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Very Good

#1062 of 3,192 schools in MI

Top 33% in state

Brown School

Elementary School · St. Joseph Public Schools

2027 Brown School Road, Saint Joseph, MI 49085

Enrollment

409

Student-Teacher

136.3:1

Score

7.0

Grades

Pre-K – 5th

Data vintage2022-23

How this school compares

Michigan schools

#1,062 of 3,192

In Saint Joseph

#3 of 6

public schools

In district

#3 of 5

St. Joseph Public Schools

Equity

9.2 / 10

Excellent

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Brown School

7.0/10

Elementary School in Saint Joseph · grades Pre-K – 5th. Start here, then compare fit against nearby and district options.

Lake Michigan Cath. Elem. School

7.6/10

1.1 mi away. Use as a geographic alternative in the same move search.

St Joseph High School

7.3/10

1.6 mi away. Use as a geographic alternative in the same move search.

About Brown School

Brown School is a public elementary school in Saint Joseph, MI, part of St. Joseph Public Schools. Brown School serves approximately 409 students, and covers grades Pre-K-5th, and has a 136.3:1 student-teacher ratio.

Brown School has a current MySchoolScout rating of 7.0 out of 10 and ranks #1,062 of 3,192 schools in MI. Structured state assessment records for Brown School show 68% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022) and 72% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022).

How it compares0.7 pts above district
  • This school 7.0 · Very Good
  • District avg 6.3
  • MI avg 6.1

What Parents Should Know

Brown School runs 136.3:1 students to teachers, above the national average. That often means bigger classes. Ask how the school supports kids who need extra help, and whether there are teaching assistants or small-group time.

Score Breakdown

Full Profile · 3/3 metrics
Student Progress7.8Very Good50%
Year-over-year improvement in student test scores.
View breakdown
Years of Data14
Annual Change-1.78 pts/yr
Data Period2009–2022
TrendDeclining
Academics9.0Excellent30%
Student proficiency on state tests, adjusted for community poverty levels.
View breakdown
Math Proficiency59.9% (2022 EdFacts)
Reading/ELA Proficiency64.9% (2022 EdFacts)
Math vs. State Avg+18 pts
Reading vs. State Avg+23 pts
Overall Proficiency62% (2022 EdFacts, Math+ELA)
Expected (poverty-adj.)55% (model expectation from 2022 EdFacts)
vs. Expected+6.9 pts
Adjusted Percentile84th
Resources & Environment1.8Needs Improvement20%
Student-teacher ratio, per-pupil spending, and attendance.
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio136.3:1
Per-Pupil Spending$12,856
Chronic Absenteeism14.9%

Brown School — Students at Brown School score 62% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 55%).

How we calculate scores →

Equity & Diversity

Shown separately, not included in overall score

Free/Reduced Lunch

30.1%

Students qualifying for federal meal assistance

Test Scores MI EDFACTS (2021-22)

Math Proficiency 67.5% (multi-year average, 2009-2022)
School
State
36.6% (2022 EdFacts)
ELA Proficiency 72.2% (multi-year average, 2009-2022)
School
State
43.1% (2022 EdFacts)

Based on 34 test records from MI state assessments. About our data

Proficiency Trend

↓ Declining

Average proficiency (% at or above grade level) across Math & ELA over time.

2009
Math
97.5%
ELA
97.5%
2010
Math
97.5%
ELA
97.5%
2011
Math
57%
ELA
72%
2012
Math
67%
ELA
82%
2013
Math
57%
ELA
77%
2014
Math
67%
ELA
57%
2015
Math
62%
ELA
62%
2016
Math
72%
ELA
72%
2017
Math
77%
ELA
77%
2018
Math
72%
ELA
72%
2019
Math
72%
ELA
72%
2020*
Math
57%
ELA
67%
2021*
Math
57%
ELA
67%
2022
Math
59%
ELA
64%

* COVID-affected year — test participation was uneven nationwide. This data is weighted at 50% in the Growth score calculation.

Source: EdFacts (NCES) and state assessment data. Growth score: 7.8/10.

How Brown School Compares

See how Brown School performs across key quality dimensions compared to state benchmarks.

Overall Score
7.0/10
67th percentile in MI
Academic
9.0/10
Excellent
Growth
7.8/10
Very Good
Environment
1.8/10
Needs Improvement

Funding & Resources

Free/Reduced Lunch
Students eligible for subsidized meals
30%
Teaching Staff
136:1 student-teacher ratio
3 teachers
Chronic Absenteeism
Students missing 15+ days per year (SY 2022-23)
14.9%

Location

2027 Brown School Road, Saint Joseph, MI 49085

Nearby Alternatives

Families considering Brown School may also want to explore other elementary schools in the area. BROOKVIEW MONTESSORI SCHOOL (rated 8.8/10, 2.8 miles away, in nearby Benton Harbor), which scores notably higher. Another option is Roosevelt Elementary School (rated 7.9/10, 3.3 miles away, in nearby Stevensville), which scores slightly higher. Additionally, LAKE MICHIGAN CATH. ELEM. SCHOOL (rated 7.6/10, 1.1 miles away), which scores slightly higher. For more schools in Saint Joseph, see our Saint Joseph schools guide .

Nearby Schools

20 within 3.3 mi
School Distance Rating
LAKE MICHIGAN CATH. ELEM. SCHOOL Saint Joseph 1.1 mi 7.6
St Joseph High School Saint Joseph 1.6 mi 7.3
CHRIST LUTHERAN SCHOOL Stevensville 2.0 mi 6.6
Stewart Elementary School Stevensville 2.0 mi 6.7
Upton Middle School Saint Joseph 1.9 mi 7.8
Lincoln School Saint Joseph 2.2 mi 6.4
TRINITY LUTHERAN SCHOOL Saint Joseph 2.9 mi 7.1
Lighthouse Education Center Saint Joseph 2.6 mi 6.0
Roosevelt Elementary School Stevensville 3.3 mi 7.9
LAKE MICHIGAN CATHOLIC MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOL Saint Joseph 3.1 mi 7.9
Fair Plain Middle School Benton Harbor 2.9 mi 2.3
Lakeshore Middle School Stevensville 3.6 mi 7.9
ST PAULS LUTHERAN SCHOOL Stevensville 3.6 mi 7.5
Lakeshore High School Stevensville 3.7 mi 7.6
BROOKVIEW MONTESSORI SCHOOL Benton Harbor 2.8 mi 8.8
Benton Harbor High School Benton Harbor 3.4 mi 5.7
GRACE LUTHERAN SCHOOL Saint Joseph 3.3 mi 5.5
Benton Harbor Charter School Academy Benton Harbor 3.7 mi 2.4
Bridge Academy of Southwest Michigan Benton Harbor 3.8 mi 5.0
Clarke School Saint Joseph 3.3 mi 5.5

Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)

Census data for ZIP 49085 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources

Median Income

$101,763

Median Home Value

$287,300

Median Rent

$1,099/mo

Population

23,575

College Educated

48.6%

Homeownership

77.7%

Avg Commute

17.2 min

Poverty Rate

4.2%

Median Age

45.4

Similar Schools

Schools in the same state with comparable level, size, and ratings

School Rating
Abbot School Ann Arbor, MI 7.0
Angell Elementary School Berkley, MI 7.0
Bingham Farms Elementary School Bingham Farms, MI 7.0
Bushnell Elementary School Lowell, MI 7.0
Cass City Elementary Cass City, MI 7.0
Challenger Elementary Grand Rapids, MI 7.0

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about Brown School

What grades does Brown School serve?

Brown School serves students in grades Pre-K through 5th.

How many students attend Brown School?

Brown School has an enrollment of approximately 409 students.

What is the student-teacher ratio at Brown School?

The student-teacher ratio at Brown School is 136.3:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.

How does Brown School rank in MI?

Brown School ranks #1,062 of 3,192 schools in MI.

What is Brown School's MySchoolScout rating?

Brown School has a current MySchoolScout rating of 7.0 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 Brown School?

Based on loaded state assessment records, Brown School has 68% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022) and 72% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022).

Is Brown School a charter school?

No, Brown School is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.

Is Brown School a Title I school?

No, Brown School is not currently a Title I school.

What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Brown School?

30.1% of students at Brown 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.

11 schools nearby View map →

Neighborhood Context

Walk Score
6 Car-Dependent
Bike Score
27 Somewhat Bikeable

Powered by Walk Score

Quick Facts NCES CCD (SY 2022-23)

Grades
Pre-K – 5th
Enrollment
409
Student-Teacher Ratio
136.3:1
Teachers (FTE)
3
Free/Reduced Lunch
30.1%
Type
regular
Setting
Small Suburb
County
Berrien County
Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
14.9%

District

St. Joseph Public Schools
District Enrollment
2,914
Schools in District
5
Per-Pupil Spending
$12,856
District Rank
#3 of 5

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