- Enrollment
- 469
- Students per teacher
- 33.5:1
- Resource Index
- 21/100
Middle school (grades 6-8) · Benton Harbor, MI
Fair Plain Middle School
Federal NCES profile for Fair Plain Middle School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 34/100.
2024-25 NCES dataMiddle school (grades 6-8)NCES 260483004173
👥 S:T ratio 20
🌟 Gifted program 30
🎓 Counselors 52
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Fair Plain Middle School earns 34/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 80% of Michigan schools.
- #2 of 3
- public schools in Benton Harbor · Resource Index
- 34
- Resource Index · Typical
- 20:1
- large classes for Michigan
- 96.9%
- free-lunch eligible
Fair Plain Middle School has class sizes larger than 80% of Michigan schools. Computed live against every Michigan school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Fair Plain Middle School ranks #2 of 3 public schools in Benton Harbor, MI.
School address
District: Benton Harbor Area Schools · Michigan
NCES ID 260483004173 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-39 students YoY
Fair Plain Middle School shrank from 288 students in 2022-23 to 249 in 2023-24 (-13.5%).
Teacher FTE added 12.5 → 19.5 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Shrinking CCD campus
-39 students YoY 260483004173 · Benton Harbor, MI Middle · SMALL · TRAD
240 enr · 20:1 · 96.9% lunch · RII 34
Nearest enrollment peer: Benton Harbor High School (469 students)
Fair Plain Middle School shrank from 288 students in 2022-23 to 249 in 2023-24 (-13.5%). Teacher FTE added 12.5 → 19.5 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Michigan schools → · Find another →
Fair Plain Middle School in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Benton Harbor
Benton Harbor High School
469 students
- This school
Fair Plain Middle School
240 students
- Martin Luther
Martin Luther King Jr Elementary
229 students
- Fair Plain Eas 150
Fair Plain East Elementary
150 students
- Discovery Enri 80
Discovery Enrichment Center
80 students
- Career and Alt 59
Career and Alternative Pathways to Education Center
59 students
What this shows Fair Plain Middle School reports 240 students on the CCD universe file.
How Fair Plain Middle School compares
Fair Plain Middle School is a shrinking campus on CCD: ratios and free-lunch share vs Michigan and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Michigan | Michigan avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 20:1 | ▲ 14% | 17.5:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 96.9% | ▲ 78% | 54.3% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 240 | top 70% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
20:1
Leaner classes than 16% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
240
Bigger than 24% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
96.9%
free-lunch eligible
- 78% above the Michigan average of 54.3%
Well above the 40% Title I schoolwide threshold, among the highest-need profiles in the state; federal funds support the whole school, not individual students.
Staffing depth
20:1
students per teacher
- 14% above state mean
Top 80% in Michigan - lower ratio than 20% of state schools
Between 16:1 and 20:1, squarely in the typical U.S. public-school staffing range.
Funding equity
$20,390
per pupil, district-wide
- above Michigan avg of $15,012
Somewhat above the U.S. public-school average, reflecting higher local or state investment per enrolled student.
Support staff
Counselors1.0 FTE
Per 240 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
0
in-school suspensions + 19 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.0 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 7.9 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
African American 91.3%
Hispanic or Latino 4.2%
Two or More 2.9%
White 1.7%
Largest group: African American at 91.3% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 16.4/100
Simpson diversity index - at 16.4, Fair Plain Middle School is less mixed than the Michigan school average of 36.2.
Programs
District finance for Benton Harbor Area Schools reports $20,390 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Fair Plain Middle School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Benton Harbor High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Martin Luther King Jr Elementary | Similar size | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Fair Plain East Elementary | Smaller | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Discovery Enrichment Center | Smaller | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Career and Alternative Pathways to Education Center | Smaller | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Fair Plain Middle School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 229
- Students per teacher
- 16.4:1
- Resource Index
- 21/100
- Enrollment
- 150
- Students per teacher
- 15:1
- Resource Index
- 23/100
- Enrollment
- 80
- Students per teacher
- 8:1
- Resource Index
- 49/100
- Enrollment
- 59
- Students per teacher
- 59:1
- Resource Index
- 15/100
Nationwide middle schools with similar size or staffing
Out-of-state peers matched by enrollment and by student-teacher ratio, not the same-city or same-district lists above.
Similar enrollment (~240 students)
Frequently asked questions about Fair Plain Middle School
How many students attend Fair Plain Middle School?
Fair Plain Middle School has 240 students enrolled. It is a middle school in Benton Harbor, MI. CCD year-over-year: 288 (2022-23) → 249 (2023-24), down 39.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Fair Plain Middle School?
The student-teacher ratio at Fair Plain Middle School is 20:1, which is 14% higher than the Michigan average of 17.5:1 and 27% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Fair Plain Middle School?
96.9% of students at Fair Plain Middle School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Michigan average of 54.3%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Fair Plain Middle School?
The largest demographic group at Fair Plain Middle School is African American at 91.3% of enrollment, in Benton Harbor, MI.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Fair Plain Middle School?
Fair Plain Middle School has a Resource Investment Index of 34/100 (typical reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 3 factors: student-teacher ratio, gifted-program reporting, counselor availability. Not a test-score or academic measure (national median ~41/100, see methodology).
How does Fair Plain Middle School rank among public schools in Benton Harbor?
By Resource Investment Index, Fair Plain Middle School ranks #2 of 3 public schools in Benton Harbor, 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 Benton Harbor on the city page.
What other schools are in Benton Harbor Area Schools?
Besides Fair Plain Middle School, Benton Harbor Area Schools also operates Benton Harbor High School (469 students), Martin Luther King Jr Elementary (229 students), and Fair Plain East Elementary (150 students). See the Benton Harbor Area Schools district page for the complete list.