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2009-0617-downtown-BessemerPhoto: Bobak Ha'Eri · CC BY 3.0
B
Schools in Bessemer · Bessemer Area School District

Bessemer’s public schools outscore 63% of Michigan districts

The grade covers the public school district serving Bessemer, from kindergarten through graduation, on state tests. Each state writes its own tests, so this is the one TownRatings grade compared within Michigan, not nationally.

K–12Where will my kid go?

From Michigan state tests taken in spring 2022, when 100% 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
47%
▲ 2 pts vs MI 45%
2021–22
Math proficiency
32%
▼ 2 pts vs MI 34%
2021–22
Spent per student
$16.8K
▲ 2% vs MI $16.5K
FY2024
Students per teacher
12.3
MI 16.5 · smaller classes
Schools in town
3
343 students on the public path
In brief

Bessemer’s schools, in brief

Better than its incomes would predict

Among the 881 Michigan towns with household incomes within a quarter of Bessemer’s, its schools beat 68%, higher than their 63% against all the state’s districts. The grade ↓

Above the state in reading, below in math

Reading proficiency is 47% and math 32% in spring 2022, against 45% and 34% statewide. Test scores ↓

Spending, and where it came from

The district spent $16,810 per student in FY2024, against $16,528 across Michigan. 23% of its revenue that year was federal (Michigan 9%), in the last year of pandemic relief. Districts ↓

One elementary school, then one middle school

From grade 7 the district’s path is AD Johnston JrSr High School. Enrollment is down 8% since 2020–21. See the path ↓

Choice beyond the district

Bluff View 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 Bessemer’s grade

B Test scores

B: better than 63% of Michigan school districts. Test scores are above the Michigan average; there is no graduation rate to add.

Michigan school districts we grade (815)Better than 63%
Lower resultsHigher results
Michigan towns with similar household incomes (881)Better than 68%
B−A−A fairly firm grade. Ordinary sampling error in 199 test results could put Bessemer anywhere from B− to A−. The tests are from spring 2022, when 100% of Bessemer’s students in the tested grades sat them (199 in math, 199 in reading).

How TownRatings grades schools →

Where will my kid go?

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

The path, start to finish
K–6Washington SchoolBessemer Area School DistrictC+
7–12AD Johnston JrSr High SchoolBessemer Area School DistrictC+

Bessemer’s public schools are run by Bessemer Area School District, which also serves Bessemer. 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.

Bessemer Area School DistrictGrades K–12 · 2 schools · 343 students, down 8% since 2020–21 · 12.3 per teacher (MI 16.5)
$16,810MI $16,528 · FY2024
B
Test scores · 2021–22

Above the state in reading

Reading47%
State average 45.4% · 199 students tested
Math32%
State average 33.6% · 199 students tested
A note on the data.In FY2024, 23% of the Bessemer 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.

Bessemer vs. its neighbors

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

Schools next door
TownSchoolsMain districts
BessemerBBessemer Area

Every school in Bessemer

3 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 Bessemerby address
Washington School
Elementary · Grades K–6
C+
179 students12:1Rate it →
AD Johnston JrSr High School
High · Grades 7–12
C+
164 students13:1Rate it →
Private schoolstuition; no state tests, so no grade
Bluff View Christian School
Elementary · Grades 1–8
Private · Religious
11 students11:1Rate it →

Questions about Bessemer’s schools

Are Bessemer’s schools good?

They sit near the middle of Michigan: the public schools Bessemer children attend outscore 63% of Michigan’s school districts on tests and graduation, a B Schools grade. Among towns with similar incomes they beat 68%. Tests are from 2021–22, graduation from the class of 2023.

What school district is Bessemer in?

Bessemer Area School District, which runs grades K–12 and enrolls 343 students in 2 schools (2024–25).

How much does Bessemer spend per student?

$16,810 in Bessemer Area School District (FY2024), against $16,528 across Michigan. Spending doesn’t count toward the grade.

Are there private schools in Bessemer?

Yes: Bluff View Christian School (religious, grades 1–8, 11 students).

Parents talk

What Bessemer families are saying about school.

Town Square →
Start the conversation

Looking for colleges? Colleges near Bessemer → 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.