Countryside Academy

Every figure on PlainSchools is rendered directly from the source NCES, CRDC and F-33 federal records, no number is typed in by an editor. District totals are aggregated directly from the schools reporting under this district in the source records. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, the data changelog, or report a data error. Data current as of August 2026.

Benton Harbor, Michigan - 2 schools

An equity score of 58/100 ranks Countryside Academy #221 of 702 districts in Michigan (state average 50). Derived live from how evenly resources are distributed across the district's schools.

At $13,487 per pupil, Countryside Academy ranks #505 of 812 Michigan districts by per-pupil spending (Michigan districts). NCES F-33 finance data.

758
Total Enrollment
2
Schools
$13,487
Per-Pupil Spending
Combined
School Types

District-Level NCES Analysis

Countryside Academy operates 2 public schools serving 758 students, placing it among the smallest districts in Michigan. The school portfolio breaks down into 2 combined schools, a small enough portfolio that most families will interact with nearly every campus in the district at some point. These enrollment and school figures come from the NCES Common Core of Data (CCD) 2024-25 release, and the district is based in Berrien County.

Per-pupil expenditure runs $13,487 according to the NCES F-33 School District Finance Survey, in the lower half of 812 Michigan districts by per-pupil spending. See how Michigan compares in our national per-pupil spending analysis. The funding mix is 1.8% local, 76.2% state, and 22.0% federal, a state-revenue-heavy mix that insulates the district somewhat from local property-tax volatility, though it ties funding to state budget cycles. The district's equity score is 58/100, ranked #221 of 702 in Michigan against a state average of 50, notably more even than the typical district in the state for how evenly funding reaches its schools.

a 386:1 student-counselor ratio, well above the ASCA benchmark though still under the roughly 408:1 national average, and 36.0% chronic absenteeism from the 2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection. Demographically, the student body averages 56.1% African American, 31.7% Hispanic or Latino, 8.2% White across the district's schools.

Its largest campus is Countryside Academy Middlehigh School, enrolling 386 students (50% of the district's total enrollment).

Countryside Academy Middlehigh School accounts for 50.1% of all Countryside Academy student enrollment

That is an overwhelming concentration, leaving the rest of Countryside Academy a distant remainder — means Countryside Academy-wide averages can mask substantial variation outside the largest entity. Grade band: combined. The share measures enrollment concentration only; it does not establish how the district allocates programs, capital, or staff. Because it contains a majority of the affected population, enrollment-weighted aggregates will sit closer to this entity's reported fields than to those of smaller peers; an unweighted entity count answers a different question.

Source: NCES Common Core of Data

Countryside Academy reports 85.9% free-lunch eligibility

The reported share is at least 75%, indicating a high concentration of measured economic need. Title I operates under the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA, 2015), but its statutory allocation uses additional LEA-level counts and rules not represented by this average. This percentage is an economic-need context measure; it does not establish a Title I award, show dollars received, or describe how funds are distributed among campuses.

Source: NCES Common Core of Data

Countryside Academy student-counselor ratio is 386:1 — high (typically associated with staffing constraints that limit per-student counselor time; CRDC data shows higher ratios cluster in larger urban systems)

student-counselor ratio is the simplest comparative metric but it does not capture the full picture: the ratio counts FTE counselors against total enrollment, districts that contract intervention or social-emotional staff outside the counselor classification may be under-counted Higher values may reflect larger urban scale or recent resource constraints that have widened the gap.

Source: NCES Civil Rights Data Collection

Countryside Academy chronic absenteeism rate is 36.0% — high (typically associated with higher-than-average disruption; recent CRDC data showed elevated rates persisting after pandemic-era schooling changes)

chronic absenteeism rate is the simplest comparative metric but it does not capture the full picture: a student is chronically absent if they miss ≥10% of enrolled days for any reason, illness, family obligations, or disengagement Higher values may reflect larger urban scale or recent resource constraints that have widened the gap.

Source: NCES Civil Rights Data Collection 2021-22

Where does the funding come from?

22.0%
Federal
76.2%
State
1.8%
Local

Funding Equity

58
Equity Score
221 / 702
State Rank
50
State Average

This district has moderate funding equity. There may be room to improve funding diversity or resource allocation.

Student Demographics

Average demographic composition across 2 schools in Countryside Academy.

White 8.2%
Hispanic or Latino 31.7%
African American 56.1%
Multiracial 3.5%

Source: NCES CCD School Membership 2024-25.

Programs & Resources

386:1
Student-Counselor Ratio
36.0%
Chronically Absent

Source: NCES Civil Rights Data Collection (CRDC) 2021-22.

Schools in Countryside Academy

School Enrollment
Countryside Academy Middlehigh School
Charter
386
Countryside Academy Elementary
Charter
384

How Countryside Academy Compares to Similar-Size Districts

The Michigan districts closest to this one in total enrollment.

District Enrollment Spending Funding Mix
Atherton Community Schools Similar size Similar spending More locally funded
Iron Mountain Public Schools Similar size Similar spending More locally funded
Quest Charter Academy Similar size Similar spending Similar funding mix
Montabella Community Schools Similar size Similar spending More locally funded
Mount Clemens Community School District Similar size Higher spending More locally funded

Comparisons are relative to Countryside Academy's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data and the F-33 Finance Survey.

Nearby Districts in Michigan

Top districts in the same state, compare side-by-side for enrollment, spending, and demographics.

Detroit Public Schools Community District
48,548 students · 107 schools · $22,002/pupil
Compare vs Countryside Academy →
Utica Community Schools
25,744 students · 38 schools · $14,295/pupil
Compare vs Countryside Academy →
Dearborn City School District
20,128 students · 37 schools · $18,204/pupil
Compare vs Countryside Academy →
Ann Arbor Public Schools
17,026 students · 32 schools · $19,271/pupil
Compare vs Countryside Academy →
Plymouth-Canton Community Schools
16,294 students · 25 schools · $14,974/pupil
Compare vs Countryside Academy →

Nationwide districts with similar enrollment or spending

Out-of-state peers matched by enrollment and by per-pupil expenditure, not the same-state lists above.

Compare Countryside Academy

See how this district compares to others in enrollment, spending, demographics, and academic resources.

Compare vs Detroit Public Schools Community District →

Frequently Asked Questions

How many schools are in Countryside Academy?

Countryside Academy has 2 schools, including 2 combined. Total enrollment is 758 students.

How much does Countryside Academy spend per student?

Countryside Academy spends $13,487 per student. The district has an equity score of 58/100, ranking #221 in Michigan.

What is the demographic composition of Countryside Academy?

Countryside Academy students are 56.1% African American, 31.7% Hispanic or Latino, 8.2% White, 0.1% Asian, averaged across 2 schools. Source: NCES CCD Membership 2024-25.

What is the equity score for Countryside Academy?

Countryside Academy has an equity score of 58/100, ranking #221 out of 702 districts in Michigan.