Elementary Schools in Countryside Academy

Countryside Academy Elementary is the sole elementary school in the Countryside Academy district, serving grades K-5 in Benton Harbor, MI, with 384 students and a high-poverty population where 83% qualify for free or reduced lunch.

This school presents a striking paradox: it spends a substantial $14,523 per student, yet its academic performance ranks in the bottom 20% of Michigan elementary schools (14th percentile) with a 1-star rating. The most concerning trend is the severe inconsistency between grade levels. In the most recent testing year, 3rd and 4th grade English Language Arts proficiency collapsed to just 12.2% and 12.5% respectively—less than one-third of the state average. Math scores are uniformly low across all grades, with 5th grade hitting a particularly alarming 13.2% proficiency. However, there is a bright spot: the current 5th grade cohort shows relative strength, achieving 39.6% ELA proficiency (nearly matching the state average of 43.8%) and posting the school's best science (28.3%) and social studies (22.6%) scores, both showing significant improvement from the prior year. This volatility suggests performance is tied more to specific student cohorts than to grade-level instruction, meaning some classes arrive with stronger foundations than others.

Chronic absenteeism affects 27% of students, roughly matching the state average, which compounds learning challenges. The school's ranking has remained stubbornly low for three consecutive years, indicating systemic issues rather than a temporary slump. For parents, the key takeaway is that while the school invests heavily per pupil, outcomes are inconsistent and generally weak, especially in early elementary grades. The relative success of the 5th grade offers hope that interventions may gain traction as students advance, but the critical literacy and numeracy gaps in 3rd and 4th grade demand immediate attention. Families should carefully consider the school's high poverty concentration and volatile test scores when evaluating educational options in this area.