Brandywine Innovation Academy

Brandywine Innovation Academy is a small alternative school in Niles, MI, serving 69 students in grades 6 through 12 as part of the Brandywine Community Schools district, where over 75% of students qualify for free or reduced lunch.

This school faces significant challenges that parents should understand before enrolling their child. The graduation rate is just 41.1%, compared to 78.9% for the district and 84% statewide, while the dropout rate stands at a very high 47%. By contrast, Edwardsburg Alternative Learning Center graduates 81.8% of its students, and even Niles Cedar Lane, another alternative program, has a 69.8% graduation rate. The student-teacher ratio is also a major concern at 58.9:1—more than triple the ratio at the district's traditional Brandywine Senior High School (15.7:1)—meaning students receive very little individualized attention. Academic proficiency is low, especially in English Language Arts, where only 30% of 10th graders scored proficient on the PSAT, compared to 61.7% at the district level.

There are some signs of improvement worth noting. Chronic absenteeism has dropped dramatically from 76.1% in 2021-2022 to 24.5% in 2024-2025, and the graduation rate has climbed from a low of 21.8% a few years ago. However, the school still lags behind other alternative programs in the area, such as Berrien Springs Discovery Academy (60.5% graduation rate) and WAY Niles (16.2% chronic absenteeism). While the recent trends suggest some interventions may be helping, the combination of very high dropout rates, extreme class sizes, and low test scores indicates this school is still in a critical state. Parents considering this option should weigh these factors carefully and explore whether the district's traditional high school or other nearby alternative programs might better meet their child's needs.