Tri County Area Schools

Tri County Area Schools is a public school district in West Michigan. In Kent County, it serves Sand Lake and parts of the townships of Nelson and Solon. In Montcalm County it serves Howard City, Pierson, Pierson Township and Reynolds Township and parts of the townships of Maple Valley and Winfield. In Newaygo County, it serves parts of the townships of Croton and Ensley.

History

Sand Lake and Howard City were in separate districts prior to 1962. The state mandated curriculum improvements that the small Sand Lake High School would find difficult to meet. The Howard City district was in a similar situation.
Sand Lake had a K-12 school district within a single building built in 1924. It was the third school in Sand Lake, the first being built in 1872 and the second in 1907. By 1957, the 1924 brick school was so overcrowded that classes were held in other locations around town, and the village auditorium was used for gym class.
Howard City High School, later known as the Edgerton Building, was located on the corner of Grant and Edgerton Streets and contained all grades. The first school in Howard City was established in 1869. The Edgerton Building was built around 1937, funded in part by the Public Works Administration.
The districts' solution was to combine resources by consolidating. Tri County Area Schools 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. The Howard City High School became the Tri County High School, and the Sand Lake High School became a junior high school.
Tri County Middle School was built as the district's new high school in 1964. Wold & Bowers Architects of Grand Rapids designed the building. It was replaced by the current high school in 1993. Greiner, Inc. was the architect.
The current Tri County Elementary opened in fall 2023 on the campus of the high school and middle school.