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Watervliet Middle School

Q: Is Watervliet Middle School a good school?

Watervliet Middle School ranks 439 th of 896 Michigan middle schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

Public Grades 6-8

439^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 896 Michigan Middle Schools

Better than 51% of Michigan middle schools

Summary

Watervliet Middle School, part of the Watervliet School District, serves 309 students in grades 6-8 in a mid-sized community setting. This school stands out as a positive example of steady improvement, climbing from a 1-star rating a decade ago to a consistent 3-star rating today, and it performs notably better than many nearby schools that serve similar student populations.

When you compare Watervliet to its closest neighbors, a clear picture emerges. The school significantly outranks demographically similar schools like Hartford Middle School, Coloma Junior High School, and Bangor Middle School in overall state rankings. For example, in 7th-grade English, Watervliet's proficiency rate was nearly double that of Hartford and Coloma. The school is particularly effective with students from low-income backgrounds, ranking in the 81st percentile statewide for this group in a recent year. Watervliet also boasts a strong 8th-grade science program, with proficiency rates well above the state average and rivaling those of more affluent schools like Lakeshore Middle School. Chronic absenteeism, while a past concern, has dropped significantly and is now better than the state average and many nearby districts.

However, there are areas that need attention. Math proficiency remains a consistent challenge, with 6th and 7th-grade scores frequently falling below state averages. Additionally, recent data shows a widening performance gap between female and male students that parents may want to monitor. While Watervliet doesn't reach the heights of the higher-funded Upton Middle School, it clearly outperforms what its demographics would predict, making it a solid and improving choice for families in the area.

309

Students ?

16.1

Student/teacher ratio ?

$15,086

Per pupil spending ?

64.7%

Free/reduced lunch eligible (2024-25) ?

All students in Michigan receive free school meals.

450 E Saint Joseph St
Watervliet, MI 49098-9350

(269) 463-0780

District: Watervliet School District

Students who attend Watervliet Middle School usually attend:

High:

Watervliet Senior High School

Feeder schools for Watervliet Middle School:

Elementary:	North Elementary School
	South Elementary School

Racial breakdown:

White:

69.9%

Hispanic:

22.3%

Two or more races:

4.9%

See top rated Michigan middle schools

Compare Watervliet Middle School to nearby middle schools!

At a glance

▲ Ranking trend: Improving — 42nd percentile in 2016 → 51st in 2026

Strengths

✓Ranking is trending up — up 9 percentile points since 2016

✓Above the Michigan median (51st percentile)

Worth a look

!Some student groups rank well below the school's overall statewide standing

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school37%

District avg37%

Michigan avg41%

439^th of 896

Michigan public middle schools ?

Top 49%▲ up 9 pts since 2016

From bottom 42% (2016) to top 49% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of Michigan Middle Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

310^th of 625Watervliet 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
2026	47.3	439 of 896	51.0%	★★★☆☆
2025	53.0	374 of 890	58.0%	★★★☆☆
2024	55.6	325 of 897	63.8%	★★★☆☆
2023	48.2	410 of 883	53.6%	★★★☆☆
2022	48.4	358 of 776	53.9%	★★★☆☆
2021	41.5	365 of 675	45.9%	★★☆☆☆
2019	45.7	406 of 792	48.7%	★★☆☆☆
2018	37.0	565 of 838	32.6%	★★☆☆☆
2017	25.7	606 of 821	26.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2016	41.9	522 of 894	41.6%	★★☆☆☆
2015	56.1	379 of 919	58.8%	★★★☆☆
2014	56.6	406 of 921	55.9%	★★★☆☆
2013	63.3	305 of 919	66.8%	★★★☆☆
2012	70.6	234 of 900	74.0%	★★★★☆
2011	64.9	348 of 858	59.4%	★★★☆☆
2010	71.6	257 of 851	69.8%	★★★☆☆
2009	68.2	315 of 847	62.8%	★★★☆☆
2008	60.0	437 of 839	47.9%	★★☆☆☆
2007	65.7	328 of 823	60.1%	★★★☆☆
2006	54.4	469 of 806	41.8%	★★☆☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Michigan percentile	Rating
2026	41.1	448 of 789	43.2%	★★☆☆☆
2025	48.0	375 of 789	52.5%	★★★☆☆
2024	47.0	357 of 771	53.7%	★★★☆☆
2023	41.0	438 of 770	43.1%	★★☆☆☆
2022	47.5	303 of 657	53.9%	★★★☆☆
2021	36.5	330 of 521	36.7%	★★☆☆☆
2019	51.2	301 of 658	54.3%	★★★☆☆
2018	30.5	570 of 794	28.2%	★☆☆☆☆

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Michigan percentile	Rating
2026	26.3	195 of 260	25.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	31.4	177 of 265	33.2%	★★☆☆☆
2024	42.0	148 of 257	42.4%	★★☆☆☆
2023	39.9	148 of 246	39.8%	★★☆☆☆
2019	44.0	79 of 137	42.3%	★★☆☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Michigan percentile	Rating
2026	55.8	316 of 834	62.1%	★★★☆☆
2025	56.4	306 of 832	63.2%	★★★☆☆
2024	70.6	162 of 836	80.6%	★★★★☆
2023	53.4	329 of 825	60.1%	★★★☆☆
2022	58.4	236 of 691	65.8%	★★★☆☆
2021	61.6	148 of 523	71.7%	★★★★☆
2019	50.2	321 of 672	52.2%	★★★☆☆
2018	38.6	538 of 815	34.0%	★★☆☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Michigan percentile	Rating
2026	46.0	398 of 813	51.0%	★★★☆☆
2025	50.6	353 of 798	55.8%	★★★☆☆
2024	55.5	289 of 786	63.2%	★★★☆☆
2023	47.8	353 of 776	54.5%	★★★☆☆
2022	38.8	380 of 658	42.2%	★★☆☆☆
2021	36.9	325 of 540	39.8%	★★☆☆☆
2019	33.3	434 of 639	32.1%	★★☆☆☆
2018	40.9	470 of 797	41.0%	★★☆☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Michigan percentile	Rating
2026	43.8	377 of 687	45.1%	★★☆☆☆
2025	50.8	312 of 696	55.2%	★★★☆☆
2024	54.0	270 of 701	61.5%	★★★☆☆
2023	40.9	373 of 688	45.8%	★★☆☆☆
2022	44.9	324 of 638	49.2%	★★☆☆☆
2021	39.4	329 of 577	43.0%	★★☆☆☆
2019	42.0	345 of 624	44.7%	★★☆☆☆
2018	27.9	520 of 678	23.3%	★☆☆☆☆

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)

Low Socio Economic Status (2026)62nd percentile+11 vs school

Male (2026)51st percentile~ school

White (2026)45th percentile-6 vs school

Female (2026)43rd percentile-8 vs school

Hispanic (2026)25th percentile-26 vs school

By subject vs Michigan (2025-2026) ?

Social Studies42%-9 vs state

English Language Arts39%~ state avg

Science33%-6 vs state

Mathematics27%-6 vs state

Math25%-7 vs state

★

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Schools Near Watervliet 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
Watervliet Middle School	Public	6-8	450 E Saint Joseph St	Watervliet	49098	Berrien County	Watervliet School District	No	No	No	No	(269) 463-0780	309	19	16.1	64.7%	216 (69.9%)	4 (1.3%)	69 (22.3%)	1 (0.3%)	4 (1.3%)	0 (0.0%)	15 (4.9%)	47.3	439^th of 896 public middle schools	51.0%		53	374^th of 890 public middle schools	58.0%	65	63.0	26.9		36.6	41.0		18.8	31.4		33.3		41.7	$15,086	$1,153	$13,934
Coloma Junior High School	Public	6-8	302 W Saint Joseph St	Coloma	49038	Berrien County	Coloma Community Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(269) 468-2405	228	13	17.0	76.8%	144 (63.2%)	18 (7.9%)	49 (21.5%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	17 (7.5%)	27.4	635^th of 896 public middle schools	29.1%		35.1	556^th of 890 public middle schools	37.5%	79	60.9	18.8		24.4	23.5		12.0	12.2		23.4		42.2	$16,100	$1,686	$14,414
Hartford Middle School	Public	6-8	141 School St	Hartford	49057	Van Buren County	Hartford Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(269) 621-7200	321	15	21.4	80.7%	120 (37.4%)	5 (1.6%)	190 (59.2%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (0.6%)	0 (0.0%)	4 (1.2%)	17.3	734^th of 896 public middle schools	18.1%		16.4	734^th of 890 public middle schools	17.5%		37.5	12.5		13.0	22.8		11.8	9.8		16.7		37.9	$13,260	$1,295	$11,965
Covert Middle School	Public, Magnet	6-8	35323 M 140 Hwy	Covert	49043	Van Buren County	Covert Public Schools	No	Yes	No	Yes	(269) 764-3710	79	5	15.2	70.9%	12 (15.2%)	7 (8.9%)	55 (69.6%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	5 (6.3%)	21.5	685^th of 896 public middle schools	23.5%		14.1	765^th of 890 public middle schools	14.0%	80	46.4	340.4		19.1	16.0		1563.1	1665.2		25.0		31.0	$22,004	$1,705	$20,299
Bangor Middle School	Public	5-8	803 W Arlington St	Bangor	49013	Van Buren County	Bangor Public Schools (Van Buren)	No	No	No	Yes	(269) 427-6800	272	20	13.3	65.4%	131 (48.2%)	12 (4.4%)	111 (40.8%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (0.7%)	0 (0.0%)	16 (5.9%)	22.5	673^rd of 896 public middle schools	24.9%		22.4	671^st of 890 public middle schools	24.6%	2	55.4	15.4	18.5	11.3	19.4	7.7	6.5	11.3	15.4	29.2	10.8	36.9	$18,282	$2,035	$16,247
Fair Plain Middle School	Public	6-8	120 E Napier Ave	Benton Harbor	49022	Berrien County	Benton Harbor Area Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(269) 605-1400	240	22	10.9	96.3%	4 (1.7%)	219 (91.3%)	10 (4.2%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	7 (2.9%)								(n/a)	20.3	310.4		1561.3	6.6		1546.4	1650.5		1765.1		1772.4	$27,660	$10,092	$17,568
Eau Claire Middle School	Public	6-8	7450 Hochberger Rd	Eau Claire	49111	Berrien County	Eau Claire Public Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(269) 461-6997	139	10	13.9	91.4%	28 (20.1%)	39 (28.1%)	68 (48.9%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	4 (2.9%)	16.2	746^th of 896 public middle schools	16.7%		14.2	764^th of 890 public middle schools	14.2%	18	35.6	343.6		15.8	13.2		1565.9	18.4		22.2		26.7	$14,119	$1,406	$12,713
Upton Middle School	Public	6-8	800 Maiden Ln	Saint Joseph	49085	Berrien County	St. Joseph Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(269) 926-3400	690	36	19.0	20.7%	510 (73.9%)	57 (8.3%)	54 (7.8%)	34 (4.9%)	1 (0.1%)	1 (0.1%)	33 (4.8%)	87.8	87^th of 896 public middle schools	90.3%		89.8	73^rd of 890 public middle schools	91.8%	14	88.0	52.9		51.2	50.0		52.7	50.4		62.7		70.2	$13,256	$536	$12,720
Baseline Middle School	Public	6-8	7357 Baseline Rd	South Haven	49090	Van Buren County	South Haven Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(269) 637-0530	377	26	14.6	59.4%	230 (61.0%)	37 (9.8%)	57 (15.1%)	5 (1.3%)	4 (1.1%)	1 (0.3%)	43 (11.4%)	49.6	420^th of 896 public middle schools	53.1%		37.9	539^th of 890 public middle schools	39.4%	119	60.2	30.9		33.8	33.6		18.4	27.6		39.3		62.5	$14,674	$904	$13,770
Dowagiac Middle School	Public	6-8	57072 Riverside Dr	Dowagiac	49047	Cass County	Dowagiac Union School District	No	No	No	Yes	(269) 782-4440	393	21	18.5	70.7%	222 (56.5%)	29 (7.4%)	83 (21.1%)	0 (0.0%)	9 (2.3%)	0 (0.0%)	50 (12.7%)	34.7	569^th of 896 public middle schools	36.5%		47.2	443^rd of 890 public middle schools	50.2%	126	55.0	21.7		29.9	27.2		19.5	17.6		33.9		43.0	$14,312	$1,227	$13,085

Frequently Asked Questions about Watervliet Middle School

Is Watervliet Middle School a good school?

Watervliet Middle School ranks 439^th of 896 Michigan middle schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

How many students attend Watervliet Middle School?

In the 2024-25 school year, 309 students attended Watervliet Middle School.

What district is Watervliet Middle School in?

Watervliet School District

What high school do graduates of Watervliet Middle School attend?

Students who attend Watervliet Middle School usually go on to attend Watervliet Senior High School

What is the racial makeup of Watervliet Middle School?

Students at Watervliet Middle School are 70% White, 22% Hispanic, 5% Two or more races, 1% African American, 1% American Indian.

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Schools in Watervliet, MI

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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.