Martin Luther King Jr Elementary in Benton Harbor, MI

At a glance

Reported students

229

NCES CCD 2024–25

Teachers (FTE)

NCES CCD 2024–25

Student–teacher ratio

10.4:1

Calculated; not a class-size measure

Grades served

01–03

NCES preliminary directory 2025–26

Michigan elementary enrollment

17th percentile

Compared with 1,618 same-level schools reporting enrollment.

District median enrollment

189.5

Martin Luther King Jr Elementary: 229 reported students.

State peer staffing position

4th percentile

10.4:1 reported; state peer median 15.8:1. Ratio is not class size.

Historical enrollment and staffing · CRDC 2021–22

These older figures are kept separate from 2024–25 statistics and benchmarks. Differences between years can reflect changes in enrollment, staffing, or reporting scope.

Students: 292
Teachers (FTE): 21
Student–teacher ratio: 13.9:1

What the reported data says about Martin Luther King Jr Elementary

Martin Luther King Jr Elementary is a public elementary school serving grades 01–03 in Benton Harbor. It is one of 6 current school records connected to Benton Harbor Area Schools. NCES reports 229 students for 2024–25.

Among 1,618 elementary schools in Michigan with comparable records, this school is smaller than the reported median of 366 students. Its enrollment is at approximately the 17th percentile for that peer group. Size describes the campus, not instructional quality.

The reported student–teacher ratio is 10.4:1, below the Michigan median of 15.8:1 for the same school level. This ratio uses total enrollment and teacher FTE; it is not an average classroom headcount and can be affected by special programs or part-time staffing.

The largest reported race and ethnicity groups are Black (86%) and Hispanic or Latino (6.6%). English learners represent 1.4% of enrollment. Students served under IDEA represent 18.5%. These figures help families understand who the school serves; they are not rating inputs.

Questions worth asking Martin Luther King Jr Elementary

1How do the reported 10.4:1 student–teacher ratio and 22 teacher FTE translate into actual class sizes by grade?
2Which advanced, gifted, career, arts, and computer-science courses are available this year, and how do students qualify?
3What counseling support is available today? The school reported 0 counselor FTE in 2021–22.
4Does community eligibility provide breakfast and lunch to every enrolled student, and are summer meals available?

Bring the full school visit checklist →

Enrollment needs

English learners: 1.4%
Students with disabilities: 18.5%
Free/reduced-price lunch: 89.1%
Lunch program: Yes under Community Eligibility Option (CEO)

Reported support staff

Counselors (FTE): 0
Nurses (FTE): 0.16
Psychologists (FTE): 0
Social workers (FTE): 0.33

CRDC 2021–22 full-time-equivalent counts; verify current assignments with the school.

Student demographics

Race and ethnicity share of reported enrollment

White3.5%
Hispanic6.6%
Black86%
Asian0%
American Indian / Alaska Native0.4%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander0%
Multiracial3.5%

Race/ethnicity: NCES CCD 2024–25. English learner and disability context: CRDC 2021–22. Lunch eligibility: NCES CCD 2024–25. Privacy rules can produce missing values.

Programs reported by the school

Gifted and talented

Not reported as offered

CRDC 2021–22: the AP flag records student enrollment; gifted and computer-science fields describe reported programs/classes. Confirm current courses and eligibility with the school.

Start with campuses at the same school level or with similar reported enrollment.

Fair Plain East Elementary

Elementary · Grades 04–05

150 reported students

Discovery Enrichment Center

Elementary · Grades PK–KG

80 reported students

Fair Plain Middle School

Middle · Grades 06–08

240 reported students

Career and Alternative Pathways to Education Center

Other · Grades KG–12

59 reported students

Benton Harbor High School

High · Grades 09–12

469 reported students

View all 6 district schools →

Public schools near Martin Luther King Jr Elementary

Closest campuses by straight-line distance between NCES geocodes, favoring the same school level. Distance is not drive time or an attendance assignment.

School	Grades	Students	Distance
Discovery Enrichment Center Elementary · Benton Harbor Area Schools	PK–KG	80	under 0.1 mi
Mildred C Wells Preparatory Academy Elementary · Charter · Mildred C. Wells Preparatory Academy	KG–08	227	1 mi
Fair Plain East Elementary Elementary · Benton Harbor Area Schools	04–05	150	1.9 mi
Lincoln School Elementary · St. Joseph Public Schools	PK–05	423	2.2 mi
Brown School Elementary · St. Joseph Public Schools	PK–05	410	4.3 mi
Clarke School Elementary · St. Joseph Public Schools	PK–05	462	4.4 mi

Compare all 13 public schools in Benton Harbor, MI →

Frequently asked questions about Martin Luther King Jr Elementary

What grades does Martin Luther King Jr Elementary serve?

Martin Luther King Jr Elementary reports grades 01–03 in the NCES 2025–26 preliminary directory. It is classified as an elementary school in Benton Harbor Area Schools.

How many students attend Martin Luther King Jr Elementary?

Martin Luther King Jr Elementary reported 229 students in the NCES 2024–25 membership file. That places it near the 17th percentile among 1,618 Michigan elementary schools reporting enrollment. The 2021–22 civil-rights collection recorded 292 students.

What is the student–teacher ratio at Martin Luther King Jr Elementary?

The calculated ratio is 10.4:1, based on 229 students and 22 full-time-equivalent classroom teachers in 2024–25. The Michigan median for the same school level is 15.8:1. A ratio is not the same as average class size.

Is Martin Luther King Jr Elementary a public, charter, or magnet school?

Martin Luther King Jr Elementary is a public school and is not a charter school. Enrollment is generally based on Benton Harbor Area Schools attendance boundaries and transfer rules.

What share of Martin Luther King Jr Elementary students qualify for free or reduced-price meals?

89.1% of students were eligible for free or reduced-price lunch in 2024–25. The school participates in community eligibility, which can provide meals to every student and changes how eligibility is reported. This describes the students served and is not a quality measure.

Which school district is Martin Luther King Jr Elementary in?

Martin Luther King Jr Elementary is part of Benton Harbor Area Schools, based in Benton Harbor, MI, which operates 6 current schools. Confirm attendance zones and enrollment rules with the district.

What public schools are near Martin Luther King Jr Elementary?

The closest public schools by straight-line distance include Discovery Enrichment Center (under 0.1 mi), Mildred C Wells Preparatory Academy (1 mi), Fair Plain East Elementary (1.9 mi). Distance does not determine eligibility; attendance boundaries and program rules do.