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Benton Harbor High School

Q: Is Benton Harbor High School a good school?

Benton Harbor High School ranks in the bottom 2.3% of Michigan high schools.

Q: How many students attend Benton Harbor High School?

In the 2024-25 school year, 469 students attended Benton Harbor High School.

Q: What is the racial makeup of Benton Harbor High School?

Students at Benton Harbor High School are 95% African American, 2% Two or more races, 1% Hispanic, 1% White.

Q: What schools feed into Benton Harbor High School?

Benton Harbor High School is fed by the following schools: Elementary : Discovery Enrichment Center Elementary : Fair Plain East Elementary Elementary : Martin Luther King Junior Elementary Middle : Fair Plain Middle School

Public, Magnet Grades 9-12

782^nd

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 800 Michigan High Schools

Better than 2% of Michigan high schools

Summary

Benton Harbor High School is a public high school in Benton Harbor, MI, serving 469 students in grades 9-12 within the Benton Harbor Area Schools district, where nearly all students (94%) come from economically disadvantaged households.

Parents should know that the school is facing serious academic challenges. Statewide, Benton Harbor High School ranks in the bottom 2% of Michigan high schools, and test scores are extremely low. Only about 8% of 11th graders are proficient in reading and writing, and just 3% of 10th graders are proficient in math. This is a stark contrast to nearby St Joseph High School, located just two miles away, where 79% of 11th graders are proficient in reading. The graduation rate is 64.7%, well below the state average of 84%, and the dropout rate of nearly 20% is about three times the state average. One of the biggest issues is attendance: a staggering 84% of students are chronically absent, meaning they miss significant amounts of school—a rate more than three times the state average and far higher than nearby schools like Watervliet Senior High School (16%) or Bridgman High School (18%).

There is some encouraging news: the graduation rate has improved over the past two years, rising from 55.6% to 64.7%, and the dropout rate has declined. However, a notable concern is that the school spends more per student ($25,148) than any other high school in the area—including high-performing schools like Lakeshore High School ($19,077)—yet achieves the lowest academic results. This suggests the issue isn't a lack of funding but rather how resources are used. For parents, the most pressing takeaway is that attendance and student engagement must be the top priority for improvement. The school's challenges are deeply connected to poverty, and while the picture is difficult, the recent upward trend in graduation offers a small sign of hope.

469

Students ?

14.2

Student/teacher ratio ?

$25,148

Per pupil spending ?

94.2%

Free/discounted lunch ?

870 Colfax Ave
Benton Harbor, MI 49022-7409

(269) 605-1200

District: Benton Harbor Area Schools

Feeder schools for Benton Harbor High School:

Elementary:	Discovery Enrichment Center
	Fair Plain East Elementary
	Martin Luther King Junior Elementary
Middle:	Fair Plain Middle School

Racial breakdown:

African American:

94.9%

Two or more races:

2.3%

Hispanic:

1.5%

See top rated Michigan high schools

Compare Benton Harbor High School to nearby high schools!

At a glance

▼ Ranking trend: Declining — 7th percentile in 2010 → 2nd in 2026

Worth a look

!Test scores below the Michigan average (9% vs 43% meeting standards)

!In the lower quartile statewide (2nd percentile)

!Graduation rate below the Michigan average (65% vs 84%)

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school9%

District avg8%

Michigan avg43%

782^nd of 800

Michigan public high schools ?

Bottom 2%▼ down 8 pts since 2016

From bottom 10% (2016) to bottom 2% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of Michigan High Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

Statewide rank percentile over time (100 = the top-ranked school in the state; click a legend item to add a student group)

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Michigan percentile	Rating
2026	3.7	782 of 800	2.3%	☆☆☆☆☆
2018	3.6	802 of 824	2.7%	☆☆☆☆☆
2017	5.9	738 of 835	11.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2016	6.5	767 of 852	10.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2015	14.2	709 of 832	14.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2014	6.3	758 of 799	5.1%	☆☆☆☆☆
2013	8.0	752 of 805	6.6%	☆☆☆☆☆
2012	8.6	721 of 773	6.7%	☆☆☆☆☆
2011	5.5	740 of 784	5.6%	☆☆☆☆☆
2010	6.9	711 of 765	7.1%	☆☆☆☆☆
2009	5.5	718 of 754	4.8%	☆☆☆☆☆
2008	8.3	671 of 750	10.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2007	7.7	696 of 767	9.3%	☆☆☆☆☆
2006	3.9	668 of 705	5.2%	☆☆☆☆☆

African American

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Michigan percentile	Rating
2026	12.3	246 of 252	2.4%	☆☆☆☆☆
2018	11.0	235 of 254	7.5%	☆☆☆☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Michigan percentile	Rating
2026	3.3	668 of 686	2.6%	☆☆☆☆☆
2018	3.7	679 of 710	4.4%	☆☆☆☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Michigan percentile	Rating
2026	3.2	716 of 719	0.4%	☆☆☆☆☆
2018	3.3	740 of 755	2.0%	☆☆☆☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Michigan percentile	Rating
2026	1.1	693 of 693	0.0%	☆☆☆☆☆

How student groups rank statewide ? (each group's percentile vs the same group at other schools — higher is better; the +/- beside each compares the group with this school's overall percentile)

Female (2026)3rd percentile~ school

African American (2026)2nd percentile~ school

Low Socio Economic Status (2026)<1st percentile~ school

Male (2026)<1st percentile~ school

By subject vs Michigan (2025-2026) ?

English Language Arts14%-45 vs state

Evidence-Based Reading and Writing8%-44 vs state

Mathematics4%-29 vs state

3.0

2 ratings · 1 written review

5★1

4★0

3★0

2★0

1★1

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What people are saying

by a student
Thursday, June 1, 2017

I am a former BHHS student from the 50s / 60s. I was well prepared in mathematics and physics (my college majors) but totally unprepared in English grammar / composition and the social sciences. Because I was so poorly prepared in English grammar / composition, I had to take Freshman English over three times in college!!

BHHS was a mediocre high school at best in the 50s / 60s in preparing students for college and work life. In spite of this mediocre preparation, I became a software engineer and achieved two graduate degrees including all PhD coursework in my field by hard work and perseverance to overcome this poor public school education.

I see that much as not changed in the intervening 50 years. I also understand many students come from disadvantaged backgrounds as was the case when I was in high school. BHHS cheated and is cheating its current students by poor preparation for further education, jobs and careers as it did many of us in the 50s / 60s. Winning state basketball championships does not prepare students for life!

My advice to BHHS graduates: get a job after graduation and enroll in the local community college to plug the academic holes left by the Benton Harbor Public School system. This advice is based on my own personal educational experience! Close Quote

Schools Near Benton Harbor High School

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Ranking:

E Elementary M Middle H High A Alternative P Private

Choose columns to see: Summary School Students/Teachers Ranking Test Scores Finance All

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2026)				Ranking (2025)				PSAT English Language Arts (2026)		PSAT Mathematics (2026)		SAT Evidence-Based Reading and Writing (2026)	SAT Mathematics (2026)	M-Step Science (2026)	M-Step Social Studies (2026)	Per Pupil Expenditures (2025)
Name	Type	Grades	Address	City	Zip	County	District	Is Charter	Is Magnet	Is Virtual	Is Title I	Phone	Enrollment	Full-time Teachers	Student/ Teacher Ratio	Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients (2025)	White	Black	Hispanic	Asian	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Average Standard Score (2026)	Statewide Rank (2026)	State Percentile (2026)	SchoolDigger Rating (2026)	Average Standard Score (2025)	Statewide Rank (2025)	State Percentile (2025)	Rank Change from Previous Year	PSAT English Language Arts 9th Grade	PSAT English Language Arts 10th Grade	PSAT Mathematics 9th Grade	PSAT Mathematics 10th Grade	SAT Evidence-Based Reading and Writing 11th Grade	SAT Mathematics 11th Grade	M-Step Science 11th Grade	M-Step Social Studies 11th Grade	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
Benton Harbor High School	Public, Magnet	9-12	870 Colfax Ave	Benton Harbor	49022	Berrien County	Benton Harbor Area Schools	No	Yes	No	Yes	(269) 605-1200	469	33	14.2	94.2%	5 (1.1%)	445 (94.9%)	7 (1.5%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	11 (2.3%)	3.7	782^nd of 800 public high schools	2.3%					(n/a)	12.5	16.0	4.2	3.2	8.3	337.6	2068.6	2075.8	$25,148	$7,346	$17,802
Bridge Academy of Southwest Michigan	Public, Charter	9-12	499 W Main St	Benton Harbor	49022	Berrien County	Bridge Academy of Southwest Michigan	Yes	No	No	Yes	(269) 927-1064	112	14	7.7	87.5%	22 (19.6%)	69 (61.6%)	15 (13.4%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.9%)	0 (0.0%)	5 (4.5%)								(n/a)	295.1	16.7	251.1	317.1	386.0	347.0	2066.9		$10,360	$1,077	$9,283
St Joseph High School	Public	9-12	2521 Stadium Dr	Saint Joseph	49085	Berrien County	St. Joseph Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(269) 926-3204	933	49	19.1	18.1%	677 (72.6%)	73 (7.8%)	72 (7.7%)	49 (5.3%)	5 (0.5%)	1 (0.1%)	56 (6.0%)	92	44^th of 800 public high schools	94.5%		93.4	41^st of 739 public high schools	94.5%	3	75.2	78.0	49.2	54.1	78.9	54.3	64.9	72.9	$15,402	$744	$14,658
Lakeshore High School	Public	9-12	5771 Cleveland Ave	Stevensville	49127	Berrien County	Lakeshore School District (Berrien)	No	No	No	No	(269) 428-1402	843	49	17.2	28.1%	692 (82.1%)	42 (5.0%)	68 (8.1%)	25 (3.0%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.1%)	15 (1.8%)	83.9	91^st of 800 public high schools	88.6%		87	66^th of 739 public high schools	91.1%	25	69.5	68.2	51.1	41.7	70.1	43.3	54.9	62.6	$19,077	$1,066	$18,011
Coloma High School	Public	9-12	300 W Saint Joseph St	Coloma	49038	Berrien County	Coloma Community Schools	No	No	No	No	(269) 468-2400	336	19	17.6	64.0%	219 (65.2%)	34 (10.1%)	54 (16.1%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	28 (8.3%)	34.5	504^th of 800 public high schools	37.0%		44.5	411^th of 739 public high schools	44.4%	93	47.4	58.8	26.3	21.3	38.5	13.8	26.2	24.6	$16,173	$1,377	$14,796
Eau Claire High School	Public	9-12	7450 Hochberger Rd	Eau Claire	49111	Berrien County	Eau Claire Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(269) 461-6997	180	14	13.0	86.7%	60 (33.3%)	39 (21.7%)	71 (39.4%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	10 (5.6%)	17.1	629^th of 800 public high schools	21.4%		62.5	249^th of 739 public high schools	66.3%	380	40.4	36.6	12.8	9.8	25.7	393.1	20.0	22.9	$15,864	$1,223	$14,641
WAY Eau Claire	Public, Virtual	9-12	6295 W Main St	Eau Claire	49111	Berrien County	Eau Claire Public Schools	No	No	Yes	No	(269) 461-3121	35	11	3.0	85.7%	18 (51.4%)	6 (17.1%)	8 (22.9%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	3 (8.6%)								(n/a)									$9,787	$1,223	$8,564
WAY Watervliet High School	Public	9-12	450 E Saint Joseph St	Watervliet	49098	Berrien County	Watervliet School District	No	No	No	No	(269) 463-0897	90	2	45.0	73.3%	55 (61.1%)	3 (3.3%)	18 (20.0%)	0 (0.0%)	3 (3.3%)	0 (0.0%)	11 (12.2%)	42.9	426^th of 800 public high schools	46.8%		25.6	536^th of 739 public high schools	27.5%	110	58.8	40.0	369.4	346.7					$9,412	$1,064	$8,349
Watervliet Senior High School	Public	9-12	450 E Saint Joseph St	Watervliet	49098	Berrien County	Watervliet School District	No	No	No	No	(269) 463-0734	360	20	17.8	63.1%	262 (72.8%)	9 (2.5%)	63 (17.5%)	3 (0.8%)	3 (0.8%)	0 (0.0%)	20 (5.6%)	58.4	273^rd of 800 public high schools	65.9%		39.4	449^th of 739 public high schools	39.2%	176	69.4	71.3	36.5	30.9	50.0	16.2	27.9	47.1	$15,653	$1,081	$14,572
Bridgman High School	Public	9-12	9964 Gast Rd	Bridgman	49106	Berrien County	Bridgman Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(269) 466-0223	239	20	12.1	37.2%	204 (85.4%)	9 (3.8%)	8 (3.3%)	2 (0.8%)	1 (0.4%)	0 (0.0%)	15 (6.3%)	86.3	76^th of 800 public high schools	90.5%		91.4	45^th of 739 public high schools	93.9%	31	91.2	73.8	63.2	41.0	70.6	44.1	47.1	52.9	$21,283	$484	$20,800

Frequently Asked Questions about Benton Harbor High School

What district is Benton Harbor High School in?

Benton Harbor Area Schools

What schools feed into Benton Harbor High School?

Benton Harbor High School is fed by the following schools:

Elementary : Discovery Enrichment Center
Elementary : Fair Plain East Elementary
Elementary : Martin Luther King Junior Elementary
Middle : Fair Plain Middle School

How many students attend Benton Harbor High School?

In the 2024-25 school year, 469 students attended Benton Harbor High School.

What is the racial makeup of Benton Harbor High School?

Students at Benton Harbor High School are 95% African American, 2% Two or more races, 1% Hispanic, 1% White.

Is Benton Harbor High School a good school?

Benton Harbor High School ranks in the bottom 2.3% of Michigan high schools.

Rate Benton Harbor High School!

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Latest Michigan data All new data »

2025–26 M-Step, PSAT & SAT test scoresSep 4, 2026

2024–25 school spending dataJun 13, 2026

2024–25 dropout rates & graduation ratesJun 13, 2026

2024–25 attendance dataJan 6, 2026

SchoolDigger data sources: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education, the U.S. Census Bureau and the Michigan Department of Education.

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMERS: Not all boundaries are included. We make every effort to ensure that boundaries are up-to-date. But it's important to note that these are approximations and are for general informational purposes only. To verify legal descriptions of boundaries or school locations, contact your local tax assessor's office and/or school district.