Beta You're viewing our redesigned school page. Prefer the classic layout?

Berrien Springs Discovery Academy

Q: Is Berrien Springs Discovery Academy a good school?

Berrien Springs Discovery Academy ranks 524 th of 800 Michigan high schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

Public, Virtual Grades 9-12

524^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 800 Michigan High Schools

Better than 34% of Michigan high schools

Summary

Berrien Springs Discovery Academy is a small alternative high school in Berrien Springs, MI, serving just 74 students in grades 9-12 within the Berrien Springs Public Schools district. This school is designed for students who have struggled in a traditional high school setting, and it faces significant challenges that set it apart from nearby schools.

The most pressing issue is chronic absenteeism, which affects 72.1% of students—more than 10 times the rate at the nearby Berrien Springs High School (19.2%) and nearly 4 times the state average. This pattern has persisted for years, contributing to a graduation rate of 60.5% and a dropout rate of 18.4%, both far worse than state averages. The student-teacher ratio of 38.9 is also exceptionally high—more than double that of the district's main high school—which may limit the individualized attention these students often need. However, there are encouraging signs: the school's state ranking has improved for three straight years, and the graduation rate has jumped dramatically from just 18.9% in 2022-2023, suggesting recent efforts are gaining traction.

Academically, the picture is mixed. In the most recent year, students performed notably well in science (27.8% proficient) and social studies (33.3%), both exceeding district averages, and 10th-grade math proficiency (30%) nearly matched the state. However, 11th-grade reading and writing scores (22.2%) lag far behind. Interestingly, the school ranks in the 61st percentile for white students and 57th percentile for low-income students, indicating it serves certain groups relatively well compared to other Michigan schools. With per-student spending of $12,178—well below the $18,482 at Berrien Springs High School—parents may want to ask whether the school has adequate resources to address the intense needs of its students, particularly around attendance and credit recovery.

Students ?

38.9

Student/teacher ratio ?

$12,178

Per pupil spending ?

54.1%

Free/reduced lunch eligible (2024-25) ?

All students in Michigan receive free school meals.

242 Sylvester Ave
Berrien Springs, MI 49103

(269) 471-2593

District: Berrien Springs Public Schools

Racial breakdown:

White:

56.8%

African American:

24.3%

Hispanic:

10.8%

See top rated Michigan high schools

Compare Berrien Springs Discovery Academy to nearby high schools!

At a glance

▲ Ranking trend: Improving — 19th percentile in 2014 → 34th in 2026

Strengths

✓Ranking is trending up — up 15 percentile points since 2014

Worth a look

!Test scores below the Michigan average (31% vs 43% meeting standards)

!Graduation rate below the Michigan average (60% vs 84%)

!Dropout rate above the Michigan average (18% vs 7%)

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school31%

District avg21%

Michigan avg43%

524^th of 800

Michigan public high schools ?

Bottom 34%▲ up 2 pts since 2016

See the entire ranking list of Michigan High Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

2^nd of 4High Schools in the Berrien Springs Public Schools

341^st of 625Berrien Springs Public Schools among Michigan districts

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

High school ranking

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Michigan percentile	Rating
2026	32.7	524 of 800	34.5%	★★☆☆☆
2025	41.4	432 of 739	41.5%	★★☆☆☆
2024	35.1	466 of 743	37.3%	★★☆☆☆
2023	22.3	566 of 735	23.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	12.1	577 of 666	13.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	25.8	580 of 824	29.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2017	18.7	592 of 835	29.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2016	29.2	572 of 852	32.9%	★★☆☆☆
2015	18.9	665 of 832	20.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2014	14.1	649 of 799	18.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2013	14.3	664 of 805	17.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2012	33.7	539 of 773	30.3%	★★☆☆☆
2011	22.2	617 of 784	21.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2010	15.6	635 of 765	17.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2009	7.3	699 of 754	7.3%	☆☆☆☆☆
2008	7.9	676 of 750	9.9%	☆☆☆☆☆
2007	8.6	685 of 767	10.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2006	4.7	656 of 705	7.0%	☆☆☆☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Michigan percentile	Rating
2026	48.4	340 of 686	50.4%	★★★☆☆
2018	12.2	588 of 710	17.2%	★☆☆☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Michigan percentile	Rating
2026	53.1	307 of 719	57.3%	★★★☆☆
2024	24.8	509 of 654	22.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	28.7	461 of 614	24.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	15.0	609 of 755	19.3%	★☆☆☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Michigan percentile	Rating
2025	39.2	381 of 628	39.3%	★★☆☆☆
2024	56.8	243 of 633	61.6%	★★★☆☆
2023	28.1	446 of 611	27.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	28.0	508 of 707	28.1%	★☆☆☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Michigan percentile	Rating
2026	54.7	263 of 671	60.8%	★★★☆☆
2025	62.1	207 of 639	67.6%	★★★☆☆
2024	46.1	329 of 638	48.4%	★★☆☆☆
2018	14.7	593 of 708	16.2%	★☆☆☆☆

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)

High school

White (2026)61st percentile+26 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2026)57th percentile+23 vs school

Female (2026)50th percentile+16 vs school

Male (2025)39th percentile~ school

By subject vs Michigan (2025-2026) ?

English Language Arts50%-9 vs state

Social Studies33%-10 vs state

Mathematics30%-3 vs state

Science28%-7 vs state

Evidence-Based Reading and Writing22%-30 vs state

★

No ratings yet

Be the first to rate Berrien Springs Discovery Academy and help other families decide.

Rate Berrien Springs Discovery Academy

Have first-hand experience? A quick rating - and a sentence or two about what stands out (teachers, academics, safety, communication) - helps other families know what to expect.

Takes about a minute. We email you a link to verify your review - your address is never shown publicly.

Tap a star to rate

Reviews

No written reviews yet. If you know this school, be the first to share what stands out.

Schools Near Berrien Springs Discovery Academy

Load more schools when map is moved

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 English Language Arts (2026)	M-Step Math (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/reduced lunch (2024-25)	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 8th Grade	PSAT English Language Arts 9th Grade	PSAT English Language Arts 10th Grade	PSAT Mathematics 8th Grade	PSAT Mathematics 9th Grade	PSAT Mathematics 10th Grade	SAT Evidence-Based Reading and Writing 11th Grade	SAT Mathematics 11th Grade	M-Step English Language Arts 7th Grade	M-Step Math 7th Grade	M-Step Science 8th Grade	M-Step Science 11th Grade	M-Step Social Studies 8th Grade	M-Step Social Studies 11th Grade	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
Berrien Springs Discovery Academy	Public, Virtual	9-12	242 Sylvester Ave	Berrien Springs	49103	Berrien County	Berrien Springs Public Schools	No	No	Yes	No	(269) 471-2593	74	2	38.9	54.1%	42 (56.8%)	18 (24.3%)	8 (10.8%)	1 (1.4%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (1.4%)	4 (5.4%)	32.7	524^th of 800 public high schools	34.5%		41.4	432^nd of 739 public high schools	41.5%	92			50.0			30.0	22.2	392.2				27.8		33.3	$12,178	$795	$11,383
Berrien Springs High School	Public, Magnet	9-12	1 Sylvester Ave	Berrien Springs	49103	Berrien County	Berrien Springs Public Schools	No	Yes	No	No	(269) 471-1748	554	33	16.5	50.0%	216 (39.0%)	154 (27.8%)	96 (17.3%)	38 (6.9%)	0 (0.0%)	7 (1.3%)	43 (7.8%)	60.7	254^th of 800 public high schools	68.3%		55.4	319^th of 739 public high schools	56.8%	65		55.6	61.5		31.0	29.1	64.4	22.9				45.3		53.8	$18,482	$597	$17,885
Berrien County Juvenile Center	Public	6-12	6414 Deans Hill Rd	Berrien Center	49085	Berrien County	Berrien Regional Educational Service Agency	No	No	No	No	(269) 471-7725	10	3	3.3	70.0%	2 (20.0%)	8 (80.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)								(n/a)
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
Buchanan High School	Public	8-12	401 W Chicago St	Buchanan	49107	Berrien County	Buchanan Community Schools	No	No	No	No	(269) 695-8403	561	31	18.0	40.8%	486 (86.6%)	17 (3.0%)	17 (3.0%)	3 (0.5%)	5 (0.9%)	0 (0.0%)	33 (5.9%)	69.1	189^th of 800 public high schools	76.4%		79.7	115^th of 739 public high schools	84.4%	74	70.6	70.5	69.1	41.2	42.4	37.1	63.5	24.0			43.6	36.8	52.5	49.0	$15,228	$1,803	$13,425
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
Niles Community Schools Adult Education	Public	9-12	620 E Main St	Niles	49120	Berrien County	Niles Community Schools	No	No	No	No	(269) 684-4480	24	1	32.0	83.3%	15 (62.5%)	4 (16.7%)	1 (4.2%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	4 (16.7%)								(n/a)															$20,950	$679	$20,272
Niles Senior High School	Public	9-12	1441 Eagle St	Niles	49120	Berrien County	Niles Community Schools	No	No	No	No	(269) 683-2894	828	41	20.4	42.0%	571 (69.0%)	74 (8.9%)	107 (12.9%)	3 (0.4%)	4 (0.5%)	2 (0.2%)	67 (8.1%)	57.6	283^rd of 800 public high schools	64.6%		58.9	284^th of 739 public high schools	61.6%	1		68.4	61.9		41.8	24.3	52.7	18.6				35.7		44.6	$13,603	$792	$12,811
WAY Niles	Public	6-12	1 Tyler St	Niles	49120	Berrien County	Niles Community Schools	No	No	No	No	(269) 633-0736	95	0	540.0	64.2%	72 (75.8%)	8 (8.4%)	2 (2.1%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (1.1%)	1 (1.1%)	11 (11.6%)								(n/a)	40.0			320.0							1763.7		1773.8		$10,772	$679	$10,093

Frequently Asked Questions about Berrien Springs Discovery Academy

What is the racial makeup of Berrien Springs Discovery Academy?

Students at Berrien Springs Discovery Academy are 57% White, 24% African American, 11% Hispanic, 5% Two or more races, 1% Asian, 1% Pacific Islander.

How many students attend Berrien Springs Discovery Academy?

In the 2024-25 school year, 74 students attended Berrien Springs Discovery Academy.

What district is Berrien Springs Discovery Academy in?

Berrien Springs Public Schools

Is Berrien Springs Discovery Academy a good school?

Berrien Springs Discovery Academy ranks 524^th of 800 Michigan high schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

Rate Berrien Springs Discovery Academy!

Other helpful SchoolDigger resources...

Compare to nearby schools

MIMichigan High School Rankings

MIMichigan District Rankings

Schools in Berrien Springs, MI

Sign up for updates!

Be the first to know when there is an update for Berrien Springs Discovery Academy!

Latest Michigan data All new data »

2021–22 through 2025–26 immunization rates (updated)NewOct 19, 2026

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

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.