Can I use Berrien County's school score to choose a house?

No. Use the Berrien County school score as a first-pass county screen, then verify the exact district, attendance boundary, transfer rules, and grade pathway for any address you are considering.

Does SchoolsByCounty confirm school attendance boundaries in Berrien County?

No. SchoolsByCounty publishes NCES and Census-backed public-school records. Attendance zones, magnet eligibility, charter lotteries, transportation, and transfer rules must be confirmed with local districts.

How should parents compare public schools in Berrien County?

Start with the 75 listed public schools and 20 district entries, then compare similar grade bands and confirm the address-level rules locally.

Berrien County Schools & Education

Name: Berrien County, Michigan Education Data
Creator: National Center for Education Statistics (NCES)
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/

Berrien County, Michigan

NCES 2022-23 public school data and FY 2022 school-finance data

School Score

18/100

Percentile-style score

Score Band

Lower Signal

Graduation Rate

63.4%

National avg 87.5%

Education Statistics

Graduation Rate

63.4%

National avg 87.5%

State avg 82.5%

Per-Pupil Spending

$6,912

National avg $13,239

State avg $7,394

School Score

18/100

Percentile-style score

State avg 35/100

State Score Position

#74

of 83 counties by score

Education Data Brief: Berrien County

Measured School Summary

Berrien County faces educational challenges with a school score of 18/100 and a graduation rate of 63.4%, falling below typical benchmarks.

Funding Context

At $6,912 per pupil, Berrien County operates with limited funding, which may constrain staffing, materials, and extracurricular offerings.

Neighbor Context

Its school score is 48% below the Michigan average, and its graduation rate trails the state average by 19.1 percentage points, while per-pupil spending is 7% lower than the state norm.

School Data Brief

How to read Berrien County before comparing districts

County-level education data is best used as a screening layer. It summarizes the local school environment, then points you toward the district and school records that matter for local review.

Local context that changes the interpretation

75 public schools and 20 districts are represented below. Use those school and district records to confirm whether the county-level context fits the neighborhoods you are actually considering.

Overall screen

18/100

Lower measured signal. Ranks #74 of 83 Michigan counties with school score data.

Completion

63.4%

19.1 pts below the state average

Funding context

$6,912

$482 below the state average

School coverage

20 districts represented in the county school list.

Start with measured county context

The county-level signal is lower, so review individual schools and local records before interpreting the score. Compare the score, graduation rate, and spending together rather than treating any single metric as final.

Check the local school mix

Berrien County has 75 public schools across 20 districts, so school-level fit can vary inside the county.

Verify local rules

Use this page as county-level context, then confirm attendance zones, transportation, special programs, and current school boundaries with local districts.

View Public Schools Compare Counties

Parent decision brief

What Berrien County school data means before you move

County averages are useful for screening, but parents choose addresses, grade pathways, and district rules. This brief turns the public data into the checks that matter before you sign a lease or mortgage.

Large multi-district county

Berrien County has many school records across many districts. County averages are only the opening screen; neighborhood-level assignment and grade-band fit matter more here.

State position

#74

of 83 Michigan counties with school score data. The county score is 17 points below the state average.

Data confidence

Usable

3 of 5 county signals are present, and 100% of listed schools report enrollment. Compare schools, then verify missing fields locally.

K-12 continuity check

These are the largest visible district slices in the county data. They show whether elementary, middle, and high school records appear together or whether a family needs to investigate transition points.

St. Joseph Public Schools

Elementary to high school visible

2,955 students

Elementary 3Middle 1High 1Other 0

5 listed schools in this county slice.

Lakeshore School District (Berrien)

Elementary to high school visible

2,688 students

Elementary 3Middle 1High 1Other 0

5 listed schools in this county slice.

Niles Community Schools

Elementary to high school visible

2,684 students

Elementary 3Middle 1High 4Other 2

10 listed schools in this county slice.

Berrien Springs Public Schools

Elementary to high school visible

1,923 students

Elementary 2Middle 1High 2Other 1

6 listed schools in this county slice.

District reality check

Niles Community Schools is the largest listed district slice, with 11 schools. County pages do not prove address assignment, so verify boundaries with local district tools.

What the data cannot tell you

NCES records do not confirm current attendance zones, private-school options, transfer approvals, program capacity, transportation, or whether a listed school is available to a specific address.

Questions to ask before choosing an address

Which district actually serves the addresses we are considering in Berrien County?

Do the neighborhoods we like fall inside the same district, or are we comparing different Berrien County district systems?

What changes at the elementary-to-middle and middle-to-high transitions in the district pathway we would likely use?

Which charter, magnet, or virtual options require a lottery, application window, separate transportation plan, or address eligibility check?

Are the largest listed schools the ones our address can actually attend, or are they only county-level context?

Data Story

Berrien County graduation rate falls to 63.4 percent

Education data brief for Berrien County, Michigan.

By Evan Brooks, Data EditorPublished Jul 7, 2026Reviewed by Evan Brooks, Data Editor

Lead metric:Graduation rate

The graduation rate in Berrien County is 63.4%, a figure notably lower than the Michigan state average of 82.5% and the national average of 87%. This metric stands alongside a composite school score of 18.2, which is roughly half the state average of 35.1. The county manages a complex system of 20 school districts with 75 total schools, including five charter schools and 11 alternative schools. Berrien Springs Public Schools is the largest district by enrollment, serving 4,351 students, followed by Niles Community Schools. Per-pupil spending is $6,912, lower than the state average of $7,394 and significantly below the national benchmark of $13,000. Enrollment is distributed across varied locales, including 31 suburban and 21 rural schools. Schools like St. Joseph High School and Lakeshore High School are the largest individual facilities. Review the NCES Common Core of Data for detailed enrollment statistics.

Sources

NCES Common Core of Data
U.S. Census Bureau ACS

School Overview

Total Schools

in Berrien County

Reported Enrollment

21,584

75 schools reporting

School Districts

districts

Charter Schools

7% of total

School Level Breakdown

Elementary31

Middle12

High22

Other10

20 School Districts in Berrien County

Berrien Springs Public Schools

Niles Community Schools

11 schools

3,275 students

St. Joseph Public Schools

5 schools

2,955 students

Lakeshore School District (Berrien)

5 schools

2,688 students

Buchanan Community Schools

6 schools

1,550 students

Watervliet School District

5 schools

1,452 students

Benton Harbor Area Schools

6 schools

1,424 students

Brandywine Community Schools

5 schools

1,304 students

Coloma Community Schools

4 schools

1,154 students

Bridgman Public Schools

3 schools

849 students

75 Public Schools in Berrien County

Sorted by reported enrollment. Dedicated profile pages are available for 1 high-enrollment school; every NCES public school remains listed here.

NCES 2022-23 public school data and FY 2022 school-finance data

Search schools

Level

Sort

Showing 20 of 75 matching schools

Public schools in Berrien County, including district, location, profile availability, grades, type, and enrollment.
School Name	Profile	District	Location	Grades	Type / Flags	Reported Enrollment
St Joseph High School	Profile	St. Joseph Public Schools	SAINT JOSEPH, 49085Suburb: Small	9–12	High	988
Lakeshore High School	Record	Lakeshore School District (Berrien)	STEVENSVILLE, 49127Suburb: Small	9–12	High	856
Niles Senior High School	Record	Niles Community Schools	NILES, 49120City: Small	9–12	High	834
Upton Middle School	Record	St. Joseph Public Schools	SAINT JOSEPH, 49085Suburb: Small	6–8	Middle	665
Lakeshore Middle School	Record	Lakeshore School District (Berrien)	STEVENSVILLE, 49127Suburb: Small	6–8	Middle	611
Berrien Springs High School	Record	Berrien Springs Public Schools	BERRIEN SPRINGS, 49103Town: Fringe	9–12	High	561
Ring Lardner Middle School	Record	Niles Community Schools	NILES, 49120City: Small	6–8	Middle	554
Ballard Elementary School	Record	Niles Community Schools	NILES, 49120City: Small	PK–5	Primary	538
Buchanan High School	Record	Buchanan Community Schools	BUCHANAN, 49107Suburb: Large	8–12	High	522
Benton Harbor High School	Record	Benton Harbor Area Schools	BENTON HARBOR, 49022Suburb: Small	9–12	High	495
Clarke School	Record	St. Joseph Public Schools	SAINT JOSEPH, 49085Suburb: Small	KG–5	Primary	483
Benton Harbor Charter School Academy	Record	Benton Harbor Charter School Academy	BENTON HARBOR, 49022Suburb: Small	PK–9	Charter	442
Eastside Connections School	Record	Niles Community Schools	NILES, 49120City: Small	KG–8	Primary	432
Lincoln School	Record	St. Joseph Public Schools	SAINT JOSEPH, 49085Suburb: Small	PK–5	Primary	421
Stewart Elementary School	Record	Lakeshore School District (Berrien)	STEVENSVILLE, 49127Suburb: Small	PK–5	Primary	414
Berrien Springs Middle School	Record	Berrien Springs Public Schools	BERRIEN SPRINGS, 49103Town: Fringe	6–8	Middle	408
Countryside Academy Elementary	Record	Countryside Academy	BENTON HARBOR, 49022Rural: Fringe	PK–5	Charter	406
Roosevelt Elementary School	Record	Lakeshore School District (Berrien)	STEVENSVILLE, 49127Suburb: Small	PK–5	Primary	404
Hollywood Elementary School	Record	Lakeshore School District (Berrien)	STEVENSVILLE, 49127Rural: Fringe	PK–5	Primary	403
Brown School	Record	St. Joseph Public Schools	SAINT JOSEPH, 49085Suburb: Small	PK–5	Primary	398

St Joseph High School

St. Joseph Public Schools

SAINT JOSEPH, 49085 / Suburb: Small

Profile9–12High988 students

Lakeshore High School

Lakeshore School District (Berrien)

STEVENSVILLE, 49127 / Suburb: Small

Record9–12High856 students

Niles Senior High School

Niles Community Schools

NILES, 49120 / City: Small

Record9–12High834 students

Upton Middle School

St. Joseph Public Schools

SAINT JOSEPH, 49085 / Suburb: Small

Record6–8Middle665 students

Lakeshore Middle School

Lakeshore School District (Berrien)

STEVENSVILLE, 49127 / Suburb: Small

Record6–8Middle611 students

Berrien Springs High School

Berrien Springs Public Schools

BERRIEN SPRINGS, 49103 / Town: Fringe

Record9–12High561 students

Ring Lardner Middle School

Niles Community Schools

NILES, 49120 / City: Small

Record6–8Middle554 students

Ballard Elementary School

Niles Community Schools

NILES, 49120 / City: Small

RecordPK–5Primary538 students

Buchanan High School

Buchanan Community Schools

BUCHANAN, 49107 / Suburb: Large

Record8–12High522 students

Benton Harbor High School

Benton Harbor Area Schools

BENTON HARBOR, 49022 / Suburb: Small

Record9–12High495 students

Clarke School

St. Joseph Public Schools

SAINT JOSEPH, 49085 / Suburb: Small

RecordKG–5Primary483 students

Benton Harbor Charter School Academy

BENTON HARBOR, 49022 / Suburb: Small

RecordPK–9Charter442 students

Eastside Connections School

Niles Community Schools

NILES, 49120 / City: Small

RecordKG–8Primary432 students

Lincoln School

St. Joseph Public Schools

SAINT JOSEPH, 49085 / Suburb: Small

RecordPK–5Primary421 students

Stewart Elementary School

Lakeshore School District (Berrien)

STEVENSVILLE, 49127 / Suburb: Small

RecordPK–5Primary414 students

Berrien Springs Middle School

Berrien Springs Public Schools

BERRIEN SPRINGS, 49103 / Town: Fringe

Record6–8Middle408 students

Countryside Academy Elementary

Countryside Academy

BENTON HARBOR, 49022 / Rural: Fringe

RecordPK–5Charter406 students

Roosevelt Elementary School

Lakeshore School District (Berrien)

STEVENSVILLE, 49127 / Suburb: Small

RecordPK–5Primary404 students

Hollywood Elementary School

Lakeshore School District (Berrien)

STEVENSVILLE, 49127 / Rural: Fringe

RecordPK–5Primary403 students

Brown School

St. Joseph Public Schools

SAINT JOSEPH, 49085 / Suburb: Small

RecordPK–5Primary398 students

Education Funding Detail

Annual Per-Pupil Expenditure

$6,912

State avg $7,394

Compare Nearby Counties

Review Berrien County against other counties using the same NCES-backed metrics.

Open Compare

Browse Public Schools

See school-level enrollment, grade ranges, school type, and district affiliation.

View Schools

Frequently Asked Questions

Which Michigan counties have the highest graduation rates?

Alcona County (95.0%), Alger County (95.0%), and Schoolcraft County (95.0%) currently lead Michigan among counties with available NCES four-year adjusted cohort graduation-rate data. This answer is generated from the same dataset used in the county table and can change when federal data refreshes.

What is per-pupil spending like in Michigan?

Across Michigan counties with available NCES district-finance data, average per-pupil spending is $7,394. The highest current county values are Keweenaw County ($18,000), Lake County ($10,369), and Leelanau County ($9,877). Compare counties in the table before treating the statewide average as representative of a local district.

How should I read the school score in Berrien County?

Berrien County has a school score of 18/100, which is a lower measured signal in this county-level index. This score is calculated from available NCES graduation-rate and school-finance data, with school-level records shown separately below.

What is the graduation rate in Berrien County?

The high school graduation rate in Berrien County is 63.4%, which is below the national average of 87.5%. This figure is based on NCES district-level data for public high schools in the county.

How much does Berrien County spend per student?

Berrien County spends $6,912 per pupil annually on public education, based on NCES district finance data. Current operating spending per fall enrollment, including instruction, support services, administration, transportation, and operations. It excludes capital outlays and debt service in the SchoolsByCounty methodology.

Counties with Similar School Profile

Roscommon County

Michigan

-0 pts

18/100

School score

Ionia County

Michigan

+1 pts

19/100

School score

Clinton County

Michigan

-1 pts

17/100

School score

By Evan Brooks, Data EditorUpdated Jul 7, 2026Reviewed by Evan Brooks, Data Editor

Data Sources

Education data sourced from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) Common Core of Data and School District Finance Survey. School scores are derived composite metrics based on available NCES graduation-rate and school-finance signals.

Data is informational only. Coverage varies by county and reporting year. Not for use as the sole basis for educational decisions.

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