Tri County Area Schools

Tri County Area Schools is a school district headquartered in Sand Lake, Michigan. It serves sections of Kent, Montcalm, and Newaygo counties. It serves Sand Lake, Howard City, and Pierson as well as Pierson Township and Reynolds Township.

In April 2023, the district and two administrators were sued by a student represented by the Foundation for Individual Rights in Education (FIRE) after the student alleged he was ordered to remove an anti-Joe Biden sweatshirt.

History
The district was a consolidation of the Sand Lake and Howard City school boards. It came into existence on April 3, 1962, the day members of those communities voted in favor of consolidating their schools; 415 voted, with 366 favoring consolidation. The consolidated schools began operation in fall 1962. Impetus for consolidation occurred when the State of Michigan adopted new standards for education which required school systems to spend additional funds.

Schools

 * Tri County High School - Pierson Township
 * Tri County Middle School - Pierson Township
 * MacNaughton Elementary School - Howard City
 * Sand Lake Elementary School - Sand Lake
 * Edgerton Building - Howard City
 * Includes: Tri County Preschool, TC Developmental Preschool, Howard City Head Start, and Success Virtual Learning Center as well as the alternative education programs.