Bessemer Area School District

301 E Sellar St
Bessemer, MI 49911-1522
(District boundaries shown in map)
: 
5/
10
Bottom 50%

Top Rankings

Bessemer Area School District ranks among the top 20% of public school district in Michigan for:

Category
Attribute
Student Attention
Lowest student-teacher ratio (Top 1%)
For the 2026-27 school year, there are 2 public schools serving 343 students in Bessemer Area School District. This district's average testing ranking is 5/10, which is in the bottom 50% of public schools in Michigan.
Public Schools in Bessemer Area School District have an average math proficiency score of 20% (versus the Michigan public school average of 35%), and reading proficiency score of 48% (versus the 46% statewide average).
Minority enrollment is 15% of the student body (majority Hispanic and American Indian), which is less than the Michigan public school average of 37% (majority Black).

Overview

This School District
This State (MI)
# Schools
2 Schools
3,461 Schools
# Students
343 Students
1,367,408 Students
# Teachers
28 Teachers
82,868 Teachers
Student-Teacher Ratio
12:1
12:1

Student By Grade

District Rank

Bessemer Area School District, which is ranked within the bottom 50% of all 844 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 90% has increased from 80% over five school years.
This School District
State Average (MI)
#442 out of 862 school districts
(Bottom 50%)

Showing 2013–2023. Full 14-year historical data available below ↓

20%
35%

Showing 2013–2023. Full 14-year historical data available below ↓

45-49%
45%

Showing 2012–2022. Full 13-year historical data available below ↓

35-39%
38%
(21-22)
≥90%
81%

Showing 2013–2022. Full 12-year historical data available below ↓

(2022-23)
36.2%
33.3%

Students by Ethnicity:

0.26
0.57

Showing 2014–2023. Full 36-year historical data available below ↓

% American Indian
2%
1%

Showing 2011–2023. Full 36-year historical data available below ↓

% Asian
n/a
4%
% Hispanic
2%
9%

Showing 2014–2023. Full 28-year historical data available below ↓

% Black
1%
18%

Showing 2014–2023. Full 21-year historical data available below ↓

% White
85%
63%

Showing 2014–2023. Full 36-year historical data available below ↓

% Hawaiian
n/a
n/a
% Two or more races
10%
5%
All Ethnic Groups

District Revenue and Spending

The revenue/student of $16,160 in this school district is less than the state median of $22,574. The school district revenue/student has grown by 17% over four school years.
The school district's spending/student of $14,776 is less than the state median of $21,841. The school district spending/student has grown by 14% over four school years.
This School District
This State (MI)
Total Revenue
$6 MM
$30,868 MM

Showing 2014–2023. Full 34-year historical data available below ↓

Spending
$5 MM
$29,866 MM

Showing 2014–2023. Full 34-year historical data available below ↓

Revenue / Student
$16,160
$22,574

Showing 2014–2023. Full 34-year historical data available below ↓

Spending / Student
$14,776
$21,841

Showing 2014–2023. Full 34-year historical data available below ↓

Best Bessemer Area School District Public Schools (2026-27)

School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Quick Facts
Rank: #11.
Washington School
(Math: 20-24% | Reading: 50-54%)
Rank:
6/
10
Top 50%
301 E Sellar St
Bessemer, MI 49911
(906) 663-4515
Gr: K-6 | 179 students Student-teacher ratio: 11:1 Minority enrollment: 13%
Rank: #22.
Ad Johnston Jrsr High School
(Math: 15-19% | Reading: 40-44%)
Rank:
4/
10
Bottom 50%
100 W Lead St
Bessemer, MI 49911
(906) 667-0802
Gr: 7-12 | 164 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 17%

Frequently Asked Questions

How many schools belong to Bessemer Area School District?
Bessemer Area School District manages 2 public schools serving 343 students.
What is the rank of Bessemer Area School District?
Bessemer Area School District is ranked #466 out of 844 school districts in Michigan (bottom 50%) based off of combined math and reading proficiency testing data for the 2022-2023 school year. This district ranks in the top 20% of Michigan school districts for: Lowest student-teacher ratio (Top 1%)
What is the racial composition of students in Bessemer Area School District?
85% of Bessemer Area School District students are White, 10% of students are Two or more races, 2% of students are American Indian, 2% of students are Hispanic, and 1% of students are Black.
What is the student/teacher ratio of Bessemer Area School District?
Bessemer Area School District has a student/teacher ratio of 12:1, which is lower than the Michigan state average of 17:1.
What is Bessemer Area School District's spending/student ratio?
The school district's spending/student of $14,776 is less than the state median of $21,841. The school district spending/student has grown by 14% over four school years.

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Quick Facts (26-27)

  • District size: 2 schools
  • Grades: K-12
  • Enrollment: 343 students
  • Student-Teacher Ratio: 12:1
  • Minority Enrollment: 15%
  • : ≥90% (Btm 50% in MI)
  • : Bottom 50%
  • : 20% (Btm 50%)
  • : 45-49% (Top 50%)
  • : 35-39% (Top 50%)
  • Source: National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), MI Dept. of Education

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