Average
#2512 of 3,192 schools in MI
Ballard Elementary School
Elementary School · Niles Community Schools · Niles, MI
A Niles Community Schools elementary school where students score 11 points above what's typical for similar communities.
1601 WEST CHICAGO RD, Niles, MI 49120
- Math 39% vs MI 37% (2022)
- Reading 34% vs MI 43% (2022)
- 21.3:1 student-teacher ratio
Academics
Full Profile · 3/3 metricsView breakdown
View breakdown
View breakdown
Students at Ballard Elementary School score 36% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 25%).
2022 EdFacts proficiency
Most recent published year. School vs. MI average.
Trend
↓ DecliningProficiency has fallen 6 points since 2019, to 36% in 2022, across a 14-year record (2009–2022).
Show all 14 years
Multi-year averages used by the rating model: math 46% (multi-year average, 2009-2022) · reading/ELA 46% (multi-year average, 2009-2022)
* COVID-affected year — test participation was uneven nationwide. This data is weighted at 50% in the Growth score calculation.
Based on 34 test records from MI state assessments and EdFacts (NCES).
Equity & diversity
Shown separately, not included in the overall scoreFree/reduced lunch
80%
Students qualifying for federal meal assistance
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 rateThe neighborhood
Where Ballard Elementary School sits, and what the surrounding area looks like.
Nearby same-level schools are colored by their score. Pins are locations, not attendance boundaries.
Getting around & local context
- Walk 7Car-Dependent
- Bike 27Somewhat Bikeable
- City Safety: High2,386/100K
Powered by
FBI Uniform Crime Reporting · 2024 · city context (Niles), not school-level safety or attendance eligibility. Source details
Source period: 2024. Freshness not available.
Area profileU.S. Census ACS 5-year estimates (ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates)
Median income
$61,940
Median home value
$166,800
Median rent
$911/mo
College educated
20.5%
Homeownership
78.5%
Poverty rate
14.5%
ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates for the ZCTA associated with school ZIP 49120; this is area context, not an attendance boundary.
Compare nearby
Nearby same-level schools
4 from a 5-mile search; district fallback available
| School | Score | Grades | Distance | Enrollment | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Niles Adventist SchoolPrivate · tuition | 6.4private | K–8 | 1.0 mi | 62 | Compare → |
| St Mary SchoolPrivate · tuition | 7.9private | PK–8 | 1.1 mi | 49 | Compare → |
| Southside Special Educ SchoolEnrollment path unverified | 4.5 | 4–12 | 2.1 mi | 55 | Compare → |
| Eastside Connections SchoolEnrollment path unverified | 8.4 | K–8 | 2.3 mi | 430 | Compare → |
Distance is proximity only; it is not attendance eligibility.
Private · tuition: Potential private option; tuition and admission requirements have not been verified.
Enrollment path unverified: Potential public school; its attendance or application path has not been classified.
Public and private scores come from different models and are shown side by side, not blended into one ranking.
Niles Community Schools
- Schools in district
- 11
- Rank in district
- #7 of 8
- District spending per student
- $13,405NCES F-33 · FY 2023 · This annual source is three years behind the current year.
- District child poverty rate
- 16.8%Census SAIPE · 2024
Ballard Elementary School is listed in Niles Community Schools; a district label does not verify attendance for an address.
About Ballard Elementary School
Ballard Elementary School is a public elementary school in Niles, MI, part of Niles Community Schools, serving approximately 576 students in grades Pre-K-5th with a 21.3:1 student-teacher ratio. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 5.0 out of 10 and ranks #2,512 of 3,192 schools in MI. State assessment records show 46% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022) and 46% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022).
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about Ballard Elementary School
What grades does Ballard Elementary School serve?
Ballard Elementary School serves students in grades Pre-K through 5th.
How many students attend Ballard Elementary School?
Ballard Elementary School has an enrollment of approximately 576 students.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Ballard Elementary School?
The student-teacher ratio at Ballard Elementary School is 21.3:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.
How does Ballard Elementary School rank in MI?
Ballard Elementary School ranks #2,512 of 3,192 schools in MI.
What is Ballard Elementary School's MySchoolScout rating?
Ballard Elementary School has a current MySchoolScout rating of 5.0 out of 10. This score combines the level-appropriate components shown in the rating breakdown; equity data is shown separately for context.
What are the test scores at Ballard Elementary School?
Based on loaded state assessment records, Ballard Elementary School has 46% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022) and 46% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022).
Is Ballard Elementary School a charter school?
No, Ballard Elementary School is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.
Is Ballard Elementary School a Title I school?
No, Ballard Elementary School is not currently a Title I school.
What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Ballard Elementary School?
80.0% of students at Ballard Elementary School qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. This is a commonly used indicator of economic need and provides important context when interpreting test scores.
School factsNCES Common Core of Data (CCD) (SY 2023–24)
- Grades
- Pre-K – 5th
- Enrollment
- 576
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 21.3:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 27
- Type
- regular
- Setting
- Small City
- County
- Berrien County
- Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
- 31.4%
- Phone
- (269) 683-5900
- Area population (ZIP 49120)
- 36,652
- Area average commute
- 23.1 min
- Area median age
- 43
Official sources & links
About this school's data
Every number on this page comes from a published source with a stated period. Where a source is partial, aging, or describes a surrounding area rather than the school, that limitation is named below.
- School directory (enrollment, grades, staff, contact)
- NCES Common Core of Data (CCD) · SY 2023–24 · Medium confidence
- Source period: SY 2023–24. A newer release may be available.
- MySchoolScout rating and rank
- MySchoolScout ranking model · Low confidence
- Vintage not available. Do not use this measure alone.
- Derived as a weighted blend of the component scores shown in Academics from state assessment, EdFacts growth, and NCES resource records.
- Math proficiency
- State department of education · 2022 EdFacts · Low confidence
- Older source: 2022 EdFacts. Use as historical context.
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Derived from source records rather than read directly from one field.
- Reading/ELA proficiency
- State department of education · 2022 EdFacts · Low confidence
- Older source: 2022 EdFacts. Use as historical context.
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Derived from source records rather than read directly from one field.
- Student progress (growth)
- NCES EdFacts · Mixed source periods · Low confidence
- Vintage not available. Do not use this measure alone.
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Derived as the fitted year-over-year slope of proficiency from multi-year assessment records.
- Neighborhood (income, housing, education)
- U.S. Census ACS 5-year estimates · ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates · Low confidence
- Older source: ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates. Use as historical context.
- Reported for the ZCTA for ZIP 49120; this does not measure the attendance area.
Evidence periods: Rating mixed/unknown input periods; assessments multi-year average, 2009-2022; directory SY 2023–24
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