MI Superintendent of Public Instruction Michael F. Rice 2023 | Michigan Department of Education
MI Superintendent of Public Instruction Michael F. Rice 2023 | Michigan Department of Education
Of the 21,620 students attending Berrien County district schools, 62.1% were white. African American students were the second largest ethnic group among Berrien County's districts (18.8%).
In the previous school year, white students were still the most common group in Berrien County, representing 62.2% of the student body.
Sodus Township School District #5 had the most even distribution of races among the county districts, including 41.5% white students, 26.2% African American students, 24.6% Hispanic students, 4.6% multiracial students, and 3.1% Hawaiian students.
In the 2022-23 school year, the total number of students enrolled in school districts in the county dropped 1% compared to the previous year.
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 | Most Prevalent Ethnicity | Percent of Total Student Body | Total Enrollment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Benton Harbor Area Schools | African American | 92.5% | 1,448 |
| Benton Harbor Charter School Academy | African American | 96.4% | 442 |
| Berrien RESA | White | 54.7% | 806 |
| Berrien Springs Public Schools | White | 57% | 4,358 |
| Brandywine Community Schools | White | 80.3% | 1,304 |
| Bridge Academy of Southwest Michigan | African American | 60.9% | 92 |
| Bridgman Public Schools | White | 85.4% | 849 |
| Buchanan Community Schools | White | 84% | 1,566 |
| Coloma Community Schools | White | 65.3% | 1,161 |
| Countryside Academy | African American | 52.1% | 758 |
| Eau Claire Public Schools | Hispanic | 38.8% | 654 |
| Hagar Township School District #6 | White | 61.6% | 73 |
| Lakeshore School District (Berrien) | White | 80.8% | 2,688 |
| Mildred C. Wells Preparatory Academy | African American | 98.6% | 217 |
| New Buffalo Area Schools | White | 81% | 536 |
| Niles Community Schools | White | 67% | 3,313 |
| River Valley School District | White | 84.9% | 497 |
| Sodus Township School District #5 | White | 41.5% | 65 |
| St. Joseph Public Schools | White | 74.5% | 2,965 |
| Watervliet School District | White | 74.2% | 1,452 |
ORGANIZATIONS IN THIS STORY
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