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New Buffalo Middle School

Public Grades 6-8

36^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 896 Michigan Middle Schools

Better than 96% of Michigan middle schools

Summary

New Buffalo Middle School, part of the New Buffalo Area Schools district, is a small school in New Buffalo, MI, serving 133 students in grades 6-8 with a 5-star rating and a top-5% statewide ranking.

This school delivers exceptional academic results, with proficiency rates roughly double the Michigan state average in most subjects. For example, 78.7% of 6th graders are proficient in ELA (vs. 37.5% statewide) and 72.3% are proficient in math (vs. 31.9% statewide). In 8th grade, PSAT math proficiency hits 80.5%—2.4 times the state average. The school's performance has been remarkably stable, never falling below the 78th percentile since 2017-2018, and it even achieved the #2 ranking in the entire state during the 2023-2024 school year. This success extends across all student groups, including low-income students who rank in the 93rd percentile statewide.

What makes this possible? New Buffalo invests heavily in its students, spending $33,586 per pupil—roughly 2.3 times more than Lakeshore Middle School ($14,484) and 2.9 times more than Buchanan Middle School ($11,749). The student-to-teacher ratio is just 9.4:1, compared to 17:1 at Lakeshore and 19.4:1 at Buchanan. This resource advantage translates into a 20-30 percentage point lead over nearby schools in most subjects. While chronic absenteeism (20.4%) is slightly above the district average, it remains below the state rate, and the school's outcomes show that when students are in class, learning is exceptional. For parents seeking a highly resourced, intimate middle school experience with proven results, New Buffalo stands out as a clear leader in the region.

133

Students ?

9.4

Student/teacher ratio ?

$33,586

Per pupil spending ?

30.8%

Free/reduced lunch eligible (2024-25) ?

All students in Michigan receive free school meals.

1112 E Clay St
New Buffalo, MI 49117-1540

(269) 469-6003

District: New Buffalo Area Schools

Students who attend New Buffalo Middle School usually attend:

High:

New Buffalo Senior High School

Feeder schools for New Buffalo Middle School:

Elementary:

New Buffalo Elementary School

Racial breakdown:

White:

81.2%

Hispanic:

12.0%

Two or more races:

3.0%

See top rated Michigan middle schools

Compare New Buffalo Middle School to nearby middle schools!

At a glance

▲ Ranking trend: Improving — 84th percentile in 2016 → 96th in 2026

Strengths

✓Test scores above the Michigan average (73% vs 41% meeting standards)

✓Ranks in the top 4% of Michigan middle schools

✓Ranking is trending up — up 12 percentile points since 2016

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school73%

District avg73%

Michigan avg41%

36^th of 896

Michigan public middle schools ?

Top 4%▲ up 12 pts since 2016

From top 16% (2016) to top 4% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of Michigan Middle Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

8^th of 625New Buffalo Area 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)

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Michigan percentile	Rating
2026	95.1	36 of 896	96.0%	★★★★★
2025	94.8	40 of 890	95.5%	★★★★★
2024	98.7	2 of 897	99.8%	★★★★★
2023	92.5	50 of 883	94.3%	★★★★★
2022	91.1	57 of 776	92.7%	★★★★★
2021	91.3	48 of 675	92.9%	★★★★★
2019	88.7	72 of 792	90.9%	★★★★★
2018	75.2	183 of 838	78.2%	★★★★☆
2017	84.7	87 of 821	89.4%	★★★★☆
2016	79.6	139 of 894	84.5%	★★★★☆
2015	86.8	81 of 919	91.2%	★★★★★
2014	82.1	117 of 921	87.3%	★★★★☆
2013	70.1	228 of 919	75.2%	★★★★☆
2012	77.0	171 of 900	81.0%	★★★★☆
2011	82.5	75 of 858	91.3%	★★★★★
2010	77.5	156 of 851	81.7%	★★★★☆
2009	77.2	155 of 847	81.7%	★★★★☆
2008	75.6	185 of 839	77.9%	★★★★☆
2007	75.4	185 of 823	77.5%	★★★★☆
2006	75.5	181 of 806	77.5%	★★★★☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Michigan percentile	Rating
2026	90.4	58 of 789	92.6%	★★★★★
2025	91.3	52 of 789	93.4%	★★★★★
2024	97.1	9 of 771	98.8%	★★★★★
2023	89.8	50 of 770	93.5%	★★★★★
2022	90.5	42 of 657	93.6%	★★★★★
2021	92.8	30 of 521	94.2%	★★★★★
2019	91.6	40 of 658	93.9%	★★★★★
2018	79.9	132 of 794	83.4%	★★★★☆

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Michigan percentile	Rating
2024	97.7	3 of 257	98.8%	★★★★★

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Michigan percentile	Rating
2026	84.7	62 of 834	92.6%	★★★★★
2025	83.5	70 of 832	91.6%	★★★★★
2024	94.1	14 of 836	98.3%	★★★★★
2023	78.0	101 of 825	87.8%	★★★★☆
2022	92.4	22 of 691	96.8%	★★★★★
2021	91.4	20 of 523	96.2%	★★★★★
2019	80.2	62 of 672	90.8%	★★★★★
2018	69.3	190 of 815	76.7%	★★★★☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Michigan percentile	Rating
2026	96.9	15 of 813	98.2%	★★★★★
2025	91.9	49 of 798	93.9%	★★★★★
2024	98.4	3 of 786	99.6%	★★★★★
2023	90.6	58 of 776	92.5%	★★★★★
2022	85.4	77 of 658	88.3%	★★★★☆
2021	81.1	68 of 540	87.4%	★★★★☆
2019	80.7	93 of 639	85.4%	★★★★☆
2018	64.7	253 of 797	68.3%	★★★☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Michigan percentile	Rating
2026	95.8	19 of 687	97.2%	★★★★★
2025	95.1	22 of 696	96.8%	★★★★★
2024	99.2	2 of 701	99.7%	★★★★★
2023	91.2	44 of 688	93.6%	★★★★★
2022	87.4	66 of 638	89.7%	★★★★☆
2021	94.0	22 of 577	96.2%	★★★★★
2019	88.6	57 of 624	90.9%	★★★★★
2018	67.0	193 of 678	71.5%	★★★★☆

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)

Hispanic (2024)99th percentile~ school

Male (2026)98th percentile~ school

White (2026)97th percentile~ school

Female (2026)93rd percentile-3 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2026)93rd percentile-3 vs school

By subject vs Michigan (2025-2026) ?

Mathematics80%+47 vs state

English Language Arts79%+41 vs state

Math70%+37 vs state

Social Studies66%+16 vs state

Science56%+17 vs state

★

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Schools Near New Buffalo Middle 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)	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 Mathematics 8th Grade	M-Step English Language Arts 5th Grade	M-Step English Language Arts 6th Grade	M-Step English Language Arts 7th Grade	M-Step Math 5th Grade	M-Step Math 6th Grade	M-Step Math 7th Grade	M-Step Science 5th Grade	M-Step Science 8th Grade	M-Step Social Studies 5th Grade	M-Step Social Studies 8th Grade	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
New Buffalo Middle School	Public	6-8	1112 E Clay St	New Buffalo	49117	Berrien County	New Buffalo Area Schools	No	No	No	No	(269) 469-6003	133	14	9.4	30.8%	108 (81.2%)	2 (1.5%)	16 (12.0%)	2 (1.5%)	1 (0.8%)	0 (0.0%)	4 (3.0%)	95.1	36^th of 896 public middle schools	96.0%		94.8	40^th of 890 public middle schools	95.5%	4	85.4	80.5		78.7	78.3		72.3	67.4		56.1		65.9	$33,586	$1,896	$31,690
FC Reed Middle School	Public	5-8	10254 California	Bridgman	49106	Berrien County	Bridgman Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(269) 465-5410	261	20	13.1	38.3%	222 (85.1%)	3 (1.1%)	21 (8.0%)	4 (1.5%)	1 (0.4%)	0 (0.0%)	10 (3.8%)	86.4	97^th of 896 public middle schools	89.2%		91.2	62^nd of 890 public middle schools	93.0%	35	85.2	67.2	61.0	47.8	61.2	54.2	43.3	40.3	55.9	60.7	37.3	82.0	$19,661	$459	$19,202
Buchanan Middle School	Public	5-7	610 W 4th St	Buchanan	49107	Berrien County	Buchanan Community Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(269) 695-8406	358	18	19.4	62.3%	311 (86.9%)	8 (2.2%)	13 (3.6%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (0.6%)	0 (0.0%)	24 (6.7%)	58.4	317^th of 896 public middle schools	64.6%		67.2	237^th of 890 public middle schools	73.4%	80			55.2	34.1	45.2	32.8	32.6	35.7	44.8		35.2		$11,749	$345	$11,405
Lakeshore Middle School	Public	6-8	1459 W John Beers Rd	Stevensville	49127	Berrien County	Lakeshore School District (Berrien)	No	No	No	No	(269) 428-1408	612	36	17.0	33.2%	498 (81.4%)	30 (4.9%)	43 (7.0%)	19 (3.1%)	1 (0.2%)	1 (0.2%)	20 (3.3%)	83.8	115^th of 896 public middle schools	87.2%		84.7	103^rd of 890 public middle schools	88.4%	12	74.2	47.4		54.5	44.5		56.5	49.5		62.1		63.7	$14,484	$947	$13,537

Frequently Asked Questions about New Buffalo Middle School

Is New Buffalo Middle School a good school?

Yes! New Buffalo Middle School is one of the best middle schools in the state. It ranks 36^th of 896 Michigan middle schools.

What high school do graduates of New Buffalo Middle School attend?

Students who attend New Buffalo Middle School usually go on to attend New Buffalo Senior High School

How many students attend New Buffalo Middle School?

In the 2024-25 school year, 133 students attended New Buffalo Middle School.

What is the racial makeup of New Buffalo Middle School?

Students at New Buffalo Middle School are 81% White, 12% Hispanic, 3% Two or more races, 2% African American, 2% Asian.

What district is New Buffalo Middle School in?

New Buffalo Area Schools

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MIMichigan Middle School Rankings

MIMichigan District Rankings

Schools in New Buffalo, MI

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Latest Michigan data All new data »

2024–25 school spending data (updated)NewNov 2, 2026

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

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