Guest, Sign inJoin

Post to Bainbridge Township

We’ll email a one-tap link to publish your post. No password, and nothing is public until you click it.
Already a member? Sign in
C−
Schools in Bainbridge Township · Watervliet School District, Benton Harbor Area Schools

Bainbridge Township’s public schools score below 84% of Michigan districts on tests and graduation

On the state math tests, 16% of Bainbridge Township’s students scored proficient, below the Michigan average (34%). The grade covers the two public school districts serving Bainbridge Township, from kindergarten through graduation, on state tests and graduation. Each state writes its own tests, so this is the one TownRatings grade compared within Michigan, not nationally.

#683of 699 Michigan townsK–12Where will my kid go?

From Michigan state tests taken in spring 2022, when 91% of students in the tested grades sat them, and the class of 2023’s four-year graduation rate, as reported to the U.S. Department of Education.

Reading proficiency
24%
▼ 22 pts vs MI 45%
2021–22
Math proficiency
16%
▼ 18 pts vs MI 34%
2021–22
Graduate on time
50–54%
▼ 28–32 pts vs MI 82%
class of 2023
Spent per student
$14.5K
▼ 12% vs MI $16.5K
FY2024 · Watervliet
Students per teacher
13.4
MI 16.5 · smaller classes
Schools in town
1
2,334 students on the public path
In brief

Bainbridge Township’s schools, in brief

Against towns with similar incomes

Among the 1186 Michigan towns with household incomes within a quarter of Bainbridge Township’s, its schools beat 1%, lower than their 16% against all the state’s districts. The grade ↓

Results trail the state

In spring 2022, 24% of tested students were proficient in reading and 16% in math, against 45% and 34% statewide; 91% of students in the tested grades sat the tests. The grade ↓

Graduation

50–54% of the class of 2023 graduated in four years, against 82% across Michigan (the state reports Bainbridge Township’s rate as a range). Districts ↓

Spending and class size

Watervliet spends $14,469 per student and Benton Harbor Area Schools $25,288, against $16,528 across Michigan (FY2024). Neither counts toward the grade. Districts ↓

Choice beyond the district

Grace Christian School (private) is in town. Every school ↓

Written from the figures on this page. Tests are from 2021–22, graduation from the class of 2023; each school’s own letter uses 2020–21 results.

The School Grade

What’s behind Bainbridge Township’s grade

C− Test scoresD Graduation

C−: better than 16% of Michigan school districts, #683 of 699 Michigan towns. Both inputs trail the Michigan average; test scores are the closer of the two to typical.

Michigan school districts we grade (815)Better than 16%
Lower resultsHigher results
Michigan towns with similar household incomes (1186)Better than 1%
Towns in Berrien County (22)Better than 9%
DC−A fairly firm grade. Ordinary sampling error in 1,334 test results and a graduating class of 162 could put Bainbridge Township anywhere from D to C−. The tests are from spring 2022, when 91% of Bainbridge Township’s students in the tested grades sat them (1,332 in math, 1,336 in reading).

How TownRatings grades schools →

Where will my kid go?

Pick a grade. These are the public schools that serve Bainbridge Township, with each school’s own grade.

The path, start to finish
PK–22 elementary schoolsDepends on your addressNo scores
3–52 elementary schoolsDepends on your addressD− to B−
6–82 middle schoolsDepends on your addressD− to B−
9–122 high schoolsDepends on your addressD− to B−

Bainbridge Township runs its own schools through grade 12 (Watervliet School District). From grade PK, students attend the Benton Harbor Area Schools, shared with Benton, Benton Harbor, Sodus and St. Joseph. Its elementary school is in Watervliet. Parts of Bainbridge Township (19% of its land) are served by Coloma instead. To confirm the school for a specific address, ask the district.

Two districts serve Bainbridge Township

Spending and class size are shown but don’t count toward the grade. Each district’s own page has every school.

Watervliet School DistrictGrades PK–12 · 5 schools · 1,406 students, down 5% since 2020–21 · 16.5 per teacher (MI 16.5)
$14,469MI $16,528 · FY2024
C+
Benton Harbor Area SchoolsGrades PK–12 · 6 schools · 1,227 students, down 24% since 2020–21 · 11.2 per teacher (MI 16.5)
$25,288MI $16,528 · FY2024
D−
Test scores · 2021–22

Well below the state in reading

Reading · PK–12, Watervliet School District42%
State average 45.4% · 679 students tested
Math · PK–12, Watervliet School District30%
State average 33.6% · 680 students tested
Reading · PK–12, Benton Harbor Area Schools5%
State average 45.4% · 657 students tested
Math · PK–12, Benton Harbor Area Schoolsunder 1%
State average 33.6% · 652 students tested

Bainbridge Township vs. its neighbors

Schools grades for the Michigan towns that share Bainbridge Township’s borders.

Schools next door
TownSchoolsMain districts
Bainbridge TownshipC−Watervliet PK–12 · Benton Harbor Area Schools PK–12
BentonD−Benton Harbor Area Schools
PipestoneC−Eau Claire
KeelerCDowagiac Union Schools PK–12 · Hartford Public K–12

Every school in Bainbridge Township

9 schools. Each public school’s letter compares its own 2020–21 reading and math results with Michigan’s other public schools (the newest school-level results we have).

Also serving Bainbridge Townshipin other towns
South Elementary School
Elementary · Grades PK–2 · Watervliet
335 students15:1Rate it →
Discovery Enrichment Center
Elementary · Grades PK–K · Benton Harbor
80 students7:1Rate it →
Martin Luther King Jr Elementary
Elementary · Grades 1–3 · Benton Harbor
D−
229 students10:1Rate it →
North Elementary School
Elementary · Grades 3–5 · Watervliet
B−
312 students17:1Rate it →
Watervliet Middle School
Middle · Grades 6–8 · Watervliet
B−
309 students16:1Rate it →
Fair Plain Middle School
Middle · Grades 6–8 · Benton Harbor
D−
240 students11:1Rate it →
Benton Harbor High School
High · Grades 9–12 · Benton Harbor
D−
469 students14:1Rate it →
Watervliet Senior High School
High · Grades 9–12 · Watervliet
B−
360 students18:1Rate it →
Private schoolstuition; no state tests, so no grade
Grace Christian School
Grades PK–12 · Watervliet
Private · Religious
143 students9:1Rate it →

Questions about Bainbridge Township’s schools

Are Bainbridge Township’s schools good?

On Michigan’s tests they score below most of the state: the public schools Bainbridge Township children attend score below 84% of Michigan’s school districts on tests and graduation, a C− Schools grade, #683 of 699 Michigan towns. Among towns with similar incomes they beat 1%. Tests are from 2021–22, graduation from the class of 2023.

What school district is Bainbridge Township in?

Two districts: Watervliet School District runs grades PK–12, and Benton Harbor Area Schools runs grades PK–12, shared with Benton, Benton Harbor, Sodus and St. Joseph.

Where do Bainbridge Township kids go to high school?

One of 2 high schools, depending on your address: Benton Harbor High School and Watervliet Senior High School.

What is Bainbridge Township’s graduation rate?

50–54% of the class of 2023 in Benton Harbor Area Schools graduated in four years, against 82% across Michigan.

How much does Bainbridge Township spend per student?

$14,469 in Watervliet School District and $25,288 in Benton Harbor Area Schools (FY2024), against $16,528 across Michigan. Spending doesn’t count toward the grade.

Are there private schools in Bainbridge Township?

Yes: Grace Christian School (religious, grades PK–12, 143 students).

Parents talk

What Bainbridge Township families are saying about school.

Town Square →
Start the conversation

Looking for colleges? Colleges near Bainbridge Township → They have their own page.

School data: state test results (2021–22, with participation) and four-year graduation rates (class of 2023) reported to the U.S. Department of Education (EDFacts via ED Data Express); each school’s own letter uses its 2020–21 results (EDFacts via the Urban Institute); schools and enrollment from NCES (2024–25; private schools 2023–24); spending from the Census Bureau’s school finance survey (FY2024). The School Grade is our own summary, graded within Michigan. Stars are from neighbors.