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A view of downtown Niles from SLR pilates studioPhoto: Robert Franklin · CC BY 4.0
B
Schools in Niles Township · Niles Community School District, Buchanan Community School District

Niles Township’s public schools outscore 56% of Michigan districts

The grade covers the three public school districts serving Niles 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.

#454of 699 Michigan townsK–12Where will my kid go?

From Michigan state tests taken in spring 2022, when 95% 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
45%
▲ 0 pts vs MI 45%
2021–22
Math proficiency
35%
▲ 2 pts vs MI 34%
2021–22
Graduate on time
77%
▼ 5 pts vs MI 82%
class of 2023
Spent per student
$13.9K
▼ 16% vs MI $16.5K
FY2024 · Niles
Students per teacher
17.8
MI 16.5 · larger classes
Schools in town
7
1,250 students on the public path
In brief

Niles Township’s schools, in brief

Against towns with similar incomes

Among the 1185 Michigan towns with household incomes within a quarter of Niles Township’s, its schools beat 50%, lower than their 56% against all the state’s districts. The grade ↓

Above the state on tests

Reading proficiency is 45% and math 35% across its districts in spring 2022, against 45% and 34% statewide; 77% of the class of 2023 graduated in four years, against 82%. Test scores ↓

Spending and class size

Niles spends $13,861 per student and Buchanan $14,892, against $16,528 across Michigan (FY2024). Neither counts toward the grade. Districts ↓

Choice beyond the district

Brandywine Innovation Academy, an online school, is based here too; it isn’t counted as a local school. 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 Niles Township’s grade

B Test scoresC Graduation

B: better than 56% of Michigan school districts, #454 of 699 Michigan towns. Test scores are above the Michigan average; graduation is below it.

Michigan school districts we grade (815)Better than 56%
Lower resultsHigher results
Michigan towns with similar household incomes (1185)Better than 50%
Towns in Berrien County (22)Better than 41%
B−B+A fairly firm grade. Ordinary sampling error in 2,969 test results and a graduating class of 275 could put Niles Township anywhere from B− to B+. The tests are from spring 2022, when 95% of Niles Township’s students in the tested grades sat them (2,967 in math, 2,969 in reading).

How TownRatings grades schools →

Where will my kid go?

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

The path, start to finish
PK–122 schoolsDepends on your addressNo scores

To confirm the school for a specific address, ask the district.

Three districts serve Niles Township

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

Niles Community School DistrictGrades PK–12 · 11 schools · 3,107 students, down 8% since 2020–21 · 18.8 per teacher (MI 16.5)
$13,861MI $16,528 · FY2024
B−
Buchanan Community School DistrictGrades PK–12 · 6 schools · 1,567 students, up 4% since 2020–21 · 17.7 per teacher (MI 16.5)
$14,892MI $16,528 · FY2024
A−
Brandywine Community SchoolsGrades PK–12 · 5 schools · 1,301 students, up 2% since 2020–21 · 15.7 per teacher (MI 16.5)
$14,914MI $16,528 · FY2024
C+
Test scores · 2021–22

Close to the state in reading

Reading · PK–12, Niles Community School District42%
State average 45.4% · 1613 students tested
Math · PK–12, Niles Community School District35%
State average 33.6% · 1610 students tested
Reading · PK–12, Buchanan Community School District56%
State average 45.4% · 735 students tested
Math · PK–12, Buchanan Community School District41%
State average 33.6% · 736 students tested
Reading · PK–12, Brandywine Community Schools42%
State average 45.4% · 621 students tested
Math · PK–12, Brandywine Community Schools29%
State average 33.6% · 621 students tested

Niles Township vs. its neighbors

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

Schools next door
TownSchoolsMain districts
Niles TownshipBNiles PK–12 · Buchanan PK–12 · Brandywine PK–12
Niles (city)B−Niles
BertrandA−Buchanan
BuchananA−Buchanan
HowardB−Niles
MiltonA−Brandywine PK–12 · Edwardsburg K–12
BerrienC−Berrien Springs PK–12 · Eau Claire PK–12

2 of the 6 neighbors share Niles with Niles Township for grades PK–12, so their letters differ mainly through the lower grades. Clay, IN borders Niles Township but is graded on its own state’s tests, so it’s left out.

Every school in Niles Township

8 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 Niles Townshipby address
Merritt Elementary School
Elementary · Grades PK–2 · Niles
304 students14:1Rate it →
Niles Virtual School
Grades K–12 · Niles
18 students11:1Rate it →
Brandywine Elementary School
Elementary · Grades 3–6 · Niles
C+
379 students16:1Rate it →
Brandywine Middle School
Middle · Grades 7–8 · Niles
B−
183 students17:1Rate it →
Brandywine Senior High School
High · Grades 9–12 · Niles
C+
366 students16:1Rate it →
Other district programsby referral or application
Niles Cedar Lane
High · Grades 9–12 · Niles
C−
Alternative Education
134 students25:1Rate it →
WAY Niles
High · Grades 6–12 · Niles
A−
Alternative Education
95 studentsRate it →
Online schools based in Niles Townshipnot counted as local schools
Brandywine Innovation Academy
High · Grades 6–12 · Niles
C−
OnlineAlternative Education
69 studentsRate it →

Questions about Niles Township’s schools

Are Niles Township’s schools good?

They sit near the middle of Michigan: the public schools Niles Township children attend outscore 56% of Michigan’s school districts on tests and graduation, a B Schools grade, #454 of 699 Michigan towns. Among towns with similar incomes they beat 50%. Tests are from 2021–22, graduation from the class of 2023.

What school district is Niles Township in?

Niles Community School District, which runs grades PK–12 and enrolls 3,107 students in 11 schools (2024–25).

What is Niles Township’s graduation rate?

77% of the class of 2023 in Niles Community School District graduated in four years, against 82% across Michigan.

How much does Niles Township spend per student?

$13,861 in Niles Community School District, $14,892 in Buchanan Community School District and $14,914 in Brandywine Community Schools (FY2024), against $16,528 across Michigan. Spending doesn’t count toward the grade.

Parents talk

What Niles Township families are saying about school.

Town Square →
Start the conversation

Looking for colleges? Colleges near Niles 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.