Enrollment
239
Michigan · 2024-25 NCES data
Middle school (grades 6-8) · Benzonia, MI
Benzie Central Middle School
Federal NCES profile for Benzie Central Middle School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 31/100.
2024-25 NCES dataMiddle school (grades 6-8)NCES 260495000801
👥 S:T ratio 40
🌟 Gifted program 30
🎓 Counselors 52
📋 Attendance 0
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Benzie Central Middle School earns 31/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the Michigan median.
- #2 of 4
- public schools in Benzonia · Resource Index
- 31
- Resource Index · Lower
- 14.9:1
- students per teacher
- 67.4%
- free-lunch eligible
Benzie Central Middle School has class sizes near the Michigan median. Computed live against every Michigan school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Benzie Central Middle School ranks #2 of 4 public schools in Benzonia, MI.
School address
District: Benzie County Central Schools · Michigan
NCES ID 260495000801 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
16.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
14.9:1
vs 17.5:1 Michigan avg
-15% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
67.4%
vs 54.3% Michigan avg
+24% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How Benzie Central Middle School compares with Michigan and U.S. medians
What stands out at Benzie Central Middle School
Benzie Central Middle School is a higher-need, mid-sized middle school in Benzonia, Michigan, enrolling 239 students.
Class sizes run a bit leaner than typical: 14.9:1 puts it in the smaller third of Michigan schools by student-teacher ratio.
Economic need runs somewhat above the state's typical profile, with 67.4% of students eligible for free meals.
Enrollment of 239 puts it in the smaller third of Michigan schools by headcount.
Its Resource Investment Index sits near the middle of the pack among 3,375 scored Michigan schools.
Against 389 statewide peers matched on enrollment and economic need, it ranks in the upper tier at #119.
Its student body is predominantly White (93% of enrollment) (diversity index 14/100).
Counselor coverage is strong, about 239 students per counselor, inside the American School Counselor Association's recommended 250:1.
Chronic absenteeism is elevated: 64.0% of students missed 10% or more of school days (2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection).
Discipline events run high: 67 in- and out-of-school suspensions were reported for 239 students in the 2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection.
Benzie County Central Schools also operates Benzie Central Sr High School (292 students) and Crystal Lake Elementary School (209 students) alongside Benzie Central Middle School.
Sourced from NCES CCD, CRDC, and F-33 (federal records, not a quality verdict). How we source and compute this.
Source: National Center for Education Statistics Common Core of Data + CRDC + F-33 · 2024-25
How Benzie Central Middle School compares
Benzie Central Middle School on the metrics families compare, against Michigan and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Michigan | Michigan avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 14.9:1 | ▼ 15% | 17.5:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 67.4% | ▲ 24% | 54.3% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 239 | top 70% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
14.9:1
Leaner classes than 48% of US schools, a middle-of-the-pack class size.
239
Bigger than 24% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Economic need
67.4%
free-lunch eligible
- 24% above the Michigan average of 54.3%
Above the 40% Title I schoolwide threshold; federal funds support the whole school, not individual students.
Staffing depth
14.9:1
students per teacher
- 15% below state mean
Top 31% in Michigan - lower ratio than 69% of state schools
Close to the 15:1 benchmark most often cited for individualized attention.
Engagement
64.0%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
At or above 20%, the commonly used threshold for "high" chronic absenteeism, signaling significant barriers to regular attendance.
Funding equity
$13,049
per pupil, district-wide
- below Michigan avg of $13,507
Well below the U.S. average per-pupil spend, a notably leaner funding position that may affect programs, facilities, and staffing.
Support staff
Counselors1.0 FTE
Per 239 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
22
in-school suspensions + 45 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 9.2 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 28.0 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Overview
- Common Core of Data (June 2026): enrollment, staffing, and the student-teacher ratio above.
- Civil Rights Data Collection: discipline counts and program access (AP, gifted, special education).
- F-33 School District Finance Survey: the district-wide per-pupil spending figures below.
Three separate federal collections, each on its own reporting cadence - which is why this school's numbers line up on a consistent basis against every other school and state on this site, rather than mixing figures pulled from different survey years.
Student demographics
White 92.9%
Hispanic or Latino 4.2%
Two or More 2.1%
African American 0.4%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.4%
Largest group: White at 92.9% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 13.5/100
Simpson diversity index - at 13.5, Benzie Central Middle School is less mixed than the Michigan school average of 36.2.
Programs
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for Benzie County Central Schools, which includes Benzie Central Middle School.
$13,049
Per student
-3%
vs Michigan
Avg $13,507
-21%
vs U.S.
Avg $16,593
Revenue mix
Local 60.6%
State 28.0%
Federal 11.4%
Source: NCES F-33 School District Finance Survey District-level finance · FY 2021-22 Per-pupil expenditure reflects the district-wide average. Individual school budgets are not reported at the federal level.
How Benzie Central Middle School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Benzie Central Sr High School | Similar size | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Crystal Lake Elementary School | Similar size | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Lake Ann Elementary School | Similar size | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Betsie Valley School | Smaller | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Benzie Academy | Smaller | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Benzie Central Middle School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 292
- Students per teacher
- 19.5:1
- Resource Index
- 31/100
- Enrollment
- 209
- Students per teacher
- 16.1:1
- Resource Index
- 31/100
- Enrollment
- 180
- Students per teacher
- 16.4:1
- Resource Index
- 32/100
- Enrollment
- 131
- Students per teacher
- 16.4:1
- Resource Index
- 35/100
- Enrollment
- 85
- Students per teacher
- 85:1
- Resource Index
- 38/100
Similar middle schools statewide
Matched by enrollment size and by staffing ratio across all of Michigan, not just this city - a different peer set than the local comparisons above.
Similar enrollment (~239 students)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on Benzie Central Middle School's federal record.
- Compare Benzie Central Middle School against another school. Compare schools
- Benzie County Central Schools's spending and staffing shape this school. District profile
- Confirm current enrollment and boundaries with the school. Choosing guide
Federal record (CCD 2024-25, CRDC 2021-22) - PlainSchools assigns no subjective rating; the composite quality score is a transparent, reproducible index computed from this cited federal data.
Frequently asked questions about Benzie Central Middle School
How many students attend Benzie Central Middle School?
Benzie Central Middle School has 239 students enrolled. It is a middle school in Benzonia, MI.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Benzie Central Middle School?
The student-teacher ratio at Benzie Central Middle School is 14.9:1, which is 15% lower than the Michigan average of 17.5:1 and 5% lower than the national average of 15.7:1. Lower ratios generally mean more individual attention per student.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Benzie Central Middle School?
67.4% of students at Benzie Central Middle School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Michigan average of 54.3%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Benzie Central Middle School?
The largest demographic group at Benzie Central Middle School is White at 92.9% of enrollment, in Benzonia, MI.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Benzie Central Middle School?
Benzie Central Middle School has a Resource Investment Index of 31/100 (lower reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 4 factors: student-teacher ratio, counselor availability, attendance rates. Not a test-score or academic measure (national median ~41/100, see methodology).
How does Benzie Central Middle School rank among public schools in Benzonia?
By Resource Investment Index, Benzie Central Middle School ranks #2 of 4 public schools in Benzonia, MI. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all public schools in Benzonia on the city page.
Is Benzie Central Middle School a good school?
Benzie Central Middle School earns 31/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the Michigan median. This is a resource snapshot, not an academic rating; see the Resource Investment Index question above for what the number does and doesn't measure.
What other schools are in Benzie County Central Schools?
Besides Benzie Central Middle School, Benzie County Central Schools also operates Benzie Central Sr High School (292 students), Crystal Lake Elementary School (209 students), and Lake Ann Elementary School (180 students). See the Benzie County Central Schools district page for the complete list.
Related tools
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. Each school's figures reflect its most recent NCES/CRDC submission on file. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of June 2026.