St. Joe-Benton Harbor News

There were 2,348 Hispanic students enrolled in Berrien County districts in the 2022-23 school year, 2.4% more than the previous year, according to the Michigan Department of Education.

Data showed that Berrien County welcomed 21,620 students during the 2022-23 school year. Among them, Hispanic students comprised 10.9% of the student body to be the third most represented ethnicity in the county districts.

Among the 20 districts in Berrien County, Berrien Springs Public Schools recorded the highest enrollment of Hispanic students in the 2022-23 school year, with a total of 662 students.

The main offices of all districts mentioned in the story are located in cities associated with Berrien County.

Overall student enrollment in Michigan remains below pre-pandemic levels, with white students experiencing the largest decline at 6.5%.

Academic performance has also suffered, with the state's average NAEP score dropping by 6.5 points and ethnic achievement gaps widening. Black and Hispanic students' average math proficiency dropped by 7% in 2022, to 13.5% and 28.2%, respectively.

District	% of Hispanic Students Enrolled	Total Enrollment
Benton Harbor Area Schools	2.6%	1,448
Benton Harbor Charter School Academy	2.3%	442
Berrien RESA	9.7%	806
Berrien Springs Public Schools	15.2%	4,358
Brandywine Community Schools	5.9%	1,304
Bridge Academy of Southwest Michigan	10.9%	92
Bridgman Public Schools	5.9%	849
Buchanan Community Schools	3.8%	1,566
Coloma Community Schools	18%	1,161
Countryside Academy	33%	758
Eau Claire Public Schools	38.8%	654
Hagar Township School District #6	11%	73
Lakeshore School District (Berrien)	7.1%	2,688
Mildred C. Wells Preparatory Academy	0.5%	217
New Buffalo Area Schools	11.2%	536
Niles Community Schools	11.7%	3,313
River Valley School District	8.9%	497
Sodus Township School District #5	24.6%	65
St. Joseph Public Schools	6.3%	2,965
Watervliet School District	16.9%	1,452