It has specialty schools for Chinese Immersion, International Baccalaureate, STEM, STEAM, and other categories.

Between 1847 and 1851, three separate school districts were created within the three wards of the then-small city.

[8] In 1966 the district began a trial basis racial desegregation program.

[11] A portion of the district is in Clinton County, where it serves portions of the parts of Lansing and East Lansing in the county, as well as sections of DeWitt Charter Township and Watertown Charter Township.

[12] A portion of the district is in Eaton County, where it serves portions of the parts of Lansing in the county, as well as sections of Delta Charter Township and Windsor Charter Township.