Benton Harbor Area Schools

870 Colfax Ave
Benton Harbor, MI 49022-7409
(District boundaries shown in map)
1/
10
Bottom 50%

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 2 public middle schools serving 299 students in Benton Harbor Area Schools. This district's average middle testing ranking is 1/10, which is in the bottom 50% of public middle schools in Michigan.
Public Middle Schools in Benton Harbor Area Schools have an average math proficiency score of 4% (versus the Michigan public middle school average of 31%), and reading proficiency score of 7% (versus the 44% statewide average).
Minority enrollment is 98% of the student body (majority Black), which is more than the Michigan public middle school average of 42% (majority Black).

Overview

This School District
This State (MI)
# Schools
6 Schools
1,329 Schools
# Students
1,227 Students
535,615 Students
# Teachers
110 Teachers
32,063 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.
This School District
State Average (MI)
#837 out of 862 school districts
(Bottom 50%)
2%
35%
5%
45%
3%
38%
53%
81%
(2022-23)
85.9%
33.3%

Students by Ethnicity:

0.16
0.61
% American Indian
n/a
1%
% Asian
n/a
4%
% Hispanic
4%
9%
% Black
91%
23%
% White
2%
58%
% Hawaiian
n/a
n/a
% Two or more races
3%
5%
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.
This School District
This State (MI)
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 Middle Schools (2026)

School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Quick Facts
Rank: #11.
Career And Alternative Pathways To Education Center
Alternative School
Magnet School
(Math: ≤20% | Reading: <50%)
Rank:
5/
10
Bottom 50%
636 Pipestone St
Benton Harbor, MI 49022
(269) 605-1900
Gr: K-12 | 59 students Student-teacher ratio: 7:1 Minority enrollment: 95%
Rank: #22.
Fair Plain Middle School
(Math: 2% | Reading: 6%)
Rank:
1/
10
Bottom 50%
120 E Napier Ave
Benton Harbor, MI 49022
(269) 605-1400
Gr: 6-8 | 240 students Student-teacher ratio: 11:1 Minority enrollment: 98%

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Quick Facts (2026)

  • District size: 6 schools
  • Grades: PK-12
  • Enrollment: 1,227 students
  • Student-Teacher Ratio: 11:1
  • Minority Enrollment: 98%
  • : 53% (Btm 50% in MI)
  • : Bottom 50%
  • : 2% (Btm 50%)
  • : 5% (Btm 50%)
  • : 3% (Btm 50%)
  • Source: National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), MI Dept. of Education

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