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Very Good

#44 of 460 private schools in MI

Top 9% of private schools

St Mary School

Elementary School

217 S LINCOLN AVE, Niles, MI 49120

Private Estimated Score

Estimated academic score. This school does not have standardized test data. Based on MI statewide data. Learn more

Enrollment

49

Student-Teacher

7:1

Score

7.9

Grades

Pre-K – 8th

Updated 2021-22

How this school compares

In Niles

#1 of 2

public schools

Michigan elementary schools

#27 of 307

About St Mary School

ST Mary School serves 49 students from prekindergarten through eighth grade in this small city setting in Niles, Michigan. With just 7 full-time equivalent teachers, the school maintains an exceptional student-teacher ratio of 7:1, allowing for highly personalized attention and individualized learning experiences. The school has earned impressive recognition, ranking 34th out of 460 elementary schools statewide and earning a strong 8.3 out of 10 rating from MySchoolScout, placing it in the 93rd percentile among Michigan schools.

This small school environment creates opportunities for close-knit relationships between students, families, and educators. The intimate size means students often develop lasting friendships across grade levels while receiving focused academic support. Teachers can readily adapt instruction to meet individual student needs and learning styles.

The low enrollment creates a family-like atmosphere where every student is known and valued. Located in Berrien County, the school serves a community with a median household income of $59,450 and median home values around $151,300. About 21% of area residents hold bachelor's degrees or higher, and the local poverty rate stands at 14.7%.

ST Mary School sits in a small city environment that combines accessibility with a tight-knit community feel, offering students both educational excellence and strong community connections.

What Parents Should Know

With an enrollment of 49 students, St Mary School is a smaller school where families often find a close-knit community atmosphere. Smaller settings can mean more individual attention from teachers and staff, though they may offer fewer extracurricular options than larger schools.

With a student-teacher ratio of 7:1, St Mary School offers a notably low ratio compared to the national average. This typically means smaller class sizes and more opportunities for one-on-one interaction between students and teachers.

As a private school, St Mary School operates independently from the local public school district. Families considering this school should inquire about tuition costs, financial aid availability, and the admissions process. Private schools are not required to follow the same curriculum standards as public schools, which can be either an advantage or a consideration depending on your priorities.

Compare to Public Schools

Beta

How St Mary School compares to 12 public schools serving similar grades in Niles, MI

Student-Teacher Ratio
7:1
This School
vs
17.9:1
Public Avg
Avg School Size
49
This School
vs
273
Public Avg
Avg School Scout Rating
7.9
This School
vs
6.0
Public Avg

Student Demographics

White 69.4% vs 0%
Hispanic 24.5% vs 0%
Black 6.1% vs 0%
St Mary School Niles Public Avg

Nearby Elementary Schools

School Rating
St Mary School (this school) 7.9
Ballard Elementary School 5.7
Eastside Connections School 6.5
Southside Special Educ School 7.1
WAY Niles 6.1
Niles Virtual School
Ring Lardner Middle School 5.2
Northside Child Development Center
Brandywine Innovation Academy 5.4
Brandywine Middle School 4.7
Brandywine Elementary School 7.6
Merritt Elementary School 6.3
HowardEllis Elementary School 5.5

Demographics sourced from NCES Private School Survey (PSS) and Common Core of Data (CCD). Comparisons are based on enrollment-weighted averages.

Score Breakdown

What This Rating Measures

This rating reflects classroom size, instructional time, student diversity, community resources, and school characteristics. Private schools are ranked against other private schools in MI.

Classroom Attention
? Student-teacher ratio calibrated against other private schools. Lower ratios mean more individual attention. (30% of overall score)
A 9.2 / 10
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio 7:1
Instructional Commitment
? Total annual instructional hours based on school day length and days per year. (15% of overall score)
A 8.9 / 10
View breakdown
School Day Length 7.2 hours
Annual Instructional Hours 1,303.2
Diversity & Inclusion
? Racial and ethnic diversity of the student body using Simpson's diversity index. (20% of overall score)
A 9.0 / 10
View breakdown
Diversity Index 46%
Community Context

Data Unavailable

School Profile
? Enrollment size and grade span breadth — indicators of program depth and peer community. (15% of overall score)
C 2.9 / 10
View breakdown
Enrollment 49
View data sources

Score basis: Private school model

Data coverage: 80% of scoring components had data

Components scored: 4 of 5

Ranking pool: Private schools in MI

Test Scores

Test score data not yet available for this school.

Student Demographics NCES PSS (SY 2021-22)

White 69.4%
Hispanic 24.5%
Black 6.1%

Source: NCES Private School Survey (PSS)

Location

217 S LINCOLN AVE, Niles, MI 49120

Nearby Alternatives

Families considering St Mary School may also want to explore other elementary schools in the area. Moccasin Elementary School (rated 8.3/10, 5.1 miles away, in nearby Buchanan), which scores slightly higher. Another option is Brandywine Elementary School (rated 7.6/10, 3.1 miles away), with a comparable rating. Additionally, Eastside Connections School (rated 6.5/10, 1.3 miles away), a more accessible option. For more schools in Niles, see our Niles schools guide .

Nearby Schools

20 within 5.1 mi
School Distance Rating
NILES ADVENTIST SCHOOL Niles 0.5 mi 6.4
Niles Comm Schools Adult Education Niles 0.7 mi
Ballard Elementary School Niles 1.1 mi 5.7
Eastside Connections School Niles 1.3 mi 6.5
Southside Special Educ School Niles 1.3 mi 7.1
Brandywine Innovation Academy Niles 1.8 mi 5.4
Niles Senior High School Niles 1.5 mi 3.8
Northside Child Development Center Niles 1.8 mi
Ring Lardner Middle School Niles 1.7 mi 5.2
Niles Cedar Lane Niles 1.7 mi 6.5
WAY Niles Niles 1.7 mi 6.1
Niles Virtual School Niles 1.7 mi
Brandywine Middle School Niles 2.3 mi 4.7
Brandywine Senior High School Niles 2.3 mi 5.6
Brandywine Elementary School Niles 3.1 mi 7.6
Merritt Elementary School Niles 3.5 mi 6.3
CHRIST THE KING SCHOOL South Bend 6.5 mi 5.6
Clay High School South Bend 6.5 mi 8.6
HowardEllis Elementary School Niles 5.2 mi 5.5
Moccasin Elementary School Buchanan 5.1 mi 8.3

Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)

Census data for ZIP 49120 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources

Median Income

$61,940

Median Home Value

$166,800

Median Rent

$911/mo

Population

36,652

College Educated

20.5%

Homeownership

78.5%

Avg Commute

23.1 min

Poverty Rate

14.5%

Median Age

43

Community Profile

The community surrounding St Mary School has a median household income of $61,940. It is a community where 21% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $166,800, with a median rent of $911/month. The area has a poverty rate of 14.5%. The average commute for residents is 23 minutes. Source: U.S. Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates.

Similar Schools

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

School Rating
CHRISTIAN MONTESSORI SCHOOL OF ANN ARBOR Ann Arbor, MI 7.9
KALAMAZOO COUNTRY DAY SCHOOL Portage, MI 7.9
CHIQUITOS BILINGUAL MONTESSORI Utica, MI 8.0
Bailey Early Childhood Center Hillsdale, MI 7.8
SHAJARA TAYYIBA SCHOOL Canton, MI 7.8
LUDINGTON AREA CATHOLIC SCHOOL Ludington, MI 8.1

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about St Mary School

What grades does St Mary School serve?

St Mary School serves students in grades Pre-K through 8th.

How many students attend St Mary School?

St Mary School has an enrollment of approximately 49 students.

What is the student-teacher ratio at St Mary School?

The student-teacher ratio at St Mary School is 7:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 11:1 for private schools.

How does St Mary School rank in MI?

St Mary School is ranked #44 out of 460 private schools in MI.

What is St Mary School's MySchoolScout rating?

St Mary School has a composite rating of 7.9 out of 10 on MySchoolScout. This score combines academic performance, student growth, and school environment into a single score. Equity data is shown separately for context.

Is St Mary School a private school?

Yes, St Mary School is a private coeducational school with a Roman Catholic affiliation. Private schools are not required to participate in state standardized testing, so academic performance data may be limited compared to public schools.

Is St Mary School a religious school?

St Mary School has a Roman Catholic religious affiliation.

11 schools nearby View map →

Neighborhood Context

Walk Score
55 Somewhat Walkable
Bike Score
63 Bikeable
City Safety
High (2,386/100K)

Powered by Walk Score

FBI UCR 2024. City-level (Niles). Data >1 year old.

Quick Facts NCES PSS (SY 2021-22)

Grades
Pre-K – 8th
Enrollment
49
Gender Split
51% M / 49% F
Student-Teacher Ratio
7:1
Teachers (FTE)
7
Type
private
Coed Status
coed
Affiliation
Roman Catholic
School Day
7.2 hours
Days Per Year
181 days
Setting
Small City
County
BERRIEN
Data Year
2022–2023

How We Rate Schools

Every school receives a composite score from 1 to 10 based on four pillars: Academic Performance (50%), Student Growth (20%), Equity (15%), and Learning Environment (15%). Scores are built from publicly available data including standardized test results, enrollment figures, and school climate indicators.

Read our full methodology

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