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Sister Lakes Elementary School

Q: Is Sister Lakes Elementary School a good school?

Sister Lakes Elementary School ranks 891 st of 1488 Michigan elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

Q: How many students attend Sister Lakes Elementary School?

In the 2024-25 school year, 166 students attended Sister Lakes Elementary School.

Q: What is the racial makeup of Sister Lakes Elementary School?

Students at Sister Lakes Elementary School are 57% White, 33% Hispanic, 7% Two or more races, 1% American Indian, 1% Pacific Islander.

Q: What schools do graduates of Sister Lakes Elementary School attend?

Students who attend Sister Lakes Elementary School usually go on to attend: Middle : Dowagiac Middle School High : Union High School

Public Grades K-5

891^st

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 1,488 Michigan Elementary Schools

Better than 40% of Michigan elementary schools

Summary

Sister Lakes Elementary School is a public elementary school located in Benton Harbor, Michigan, serving 168 students in grades K-5. The school is part of the Dowagiac Union School District, which is ranked 373 out of 613 school districts in the state.

Sister Lakes Elementary School consistently ranks in the bottom half of Michigan elementary schools, with below-average performance on state assessments compared to the district and state averages. For example, in the 2024-2025 school year, the school's proficiency rates in English Language Arts and Math for 3rd grade were 18.2% and 36.4%, respectively, compared to the district's 27% and 39.9%, and the state's 38.9% and 42.7%. The school's performance has been relatively stagnant, with little improvement over the past few years. Additionally, the school has experienced high rates of chronic absenteeism, ranging from 17.0% to 32.2% over the past few years, which is significantly higher than the state average.

While the nearby schools within the Dowagiac Union School District also perform below the state average, some nearby schools, such as Justus Gage Elementary School and North Elementary School (Watervliet School District), demonstrate stronger academic performance. Despite the school's low academic performance, Sister Lakes Elementary School has a relatively low student-teacher ratio and higher per-student spending compared to the nearby schools, suggesting that the school's challenges may not be solely due to a lack of resources, but rather the effective utilization of those resources to improve student outcomes.

166

Students ?

13.8

Student/teacher ratio ?

$15,606

Per pupil spending ?

66.9%

Free/discounted lunch ?

68079 M 152
Benton Harbor, MI 49022-9360

(269) 782-4468

District: Dowagiac Union School District

Students who attend Sister Lakes Elementary School usually attend:

Middle:	Dowagiac Middle School
High:	Union High School

Racial breakdown:

White:

56.6%

Hispanic:

33.1%

Two or more races:

7.2%

See top rated Michigan elementary schools

Compare Sister Lakes Elementary School to nearby elementary schools!

At a glance

▲ Ranking trend: Improving — 28th percentile in 2015 → 40th in 2025

Strengths

✓Ranking is trending up — up 12 percentile points since 2015

Worth a look

!Test scores below the Michigan average (33% vs 39% meeting standards)

!English Language Arts scores 11 pts below the Michigan average

!Near the bottom of Dowagiac Union School District's ranking

Students meeting standards (2024-2025) ?

This school33%

District avg31%

Michigan avg39%

891^st of 1,488

Michigan public elementary schools ?

Bottom 40%▲ up 13 pts since 2015

From bottom 28% (2015) to bottom 40% (2025)

See the entire ranking list of Michigan Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

3^rd of 4Elementary Schools in the Dowagiac Union School District

373^rd of 613Dowagiac Union School District 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)

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Michigan percentile	Rating
2025	38.1	891 of 1488	40.1%	★★☆☆☆
2024	39.2	863 of 1486	41.9%	★★☆☆☆
2023	45.0	766 of 1470	47.9%	★★☆☆☆
2022	31.2	908 of 1344	32.4%	★★☆☆☆
2021	29.4	824 of 1153	28.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	23.0	1082 of 1408	23.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	18.6	1230 of 1448	15.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2017	18.0	1195 of 1466	18.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2016	23.4	1203 of 1548	22.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2015	31.1	1144 of 1580	27.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2014	41.8	982 of 1533	35.9%	★★☆☆☆
2013	56.6	718 of 1563	54.1%	★★★☆☆
2012	38.7	1077 of 1566	31.2%	★★☆☆☆
2011	35.3	1242 of 1552	20.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2010	39.5	1226 of 1552	21.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2009	41.1	1207 of 1589	24.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2008	33.5	1292 of 1577	18.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2007	38.8	1209 of 1565	22.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2006	32.0	1289 of 1545	16.6%	★☆☆☆☆

English Language Learner

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Michigan percentile	Rating
2018	10.1	269 of 270	0.4%	☆☆☆☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Michigan percentile	Rating
2025	38.1	806 of 1338	39.8%	★★☆☆☆
2024	31.5	916 of 1342	31.7%	★★☆☆☆
2023	38.5	785 of 1321	40.6%	★★☆☆☆
2018	14.0	1276 of 1443	11.6%	★☆☆☆☆

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Michigan percentile	Rating
2025	32.2	143 of 209	31.6%	★★☆☆☆
2024	44.3	92 of 201	54.2%	★★★☆☆
2023	36.6	113 of 188	39.9%	★★☆☆☆
2018	17.1	209 of 222	5.9%	☆☆☆☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Michigan percentile	Rating
2025	44.5	723 of 1346	46.3%	★★☆☆☆
2024	31.7	973 of 1381	29.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	57.1	491 of 1350	63.6%	★★★☆☆
2022	56.2	426 of 1099	61.2%	★★★☆☆
2021	43.9	420 of 749	43.9%	★★☆☆☆
2019	39.5	714 of 1134	37.0%	★★☆☆☆
2018	22.0	1165 of 1397	16.6%	★☆☆☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Michigan percentile	Rating
2025	36.6	843 of 1366	38.3%	★★☆☆☆
2024	39.4	795 of 1347	41.0%	★★☆☆☆
2023	48.9	642 of 1334	51.9%	★★★☆☆
2022	28.6	819 of 1139	28.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	36.4	589 of 915	35.6%	★★☆☆☆
2019	22.9	960 of 1196	19.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	26.1	1102 of 1446	23.8%	★☆☆☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Michigan percentile	Rating
2025	51.4	571 of 1206	52.7%	★★★☆☆
2024	65.1	379 of 1204	68.5%	★★★☆☆
2023	65.2	372 of 1198	68.9%	★★★☆☆
2018	17.3	1108 of 1253	11.6%	★☆☆☆☆

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)

White (2025)53rd percentile+13 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2025)46th percentile+6 vs school

Female (2025)40th percentile~ school

Male (2025)38th percentile~ school

Hispanic (2025)32nd percentile-9 vs school

English Language Learner (2018)<1st percentile-15 vs school

By subject vs Michigan (2024-2025) ?

Math36%~ state avg

Science34%-6 vs state

English Language Arts31%-11 vs state

Social Studies23%-7 vs state

★

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Schools Near Sister Lakes Elementary School

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

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2025)				Ranking (2024)				M-Step English Language Arts (2025)			M-Step Math (2025)			M-Step Science (2025)	M-Step Social Studies (2025)	Per Pupil Expenditures (2024)
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	White	Black	Hispanic	Asian	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Average Standard Score (2025)	Statewide Rank (2025)	State Percentile (2025)	SchoolDigger Rating (2025)	Average Standard Score (2024)	Statewide Rank (2024)	State Percentile (2024)	Rank Change from Previous Year	M-Step English Language Arts 3rd Grade	M-Step English Language Arts 4th Grade	M-Step English Language Arts 5th Grade	M-Step Math 3rd Grade	M-Step Math 4th Grade	M-Step Math 5th Grade	M-Step Science 5th Grade	M-Step Social Studies 5th Grade	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
Sister Lakes Elementary School	Public	K-5	68079 M 152	Benton Harbor	49022	Van Buren County	Dowagiac Union School District	No	No	No	Yes	(269) 782-4468	166	12	13.8	66.9%	94 (56.6%)	1 (0.6%)	55 (33.1%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (1.2%)	2 (1.2%)	12 (7.2%)	38.1	891^st of 1488 public elementary schools	40.1%		39.2	863^rd of 1486 public elementary schools	41.9%	28	18.2	35.5	40.6	36.4	35.5	37.5	34.4	22.6	$15,606	$2,828	$12,778
Countryside Academy Elementary	Public, Charter	K-5	4722 Meadowbrook Rd	Benton Harbor	49022	Berrien County	Countryside Academy	Yes	No	No	Yes	(269) 944-3319	384	24	16.3	83.1%	27 (7.0%)	213 (55.5%)	125 (32.6%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	18 (4.7%)	17.9	1198^th of 1488 public elementary schools	19.5%		18.2	1196^th of 1486 public elementary schools	19.5%	2	13.8	35.7	20.7	24.1	30.4	8.9	17.9	10.7	$11,486	$2,240	$9,246
South Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-2	433 Lucinda Ln	Watervliet	49098	Berrien County	Watervliet School District	No	No	No	Yes	(269) 463-0820	335	23	14.8	66.9%	252 (75.2%)	7 (2.1%)	56 (16.7%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	19 (5.7%)								(n/a)									$14,673	$1,705	$12,968
Patrick Hamilton Elementary	Public	K-5	614 Spruce St	Dowagiac	49047	Cass County	Dowagiac Union School District	No	No	No	Yes	(269) 782-4450	224	15	15.4	83.0%	117 (52.2%)	40 (17.9%)	37 (16.5%)	2 (0.9%)	9 (4.0%)	0 (0.0%)	19 (8.5%)	16.6	1231^st of 1488 public elementary schools	17.3%		14.8	1251^st of 1486 public elementary schools	15.8%	20	17.9	12.2	28.9	25.6	9.8	15.8	26.3	18.4	$13,868	$2,437	$11,431
North Elementary School	Public	3-5	287 West Baldwin Ave	Watervliet	49098	Berrien County	Watervliet School District	No	No	No	Yes	(269) 463-0824	312	18	17.4	73.4%	225 (72.1%)	8 (2.6%)	61 (19.6%)	0 (0.0%)	3 (1.0%)	0 (0.0%)	15 (4.8%)	38.1	892^nd of 1488 public elementary schools	40.1%		39.1	865^th of 1486 public elementary schools	41.8%	27	33.7	37.6	34.0	37.1	45.5	15.5	32.0	26.2	$13,759	$1,569	$12,189
Redwood Elementary	Public	K-5	395 Woodside Dr	Hartford	49057	Van Buren County	Hartford Public Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(269) 621-7300	516	33	15.6	89.0%	177 (34.3%)	2 (0.4%)	333 (64.5%)	0 (0.0%)	3 (0.6%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.2%)	23	1112^th of 1488 public elementary schools	25.3%		21.8	1147^th of 1486 public elementary schools	22.8%	35	17.9	21.1	25.7	32.0	33.0	25.7	16.2	18.9	$13,794	$1,747	$12,047
Justus Gage Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	301 Oak St	Dowagiac	49047	Cass County	Dowagiac Union School District	No	No	No	Yes	(269) 782-4460	262	17	15.1	74.8%	174 (66.4%)	17 (6.5%)	42 (16.0%)	0 (0.0%)	8 (3.1%)	0 (0.0%)	21 (8.0%)	49	734^th of 1488 public elementary schools	50.7%		42.4	810^th of 1486 public elementary schools	45.5%	76	21.2	40.4	52.2	50.0	36.5	28.3	50.0	28.3	$12,441	$1,779	$10,663
Coloma Intermediate School	Public	4-5	274a S West St	Coloma	49038	Berrien County	Coloma Community Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(269) 468-2415	175	10	16.8	78.9%	99 (56.6%)	13 (7.4%)	41 (23.4%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.6%)	0 (0.0%)	21 (12.0%)	18.9	1182^nd of 1488 public elementary schools	20.6%		16.2	1234^th of 1486 public elementary schools	17.0%	52		27.0	28.9		18.0	14.5	25.0	14.5	$13,429	$2,669	$10,761
Coloma Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-3	262 West St	Coloma	49038	Berrien County	Coloma Community Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(269) 468-2420	356	21	16.7	74.7%	217 (61.0%)	29 (8.1%)	68 (19.1%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (0.6%)	0 (0.0%)	40 (11.2%)								(n/a)	14.6			29.3					$14,611	$3,534	$11,077
Lybrook Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	6238 W Main St	Eau Claire	49111	Berrien County	Eau Claire Public Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(269) 461-6191	233	18	12.7	91.0%	74 (31.8%)	75 (32.2%)	81 (34.8%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	3 (1.3%)	19.9	1158^th of 1488 public elementary schools	22.2%		11.1	1324^th of 1486 public elementary schools	10.9%	166	28.6	30.3	20.6	20.6	22.9	14.7	23.5		$16,850	$2,877	$13,974

Frequently Asked Questions about Sister Lakes Elementary School

How many students attend Sister Lakes Elementary School?

In the 2024-25 school year, 166 students attended Sister Lakes Elementary School.

What is the racial makeup of Sister Lakes Elementary School?

Students at Sister Lakes Elementary School are 57% White, 33% Hispanic, 7% Two or more races, 1% American Indian, 1% Pacific Islander.

What district is Sister Lakes Elementary School in?

Dowagiac Union School District

What schools do graduates of Sister Lakes Elementary School attend?

Students who attend Sister Lakes Elementary School usually go on to attend:

Middle : Dowagiac Middle School
High : Union High School

Is Sister Lakes Elementary School a good school?

Sister Lakes Elementary School ranks 891^st of 1488 Michigan elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

Rate Sister Lakes Elementary School!

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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.