allen Park Schools in Wayne County is beginning the school year Aug. 31 online, with plans to transition to in-person learning when conditions are safe.
Michigan Center Schools in Jackson County is beginning the school year Aug. 26 with two options for parents. Students will either learn in person five days a week or parents can choose an online only option.
Monroe Public Schools in Monroe County is beginning the school year Sept. 2 with several options. Students can attend online via a program that assigns students to district teachers, a self-paced online option, or through learning labs that will allow students to be in school buildings while learning remotely.
Mount Clemens Public Schools in Macomb County will begin the school year Sept. 8 with students learning online. The district expects to transition to in person instruction by Oct. 2.
New Haven Public Schools in Macomb County will begin the school year Sept. 8 with students learning either in person or online.
Northville Public Schools in Wayne County will begin the school year Sept. 8 online, with plans to gradually reopen for in-person learning in early October. Students enrolled in special education programs will be transitioned to in-person learning throughout September. Families can also choose a fully online program that does not include a shift to face-to-face instruction.
Novi Community Schools in Oakland County is planning to open the school year Sept. 8 with two options: a hybrid of in-person learning and online learning or a fully virtual option.
Oak Park Schools in Oakland County will begin the school year with students learning online through the first marking period, which is Oct. 30.
Otsego Public Schools in Allegan County will begin the school year with a hybrid plan that will involve students attending school both in person and online. The district is also offering students an online only option.
Owosso Public Schools in Shiawassee County will begin the school year Sept. 8 with students learning either in person or online.
Oxford Community Schools in Oakland County will begin the school year Aug. 31 with the option between in-person learning and a fully online program.
Plymouth-Canton Community Schools in Wayne County plans to begin the school year Sept. 8 online. The district will phase small groups of students to in-person learning beginning the first week of October, according to information on the district’s website. Students who opt not to return to in-person learning when it’s available can learn fully online.
Pontiac School District in Oakland County is beginning the school year using a hybrid model. Students will attend school in person two days a week, then learn remotely for three days. Families can also choose an online only option.
Portage Public Schools in Kalamazoo County will begin the school year Aug. 31 with K-5 students attending school in person Monday through Friday, and online on Fridays. Elementary families can also choose an online only option. Students in grades 6-12 will attend school online. They have the option to complete their virtual learning inside a school building where they would also have access to academic and social-emotional support.
Redford Union Schools in Wayne County will begin the school year with students learning online.
Richmond Community Schools in Macomb County will begin the school year Sept. 8 with students learning in person or online.
River Rouge School District in Wayne County will begin the school year Sept. 8 with students learning online. The plan is to transition to in-person learning (face-to-face every day or a combination of face-to-face and online learning) when it is safe to do so.
Riverside Academy, a charter school in Dearborn, will begin the school year online. The school plans to transition to in-person learning by Sept. 30.
Riverview Community School District in Wayne County will begin the school year with students learning either face-to-face or fully online.
Rochester Community Schools in Oakland County will begin the school year Sept. 1 with remote learning until Oct. 1, when officials anticipate transitioning to in-person learning. Students signed up for the district’s virtual academy would continue attending school fully online.
Romeo Community Schools in Macomb County will begin the school year Sept. 8 with some students learning both in person and online, while others will learn fully online.
Romulus Community Schools in Wayne County will begin the school year Sept. 8 with students learning online. The district plans to reexamine this decision before Nov. 6.
Roseville Community Schools in Macomb County will begin the school year with students learning either in person or online.
Royal Oak Schools in Oakland County will begin the school year Sept. 8 with students learning online until Nov. 6, the end of the first quarter. There is a fully online option for students who want to keep learning at home when the district returns to in-person instruction.
Saginaw Public Schools in Saginaw County will begin the school year Aug. 31 with students learning through a hybrid model of in-person and online learning or fully online.
Southfield Public Schools in Oakland County is beginning the year Aug. 31 with online instruction. The district is also reportedly opening one of its school buildings to children under the age of 13 whose parents need to work or have other circumstances that prevent them from helping their children with online schoolwork. The district will provide child care and allow the students to complete their remote learning in the building. It will cost parents $200 a week.
Southgate Community Schools in Wayne County will begin the school year Sept. 1 with students learning online. The district plans to reevaluate the decision Oct. 13 with a possible return to in-person learning Nov. 9.
South Lake Schools in Macomb County will begin the school year Sept. 8 with students learning online. The district will reassess whether to transition to in-person instruction on Sept. 23.
South Lyon Community Schools in Oakland County will begin the school year Sept. 8 online, with plans to phase in face-to-face instruction after four weeks. There will be an online option for students who opt not to transition to in-person instruction.
South Redford School District in Wayne County will begin the school year Sept. 8 with students learning online. The district plans to transition to in-person instruction, with a fully online option available for students who want to continue learning at home.
Taylor School District in Wayne County will begin the school year Sept. 8 online until Sept. 25. There will be a gradual return to in-person learning. Families also have the option of a fully online program.
Traverse City Area Public Schools in Grand Traverse County will begin the school on Sept. 8 online. The district will transition to face-to-face learning beginning Sept. 21. A fully online option will also be available.
Trenton Public Schools in Wayne County will begin the school year Sept. 8 with K-5 students learning in person two days a week and online three days a week, while students in grades 6-12 would learn online. There will also be a fully online option for elementary students who opt not to return in person. The plan will be revisited after Sept. 30.
Troy School District in Oakland County will begin the school year Sept. 1 with students learning online.
University Preparatory Schools in Detroit, a network of charter schools, will begin the school year Aug. 31 with students learning online.
Utica Community Schools in Macomb County is planning to open the school year Sept. 1 online. Families will be able to choose a remote program that will have students returning to in-person instruction when it’s safe, or an online only program.
Van Buren Public Schools in Wayne County has adopted a plan with multiple scenarios, though it’s not final. The school board approved a plan that includes fully online learning, a hybrid plan that involves online learning and in-person learning, and an in-person plan that involves students learning face-to-face five days a week. The board will meet again Aug. 18 to decide which plan to use.
Van Dyke Public Schools in Macomb County will begin the school year with students learning online. The district plans to transition to in-person learning when conditions allow.
Walled Lake Consolidated Schools in Oakland County is planning to begin the school year Aug. 31 online and stay online until at least Oct. 30. A fully virtual option will be available for students who opt not to return to school buildings when the district transitions to in-person learning.
Warren Consolidated Schools in Macomb County is starting the school year Sept. 8 with students learning online.
Warren Woods Public Schools in Macomb County is starting the school year Aug. 31 with students learning online.
Waterford School District in Oakland County will begin the school year Aug. 31 with students learning online. The remote start will last for about 10 weeks, with plans to reevaluate in five weeks. A fully online option is also available.
Wayne-Westland Community Schools in Wayne County will begin the school year Sept. 1 online. Students will continue learning online until at least Oct. 23.
West Bloomfield School District in Oakland County will begin the school year Aug. 26. There will be a fully online option for families as well as a hybrid option. As part of the hybrid option, K-8 students will attend school in-person and learn online, while all high school students will learn online.
West Ottawa Public Schools in Ottawa County will begin the school year Sept. 1 with two options for families. Students can either attend in-person five days a week or attend fully online.
West Village Academy, a charter school in Dearborn, will begin the school year Sept. 8 with students learning online. The school plans to transition to in-person learning after the end of the first marking period, which is Nov. 10.
Westwood Community School District in Wayne County will begin the school year Aug. 31 with two options for families. Students can attend in person two days a week and online three days a week or attend fully online.
Woodhaven-Brownstown School District in Wayne County will begin the school year Sept. 8 with two options for families. Students can begin the year online, with plans to return to in-person learning Sept. 28. Or they can remain online when others return to buildings, though there would be some in-person learning opportunities for students enrolled in programs such as career and technical education and Advanced Placement.
Wyandotte Public Schools in Wayne County will begin the school year with students learning online for the month of September.
