Top Rankings
Benton Harbor Area Schools ranks among the top 20% of public school district in Michigan for:
Category
Attribute
Student Attention
Lowest student-teacher ratio (Top 1%)
For the 2026 school year, there are 4 public elementary schools serving 678 students in Benton Harbor Area Schools. This district's average elementary testing ranking is 1/10, which is in the bottom 50% of public elementary schools in Michigan.
Public Elementary Schools in Benton Harbor Area Schools have an average math proficiency score of 4% (versus the Michigan public elementary school average of 35%), and reading proficiency score of 7% (versus the 44% statewide average).
Minority enrollment is 97% of the student body (majority Black), which is more than the Michigan public elementary school average of 38% (majority Black).
Overview
This School District
This State (MI)
# Schools
6 Schools
2,536 Schools
# Students
1,227 Students
956,720 Students
# Teachers
110 Teachers
59,729 Teachers
Student-Teacher Ratio
11:1
11:1
Student By Grade
District Rank
Benton Harbor Area Schools, which is ranked within the bottom 50% of all 845 school districts in Michigan (based off of combined math and reading proficiency testing data) for the 2022-2023 school year.
The school district's graduation rate of 53% has decreased from 65% over five school years.
Overall District Rank
#837 out of 862 school districts
(Bottom 50%)
(Bottom 50%)
Math Test Scores (% Proficient)
2%
35%
Reading/Language Arts Test Scores (% Proficient)
5%
45%
Science Test Scores (% Proficient)
3%
38%
Graduation Rate
53%
81%
Chronically Absent Students
(2022-23)85.9%
33.3%
Students by Ethnicity:
Diversity Score
0.16
0.58
% American Indian
n/a
1%
% Asian
n/a
4%
% Hispanic
4%
9%
% Black
91%
19%
% White
2%
61%
% Hawaiian
n/a
n/a
% Two or more races
3%
6%
All Ethnic Groups
District Revenue and Spending
The revenue/student of $26,421 is higher than the state median of $18,616. The school district revenue/student has grown by 61% over four school years.
The school district's spending/student of $19,804 is higher than the state median of $17,794. The school district spending/student has grown by 43% over four school years.
Total Revenue
$32 MM
$25,476 MM
Spending
$24 MM
$24,351 MM
Revenue / Student
$26,421
$18,616
Spending / Student
$19,804
$17,794
Best Benton Harbor Area Schools Public Elementary Schools (2026)
School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Quick Facts
Rank: #11.
Career And Alternative Pathways To Education Center
Alternative School
Magnet School
Magnet School
(Math: ≤20% | Reading: <50%)
Rank:
Rank:
5/
Bottom 50%10
636 Pipestone St
Benton Harbor, MI 49022
(269) 605-1900
Benton Harbor, MI 49022
(269) 605-1900
Gr: K-12 | 59 students Student-teacher ratio: 7:1 Minority enrollment: 95%
Rank: #22.
Fair Plain East Elementary School
(Math: ≤5% | Reading: 6-9%)
Rank:
Rank:
1/
Bottom 50%10
1995 Union Ave
Benton Harbor, MI 49022
(269) 605-2400
Benton Harbor, MI 49022
(269) 605-2400
Gr: 4-5 | 150 students Student-teacher ratio: 12:1 Minority enrollment: 97%
Rank: #33.
Martin Luther King Jr Elementary School
(Math: ≤5% | Reading: ≤5%)
Rank:
Rank:
1/
Bottom 50%10
750 E Britain Ave
Benton Harbor, MI 49022
(269) 605-1500
Benton Harbor, MI 49022
(269) 605-1500
Gr: 1-3 | 229 students Student-teacher ratio: 10:1 Minority enrollment: 96%
Rank: #44.
Fair Plain Middle School
(Math: 2% | Reading: 6%)
Rank:
Rank:
1/
Bottom 50%10
120 E Napier Ave
Benton Harbor, MI 49022
(269) 605-1400
Benton Harbor, MI 49022
(269) 605-1400
Gr: 6-8 | 240 students Student-teacher ratio: 11:1 Minority enrollment: 98%
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