St. Joe-Benton Harbor News

There were 25,244 students enrolled in Berrien County school districts in the 2022-23 school year, 1.5% more than the previous year, according to the Michigan Department of Education.

The county's data showed that ninth grade had the biggest classes with 2,662 students during the 2022-23 school year, while pre-kindergarten saw the smallest enrollment that year with just 598 students.

Countywide, Berrien Springs Public Schools welcomed the most students during the 2022-23 school year.

The main offices of all districts mentioned in the article 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 have widened. Black and Hispanic students' average math proficiency dropped by 7% in 2022, to 13.5% and 28.2%, respectively.

District	Total enrollment in 2021-22	Total enrollment in 2022-23	% Change from Previous Year
Berrien Springs Public Schools	3,743	4,358	16.4
Niles Community Schools	3,445	3,313	-3.8
St. Joseph Public Schools	2,955	2,965	0.3
Lakeshore School District (Berrien)	2,704	2,688	-0.6
Buchanan Community Schools	1,540	1,566	1.7
Watervliet School District	1,456	1,452	-0.3
Benton Harbor Area Schools	1,510	1,448	-4.1
Brandywine Community Schools	1,287	1,304	1.3
Coloma Community Schools	1,188	1,161	-2.3
Bridgman Public Schools	858	849	-1
Berrien RESA	754	806	6.9
Countryside Academy	744	758	1.9
Eau Claire Public Schools	687	654	-4.8
New Buffalo Area Schools	554	536	-3.2
River Valley School District	526	497	-5.5
Benton Harbor Charter School Academy	492	442	-10.2
Mildred C. Wells Preparatory Academy	222	217	-2.3
Bridge Academy of Southwest Michigan	72	92	27.8
Hagar Township School District #6	73	73	0
Sodus Township School District #5	70	65	-7.1