Needs Improvement
#3182 of 3,192 schools in MI
Fair Plain Middle School
Middle School · Benton Harbor Area Schools · Benton Harbor, MI
A Benton Harbor Area Schools middle school where students score 10 points below what's typical for similar communities.
120 E NAPIER AVE, Benton Harbor, MI 49022
- Math 3% vs MI 32% (2022)
- Reading 6% vs MI 45% (2022)
- 13.1:1 student-teacher ratio
Academics
Full Profile · 3/3 metricsView breakdown
View breakdown
View breakdown
Students at Fair Plain Middle School score 4% proficient, which is below what's typical for similar communities (expected: 15%).
2022 EdFacts proficiency
Most recent published year. School vs. MI average.
Trend
→ SteadyProficiency is down 88 points across the 14-year record (2009–2022) and has held near 4% recently.
Show all 14 years
Multi-year averages used by the rating model: math 15% (multi-year average, 2009-2022) · reading/ELA 24% (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
96.4%
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 Fair Plain Middle 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 45Car-Dependent
- Bike 46Somewhat Bikeable
- City Safety: High7,440/100K
Powered by
FBI Uniform Crime Reporting · 2024 · city context (Benton Harbor), 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
$39,859
Median home value
$140,500
Median rent
$797/mo
College educated
18%
Homeownership
58.4%
Poverty rate
31.7%
ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates for the ZCTA associated with school ZIP 49022; 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Career and Alternative Pathways to Education CenterEnrollment path unverified | 8.5 | K–12 | 1.4 mi | 51 | Compare → |
| Benton Harbor Charter School AcademyCharter · enrollment unverified | 2.4 | PK–9 | 1.7 mi | 455 | Compare → |
| Upton Middle SchoolEnrollment path unverified | 7.8 | 6–8 | 2.7 mi | 663 | Compare → |
| Lighthouse Education CenterEnrollment path unverified | 6.0 | K–12 | 3.0 mi | 115 | Compare → |
Distance is proximity only; it is not attendance eligibility.
Enrollment path unverified: Potential public school; its attendance or application path has not been classified.
Charter · enrollment unverified: Potential charter option; enrollment requirements have not been verified.
Benton Harbor Area Schools
- Schools in district
- 6
- Rank in district
- #6 of 6
- District spending per student
- $20,734NCES F-33 · FY 2023 · This annual source is three years behind the current year.
- District child poverty rate
- 33.2%Census SAIPE · 2024
Fair Plain Middle School is listed in Benton Harbor Area Schools; a district label does not verify attendance for an address.
About Fair Plain Middle School
Fair Plain Middle School is a public middle school in Benton Harbor, MI, part of Benton Harbor Area Schools, serving approximately 249 students in grades 6th-8th with a 13.1:1 student-teacher ratio. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 2.3 out of 10 and ranks #3,182 of 3,192 schools in MI. State assessment records show 15% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022) and 24% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022).
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about Fair Plain Middle School
What grades does Fair Plain Middle School serve?
Fair Plain Middle School serves students in grades 6th through 8th.
How many students attend Fair Plain Middle School?
Fair Plain Middle School has an enrollment of approximately 249 students.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Fair Plain Middle School?
The student-teacher ratio at Fair Plain Middle School is 13.1:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.
How does Fair Plain Middle School rank in MI?
Fair Plain Middle School ranks #3,182 of 3,192 schools in MI.
What is Fair Plain Middle School's MySchoolScout rating?
Fair Plain Middle School has a current MySchoolScout rating of 2.3 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 Fair Plain Middle School?
Based on loaded state assessment records, Fair Plain Middle School has 15% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022) and 24% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022).
Is Fair Plain Middle School a charter school?
No, Fair Plain Middle School is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.
Is Fair Plain Middle School a Title I school?
No, Fair Plain Middle School is not currently a Title I school.
What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Fair Plain Middle School?
96.4% of students at Fair Plain Middle 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
- 6th – 8th
- Enrollment
- 249
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 13.1:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 19
- Type
- regular
- Setting
- Small Suburb
- County
- Berrien County
- Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
- 98.4%
- Phone
- (269) 605-1400
- Area population (ZIP 49022)
- 29,796
- Area average commute
- 18.7 min
- Area median age
- 37.9
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 49022; 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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