Public schools in Benton Harbor, MI
13 open public schools with an address in Benton Harbor, operated by 7 education agencies. Compare size, staffing, grade spans, and school type, then confirm assignment with the district.
Public schools
13
NCES preliminary directory 2025–26
Reported students
2,992
13 schools reporting · NCES 2024–25
Median student–teacher ratio
13.1:1
Michigan median 16.3:1
Charter schools
5
1 virtual
An overview of Benton Harbor public schools
The federal directory lists 13 public schools in Benton Harbor, MI: 7 elementary, 1 middle, 2 high, 3 combined or other. The 13 schools that reported 2024–25 membership enrolled 2,992 students, an average of 230 per school. The largest campus is Benton Harbor High School (469 students), and the largest elementary school is Countryside Academy Elementary (384).
Benton Harbor Area Schools operates the most schools here (6), and 3 regular districts have at least one Benton Harbor campus, plus 4 charter, service, or other agencies. City names come from school mailing addresses, which often differ from district or municipal boundaries.
Across schools that reported staffing, the median student–teacher ratio is 13.1:1, lower than the statewide school median of 16.3:1. A ratio counts classroom-teacher FTE against total enrollment, so specialized programs and part-time staffing can move it; ask schools for actual class sizes by grade.
School choice options include 5 charter schools, 1 virtual school. Application windows and lotteries usually open months before the school year.
Among 4 high and combined schools with 2021–22 civil-rights data, 0 reported students enrolled in AP courses and 0 of 4 reported computer-science classes. Confirm current course catalogs directly with each school.
About 88% of students in reporting schools were eligible for free or reduced-price meals in 2024–25. This describes the community served; it is not a quality signal, and community-eligibility schools can report differently.
School districts and agencies serving Benton Harbor
Benton Harbor Area Schools
Public school district
6 schools in Benton Harbor
Countryside Academy
Independent charter agency
2 schools in Benton Harbor
Benton Harbor Charter School Academy
Independent charter agency
1 school in Benton Harbor
Bridge Academy of Southwest Michigan
Independent charter agency
1 school in Benton Harbor
Dowagiac Union School District
Public school district
1 school in Benton Harbor · 7 total
Hagar Township S/D #6
Public school district
1 school in Benton Harbor
Mildred C. Wells Preparatory Academy
Independent charter agency
1 school in Benton Harbor
Elementary schools in Benton Harbor
7| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Countryside Academy Elementary Countryside Academy · Charter | KG–05 | 384 | 16.3:1 | |
| Discovery Enrichment Center Benton Harbor Area Schools | PK–KG | 80 | 7.3:1 | |
| Fair Plain East Elementary Benton Harbor Area Schools | 04–05 | 150 | 11.5:1 | |
| Martin Luther King Jr Elementary Benton Harbor Area Schools | 01–03 | 229 | 10.4:1 | |
| Mildred C Wells Preparatory Academy Mildred C. Wells Preparatory Academy · Charter | KG–08 | 227 | 16.3:1 | |
| Riverside School Hagar Township S/D #6 | PK–08 | 72 | 13.1:1 | |
| Sister Lakes Elementary School Dowagiac Union School District | KG–05 | 166 | 13.8:1 |
Middle schools in Benton Harbor
1| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fair Plain Middle School Benton Harbor Area Schools | 06–08 | 240 | 10.9:1 |
High schools in Benton Harbor
2| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Benton Harbor High School Benton Harbor Area Schools | 09–12 | 469 | 14.2:1 | |
| Bridge Academy of Southwest Michigan Bridge Academy of Southwest Michigan · Charter | 09–12 | 112 | 7.8:1 |
Combined, early-childhood, and other schools in Benton Harbor
3| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Benton Harbor Charter School Academy Benton Harbor Charter School Academy · Charter | PK–09 | 418 | 14.4:1 | |
| Career and Alternative Pathways to Education Center Benton Harbor Area Schools · Virtual · Alternative School | KG–12 | 59 | 6.9:1 | |
| Countryside Academy MiddleHigh School Countryside Academy · Charter | 02–12 | 386 | 15.9:1 |
Student demographics
Race and ethnicity share of reported enrollment
- White8.1%
- Hispanic12.8%
- Black75.7%
- Asian0.1%
- American Indian / Alaska Native0.2%
- Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander0.2%
- Multiracial2.9%
Enrollment-weighted across 13 Benton Harbor schools with NCES CCD 2024–25 race/ethnicity counts (2,992 students). Privacy suppression can leave small gaps.
Questions about public schools in Benton Harbor
How many public schools are in Benton Harbor, MI?
The current NCES directory lists 13 open public schools with a location address in Benton Harbor: 7 elementary, 1 middle, 2 high, 3 combined or other. Together they reported 2,992 students in 2024–25. The count includes charter, alternative, and special-purpose public schools; it excludes private schools.
Which school districts serve Benton Harbor?
Schools with an address in Benton Harbor belong to 7 education agencies, led by Benton Harbor Area Schools (6 schools), Countryside Academy (2 schools), Benton Harbor Charter School Academy (1 school). A mailing city is not an attendance boundary; confirm the district for a specific address.
What is the largest public high school in Benton Harbor?
Benton Harbor High School reported the largest high-school enrollment in Benton Harbor, with 469 students in 2024–25 (grades 09–12). Size is a description of the campus, not a quality measure.
Are there charter schools in Benton Harbor?
Yes. 5 of the 13 public schools in Benton Harbor are identified as charter schools in the NCES directory, including Benton Harbor Charter School Academy, Bridge Academy of Southwest Michigan, Countryside Academy Elementary. Charter schools are public and tuition-free, but admission usually uses an application or lottery.
What is the typical student–teacher ratio in Benton Harbor schools?
The median reported student–teacher ratio across Benton Harbor public schools is 13.1:1, lower than the Michigan school median of 16.3:1. The ratio divides enrollment by classroom-teacher FTE; it is not an average class size.
Does living in Benton Harbor guarantee a seat at a specific school?
No. Assignment depends on the district's attendance boundaries, programs, and enrollment rules, which can split a city or cross city lines. Use the district profile and its official boundary or school-locator tool to confirm the assigned school for an exact address.
Nearby Michigan cities
Sources: NCES Common Core of Data 2025–26 preliminary directory (schools, grades, addresses, charter status) and 2024–25 nonfiscal files (enrollment, teachers, race/ethnicity, meal eligibility); Civil Rights Data Collection 2021–22 (AP and computer science). Cities are grouped by school mailing address. Methodology · All Michigan cities