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Main Street Downtown Benton HarborPhoto: Humbles Art · CC BY-SA 3.0
D−
Schools in Benton Harbor · Benton Harbor Area Schools

Benton Harbor’s public schools score below 97% of Michigan districts on tests and graduation

In Benton Harbor, under 1% of tested students are proficient in math, below the Michigan average (34%). The grade covers the public school district serving Benton Harbor, 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.

#697of 699 Michigan townsK–12Where will my kid go?

From Michigan state tests taken in spring 2022, when 84% 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
5%
▼ 40 pts vs MI 45%
2021–22
Math proficiency
under 1%
▼ 33 pts vs MI 34%
2021–22
Graduate on time
50–54%
▼ 28–32 pts vs MI 82%
class of 2023
Spent per student
$25.3K
▲ 53% vs MI $16.5K
FY2024
Students per teacher
11.2
MI 16.5 · smaller classes
Schools in town
7
1,018 students on the public path
In brief

Benton Harbor’s schools, in brief

Results trail the state

In spring 2022, 5% of tested students were proficient in reading and under 1% in math, against 45% and 34% statewide; 84% 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 Benton Harbor’s rate as a range). Districts ↓

Charters enroll a large share of students

Charter schools located in Benton Harbor enroll 757 students, against the district’s 1,227. Each is graded on its own results; none is part of the district grade. Every school ↓

Spending, and where it came from

The district spent $25,288 per student in FY2024, against $16,528 across Michigan. 52% of its revenue that year was federal (Michigan 9%), in the last year of pandemic relief. Districts ↓

One elementary school, then one elementary, one middle and one high school

From grade 1 the district’s path is Martin Luther King Jr Elementary, then Fair Plain Middle School, then Benton Harbor High School. Enrollment is down 24% since 2020–21. See the path ↓

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 Benton Harbor’s grade

D− Test scoresD Graduation

D−: better than 3% of Michigan school districts, #697 of 699 Michigan towns. Both inputs trail the Michigan average; graduation is the closer of the two to typical.

Michigan school districts we grade (815)Better than 3%
Lower resultsHigher results
Michigan towns with similar household incomes (44)Better than 2%
D−DA fairly firm grade. Ordinary sampling error in 654 test results and a graduating class of 162 could put Benton Harbor anywhere from D− to D. The tests are from spring 2022, when 84% of Benton Harbor’s students in the tested grades sat them (652 in math, 657 in reading).

How TownRatings grades schools →

Where will my kid go?

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

The path, start to finish
PK–KDiscovery Enrichment CenterBenton Harbor Area SchoolsNo scores
1–3Martin Luther King Jr ElementaryBenton Harbor Area SchoolsD−
6–8Fair Plain Middle SchoolBenton Harbor Area SchoolsD−
9–12Benton Harbor High SchoolBenton Harbor Area SchoolsD−

Benton Harbor’s public schools are run by Benton Harbor Area Schools, which also serves Bainbridge, Benton, Sodus and St. Joseph. Parts of Benton Harbor (4% of its land) are served by St. Joseph instead. To confirm the school for a specific address, ask the district.

The district

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

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

Reading5%
State average 45.4% · 657 students tested
Mathunder 1%
State average 33.6% · 652 students tested
A note on the data.In FY2024, 52% of the Benton Harbor district’s revenue came from the federal government, against 9% across Michigan, in the last year of federal pandemic relief; spending per student is reported as published.

Benton Harbor vs. its neighbors

Schools grades for the Michigan towns that share Benton Harbor’s borders.

Schools next door
TownSchoolsMain districts
Benton HarborD−Benton Harbor Area Schools
BentonD−Benton Harbor Area Schools
St. JosephASt. Joseph
St. Joseph TownshipB+St. Joseph PK–12 · Benton Harbor Area Schools PK–12

2 of the 3 neighbors share Benton Harbor Area Schools with Benton Harbor, so their letters differ mainly through other districts.

Every school in Benton Harbor

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).

District schools in Benton Harborby address
Discovery Enrichment Center
Elementary · Grades PK–K
80 students7:1Rate it →
Martin Luther King Jr Elementary
Elementary · Grades 1–3
D−
229 students10:1Rate it →
Benton Harbor High School
High · Grades 9–12
D−
469 students14:1Rate it →
Also serving Benton Harborin other towns
Fair Plain Middle School
Middle · Grades 6–8
D−
240 students11:1Rate it →
Charter schoolsfree, open by application
Benton Harbor Charter School Academy
Grades PK–9
D−
Charter
418 students14:1Rate it →
Mildred C Wells Preparatory Academy
Elementary · Grades K–8
D−
Charter
227 students16:1Rate it →
Bridge Academy of Southwest Michigan
High · Grades 9–12
Charter
112 students8:1Rate it →
Online schools based in Benton Harbornot counted as local schools
Career and Alternative Pathways to Education Center
Grades K–12
OnlineAlternative Education
59 students7:1Rate it →
Private schoolstuition; no state tests, so no grade
River of Life School
Elementary · Grades K–6
Private · Religious
49 students10:1Rate it →

Questions about Benton Harbor’s schools

Are Benton Harbor’s schools good?

On Michigan’s tests they score below most of the state: the public schools Benton Harbor children attend score below 97% of Michigan’s school districts on tests and graduation, a D− Schools grade, #697 of 699 Michigan towns. Among towns with similar incomes they beat 2%. Tests are from 2021–22, graduation from the class of 2023.

What school district is Benton Harbor in?

Benton Harbor Area Schools, which runs grades PK–12 and enrolls 1,227 students in 6 schools (2024–25). Small parts of Benton Harbor are served by St. Joseph.

Where do Benton Harbor kids go to high school?

Benton Harbor High School, with 469 students; its own test results earn a D−.

What is Benton Harbor’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 Benton Harbor spend per student?

$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 Benton Harbor?

Yes: River of Life School (religious, grades K–6, 49 students). Benton Harbor also has 3 charter schools, free and open by application.

Parents talk

What Benton Harbor families are saying about school.

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Looking for colleges? Colleges near Benton Harbor → 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.