D
Benton Harbor Area Schools
Public school districtGrades PK–12Regional · 5 towns
Serves Benton, St. Joseph, Benton Harbor, Bainbridge and Sodus, and parts of Hagar.
Students
1,227
Schools
6
Spent per student
$25,288
MI $16,528
Students per teacher
11:1
Free or reduced lunch
94%
Debt
$0.1M
fiscal 2024
What stands out about Benton Harbor Area Schools
- School Grade D: better than 5% of Michigan districts
- Math proficiency 34 pts below the state
- Reading / language arts 45 pts below the state
- Graduation rate (4-year) 26 pts below the state
- Spends 53% more per student than the MI average
- 11 students per teacher
- Enrollment down 23.5% since 2020
- Debt of $0.1M, about $100 per student
Test scores vs. MI
2020–21Math proficiency0.5%
State average 34.6%
Reading / language arts3%
State average 47.9%
Graduation rate (4-year)57%
State average 82.9%
Where the money goes
fiscal 2024$25,288 per student · 53% above MI
Spending
Classroom instruction 43%Support & administration 52%Other 4%
Paid for by
Local (mostly property tax) 27%State 22%Federal 52%
U.S. Census Bureau, Annual Survey of School System Finances.
Enrollment over time
1,604’20
1,494’21
1,424’22
1,292’23
1,227’24
Down 23.5% since 2020.
Students
Black 91%Hispanic 4%Two or more races 3%White 2%Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander <1%American Indian/Alaska Native <1%
Schools in the district
6 public schools.
Towns served
Nearby districts
Compare spending and schools next door.
District facts: U.S. Department of Education (NCES directory and district boundaries) and the U.S. Census Bureau school finance survey. Test scores and graduation: EDFacts via the Urban Institute Education Data Portal. Neighbor ratings are opinions.