Best Schools in Benton Harbor, Michigan
14 schools · 8 Elementary · 1 Middle · 2 High · 3 Other
Choosing a school in Benton Harbor?
Use this page to compare every school in Benton Harbor by level, neighborhood, and district — and find the right fit, not just the top of the list.
Shortlist starter
Start with these real page-level signals, then use the full table and map below.
Brookview Montessori School
Elementary. Ranked from real test data; use the map and table below to check address fit.
Career and Alternative Pathways to Education Center
Other · Benton Harbor Area Schools. Ranked from real test data; use the map and table below to check address fit.
Benton Harbor High School
High · Benton Harbor Area Schools. Ranked from real test data; use the map and table below to check address fit.
The short answer
The top-rated schools in Benton Harbor for 2026 are Brookview Montessori School (8.8/10), Career and Alternative Pathways to Education Center (8.5/10), and Benton Harbor High School (5.7/10), based on MySchoolScout's analysis of real test data across 12 rated schools. Ratings blend student growth, poverty-adjusted academic achievement, and school environment (plus college readiness for high schools), with equity shown as context, not scored; schools with estimated (proxy) scores are excluded from this ranking.
Schools
14
12 public · 2 private
Avg Score
5.0
out of 10
Median Home
$140,500
home value · ACS
Districts
6
serving the city
Schools
14
12 public · 2 private
Avg Score
5.0
out of 10
Median Home
$140,500
home value · ACS
Districts
6
serving the city
Rates 8.5/10 despite 94% of students being economically disadvantaged. That's about 4.0 points higher than its student-poverty level predicts. Roughly as clean a case of strong results without an affluent-ZIP price tag as you'll find among Benton Harbor schools.
Top-Rated Schools in Benton Harbor
Ranked by MySchoolScout composite using only schools with real test data (12 of 14). "Value" = points above what student poverty predicts. Estimated (proxy) scores are excluded.
| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brookview Montessori School | 8.8 / 10 |
| 2 | Career and Alternative Pathways to Education Center | 8.5 / 10 |
| 3 | Benton Harbor High School | 5.7 / 10 |
| 4 | River of Life School | 5.6 / 10 |
| 5 | Countryside Academy Middlehigh School | 5.5 / 10 |
| 6 | Fair Plain East Elementary | 5.1 / 10 |
| 7 | Riverside School | 5.1 / 10 |
| 8 | Mildred C Wells Preparatory Academy | 4.3 / 10 |
| 9 | Countryside Academy Elementary | 3.4 / 10 |
| 10 | Martin Luther King JR Elementary | 2.5 / 10 |
See every school — including those with estimated data — in the full directory below. How we rate schools.
Family Snapshot
At a glance- Avg school rating
- 5.0/10
- Median household income
- $39,859
- Median home value
- $140,500
- Bachelor's degree or higher
- 18%
- Avg commute
- 19 min
- Owner-occupied homes
- 58%
14% of schools rated 7+
Census ACS, ZIPs in this city
Owner-occupied units
Adults 25+
Workers age 16+
Of occupied housing units
How Benton Harbor compares
Michigan rank
#349 of 372
cities by avg. school score
Vs. state average
-1.2
below Michigan avg (6.2)
Median household income
$40k
54% of Michigan median
Schools in this city
14
About Schools in Benton Harbor, Michigan
Benton Harbor, Michigan is home to 14 schools, including 12 public schools and 2 private schools. The city's schools span 8 elementary schools, 1 middle school, and 2 high schools.
With an average rating of 5.0 out of 10, schools in Benton Harbor show moderate performance on the MySchoolScout composite scale, which blends student growth, poverty-adjusted academic achievement, and school environment — plus college readiness for high schools.
The highest-performing school in Benton Harbor is Brookview Montessori School with a composite score of 8.8/10, demonstrating strong academic outcomes and school quality metrics.
Benton Harbor is served by 6 school districts. These districts collectively serve 2,930 students.
Benton Harbor's community shows 18% bachelor's degree attainment with a median household income of $39,859. The poverty rate in the area is 31.7%.
Browse the schools below to compare ratings, test scores, enrollment, and other key metrics. Use the filters to focus on specific school levels or types that match your family's needs.
Elementary Schools
8 schools| # | School | Rating | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 86 students · Pre-K–Kindergarten | 5.3 | ||
| 2 | 166 students · 4th–5th | 5.1 | ||
| 3 | 73 students · Pre-K–8th | 5.1 | ||
| 4 | 215 students · Kindergarten–8th | 4.3 | ||
| 5 | 380 students · Kindergarten–5th | 3.4 | ||
| 6 | 234 students · 1st–3rd | 2.5 | ||
| Private Schools 2 schools Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models. Scores are not directly comparable across school types. | ||||
| 1 | Brookview Montessori School
Private
112 students · Pre-K–8th | 8.8 | ||
| 2 | River of Life School
Private
50 students · Kindergarten–6th | 5.6 | ||
Middle Schools
1 school| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 249 students · 6th–8th | 2.3 |
High Schools
2 schools| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 506 students · 9th–12th | 5.7 |
| 2 | 121 students · 9th–12th | 5.0 |
Other Schools
3 schools| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 51 students · Kindergarten–12th | 8.5 |
| 2 | 372 students · 2nd–12th | 5.5 |
| 3 | 455 students · Pre-K–9th | 2.4 |
Schools in Benton Harbor
Benton Harbor, Michigan · 14 schools
Community Demographics
Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates across 1 ZIP code
Median Income
$39,859
Median Home Value
$140,500
Median Rent
$797/mo
Population
29,796
College Educated
18%
Homeownership
58%
Avg Commute
19 min
Poverty Rate
31.7%
Community Profile
Benton Harbor has a median household income of $39,859. It is a community where 18% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $140,500, with a median rent of $797/month. The area has a poverty rate of 31.7%, indicating some economic challenges in the community. Residents enjoy a short average commute of 19 minutes. Source: U.S. Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates.
Schools by Level
- State
- Michigan
- Elementary
- 8
- Middle
- 1
- High
- 2
- Other
- 3
Resources
School Districts (6)
Countryside Academy
2 schools · 752 students
Benton Harbor Charter School Academy
1 school · 455 students
Mildred C. Wells Preparatory Academy
1 school · 215 students
Bridge Academy of Southwest Michigan
1 school · 121 students
Benton Harbor Area Schools
6 schools · 1,314 students
Hagar Township S/D #6
1 school · 73 students
Nearby Cities
Other Major Cities in Michigan
Top metros statewide by school count.
How we rate schools
A clear 1–10 score built from public data — growth, academics, and learning environment. No hidden criteria, no pay-to-play.
See how we rateFrequently Asked Questions
Common questions about schools in Benton Harbor, Michigan
How many schools are in Benton Harbor, Michigan?
Benton Harbor has 14 schools, including 12 public and 2 private schools spanning elementary, middle, and high school levels.
What is the average school rating in Benton Harbor, Michigan?
The average MySchoolScout composite score for schools in Benton Harbor is 5.0 out of 10, built from student growth, poverty-adjusted academic achievement, and school environment — plus college readiness for high schools.
What is the top-ranked school in Benton Harbor, Michigan?
The top-ranked school in Benton Harbor on MySchoolScout is Brookview Montessori School with a composite score of 8.8/10.
What is the best elementary school in Benton Harbor, Michigan?
The top-ranked elementary school in Benton Harbor on MySchoolScout is Brookview Montessori School with a composite score of 8.8/10.
What is the best middle school in Benton Harbor, Michigan?
The top-ranked middle school in Benton Harbor on MySchoolScout is Fair Plain Middle School with a composite score of 2.3/10.
What is the best high school in Benton Harbor, Michigan?
The top-ranked high school in Benton Harbor on MySchoolScout is Benton Harbor High School with a composite score of 5.7/10.
How many school districts serve Benton Harbor, Michigan?
Benton Harbor is served by 6 school districts: Countryside Academy, Benton Harbor Charter School Academy, Mildred C. Wells Preparatory Academy, Bridge Academy of Southwest Michigan, Benton Harbor Area Schools, Hagar Township S/d #6.
What is the education level in Benton Harbor, Michigan?
According to Census data, 18% of adults in Benton Harbor have earned a bachelor's degree or higher.
What is the median income in Benton Harbor, Michigan?
The median household income in Benton Harbor is approximately $39,859 according to Census ACS 2022 estimates.
Are there private schools in Benton Harbor, Michigan?
Yes, Benton Harbor has 2 private schools alongside 12 public schools. The top-rated private school is Brookview Montessori School with a score of 8.8/10.
What is the student-teacher ratio in Benton Harbor, Michigan?
The average student-teacher ratio across schools in Benton Harbor is 13.0:1. This ratio varies by school, so families should check individual school profiles for specific classroom sizes.
How does MySchoolScout rate schools in Benton Harbor, Michigan?
MySchoolScout rates schools using publicly available data from the NCES Common Core of Data and state education departments. Each school receives a 1-10 composite score built from Student Growth, Poverty-Adjusted Academic Achievement, and School Environment — plus College Readiness for high schools. Weights vary by school level, and equity data is shown for context but not scored.
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Data from NCES Common Core of Data, Michigan Dept. of Education, and U.S. Census ACS for the 2023–24 school year. Rankings computed by MySchoolScout. See all data sources.