River Valley School District

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.

Three Oaks, Michigan - 3 schools

An equity score of 65/100 ranks River Valley School District #133 of 702 districts in Michigan (state average 50). Derived live from how evenly resources are distributed across the district's schools.

At $21,280 per pupil, River Valley School District ranks #43 of 812 Michigan districts by per-pupil spending (Michigan districts). NCES F-33 finance data.

497
Total Enrollment
3
Schools
$21,280
Per-Pupil Spending
Combined, Elementary
School Types

District-Level NCES Analysis

River Valley School District operates 3 public schools serving 497 students, placing it among the smallest districts in Michigan. The school portfolio breaks down into 2 combined, 1 elementary 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 $21,280 according to the NCES F-33 School District Finance Survey, among the top 82 of 812 Michigan districts by per-pupil spending. See how Michigan compares in our national per-pupil spending analysis. The funding mix is 81.7% local, 13.0% state, and 5.3% federal, a local-revenue-heavy mix that leaves the district more exposed to property-tax swings and local ballot measures than state-funded peers. The district's equity score is 65/100, ranked #133 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.

Academic infrastructure includes 1 of 3 schools offering Advanced Placement (2 AP courses district-wide), a 256.3:1 student-counselor ratio, somewhat above the 250:1 ASCA recommendation, and 37.0% chronic absenteeism from the 2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection. Demographically, the student body averages 83.9% White, 9.8% Hispanic or Latino, 0.9% Asian across the district's schools.

Its largest campus is River Valley Middlehigh School, enrolling 265 students (46% of the district's total enrollment).

River Valley Middlehigh School accounts for 46.2% of all River Valley School District student enrollment

That is an overwhelming concentration, leaving the rest of River Valley School District a distant remainder — means River Valley School District-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. Enrollment-weighted aggregates give this entity more weight than any smaller peer, while an unweighted entity average treats every record equally.

Source: NCES Common Core of Data

River Valley School District school enrollment varies 2.3× across entities

River Valley School District school enrollment ranges from 114 students (lowest) to 265 students (highest), a spread of 151 students. That relatively narrow ratio reflects an unusually homogeneous campus portfolio, most districts have a wider mix of school sizes. Per-school staffing ratios, programme availability, and capital-renovation cycles often diverge inside the same district based on enrollment shape.

Source: NCES Common Core of Data

River Valley School District reports 53.4% free-lunch eligibility

The reported share clears the 50% majority mark. 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

River Valley School District student-counselor ratio is 256:1 — near the typical range (US average ~408) — within the typical range for U.S. public districts

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 Variation between sub-units within River Valley School District is typically wider than the River Valley School District-aggregate figure suggests.

Source: NCES Civil Rights Data Collection

River Valley School District chronic absenteeism rate is 37.0% — 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?

5.3%
Federal
13.0%
State
81.7%
Local

Funding Equity

65
Equity Score
133 / 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 3 schools in River Valley School District.

White 83.9%
Hispanic or Latino 9.8%
Asian 0.9%
Multiracial 2.8%
Other 2.4%

Source: NCES CCD School Membership 2024-25.

Programs & Resources

1 / 3
Schools with AP
2 AP courses total
256.3:1
Student-Counselor Ratio
37.0%
Chronically Absent

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

Schools in River Valley School District

School Enrollment
River Valley Middlehigh School
265
Three Oaks Elementary School
195
Chikaming Elementary School
114

How River Valley School District Compares to Similar-Size Districts

The Michigan districts closest to this one in total enrollment.

District Enrollment Spending Funding Mix
Henry Ford Academy Similar size Lower spending Less locally funded
Mio-Ausable Schools Similar size Lower spending Less locally funded
Academy for Business and Technology Similar size Lower spending Less locally funded
Francis Reh Psa Similar size Lower spending Less locally funded
Ridge Park Charter Academy Similar size Lower spending Less locally funded

Comparisons are relative to River Valley School District'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.

Utica Community Schools
25,744 students · 38 schools · $14,295/pupil
Compare vs River Valley School District →
Dearborn City School District
20,128 students · 37 schools · $18,204/pupil
Compare vs River Valley School District →
Ann Arbor Public Schools
17,026 students · 32 schools · $19,271/pupil
Compare vs River Valley School District →

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 River Valley School District

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 River Valley School District?

River Valley School District has 3 schools, including 2 combined, 1 elementary. Total enrollment is 497 students.

How much does River Valley School District spend per student?

River Valley School District spends $21,280 per student. The district has an equity score of 65/100, ranking #133 in Michigan.

What is the demographic composition of River Valley School District?

River Valley School District students are 83.9% White, 9.8% Hispanic or Latino, 0.9% Asian, 0.4% African American, averaged across 3 schools. Source: NCES CCD Membership 2024-25.

What is the equity score for River Valley School District?

River Valley School District has an equity score of 65/100, ranking #133 out of 702 districts in Michigan.