Enrollment
338
Michigan · 2024-25 NCES data
Other / mixed grade configuration · Berrien Springs, MI
Mars Elementary School
Federal NCES profile for Mars Elementary School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 42/100.
2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 260543004200
👥 S:T ratio 46
🌟 Gifted program 30
🎓 Counselors 77
📋 Attendance 16
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Mars Elementary School earns 42/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes smaller than 80% of Michigan schools. It is also more racially and ethnically mixed than most Michigan schools.
- #2 of 4
- public schools in Berrien Springs · Resource Index
- 42
- Resource Index · Typical
- 13.5:1
- small classes for Michigan
- 68.6%
- free-lunch eligible
Mars Elementary School has class sizes smaller than 80% of Michigan schools. Computed live against every Michigan school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Mars Elementary School ranks #2 of 4 public schools in Berrien Springs, MI.
School address
District: Berrien Springs Public Schools · Michigan
NCES ID 260543004200 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
25.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
13.5:1
vs 17.5:1 Michigan avg
-23% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
68.6%
vs 54.3% Michigan avg
+26% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How Mars Elementary School compares with Michigan and U.S. medians
What stands out at Mars Elementary School
Mars Elementary School is a higher-need, mid-sized combined-grade school in Berrien Springs, Michigan, enrolling 338 students.
Class sizes run a bit leaner than typical: 13.5:1 puts it in the smaller third of Michigan schools by student-teacher ratio.
Economic need runs somewhat above the state's typical profile, with 68.6% of students eligible for free meals.
With 338 students, its enrollment sits close to the Michigan median campus size.
Its Resource Investment Index lands in the upper third of 3,375 scored Michigan schools.
Among 538 similarly sized, similarly resourced-need Michigan schools statewide, it ranks #21, a top-tier result once campus size and economic need are matched.
Its student body is led by White (39%) and African American (28%), more mixed than most schools in the state (diversity index 73/100).
Counselor coverage is strong, about 113 students per counselor, inside the American School Counselor Association's recommended 250:1.
Chronic absenteeism is elevated: 33.7% of students missed 10% or more of school days (2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection).
Berrien Springs Public Schools also operates Link Learning Virtual Program (2,526 students) and Berrien Springs High School (554 students) alongside Mars Elementary 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 Mars Elementary School compares
Mars Elementary 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 | 13.5:1 | ▼ 23% | 17.5:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 68.6% | ▲ 26% | 54.3% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 338 | top 53% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
13.5:1
Leaner classes than 62% of US schools, a middle-of-the-pack class size.
338
Bigger than 38% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Economic need
68.6%
free-lunch eligible
- 26% 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
13.5:1
students per teacher
- 23% below state mean
Top 20% in Michigan - lower ratio than 80% of state schools
Close to the 15:1 benchmark most often cited for individualized attention.
Engagement
33.7%
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
$13,580
per pupil, district-wide
- above Michigan avg of $13,507
Somewhat below the U.S. average per-pupil spend; funding constraints may affect programs, facilities, and staffing.
Support staff
Counselors3.0 FTE
Per 113 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
0
in-school suspensions + 16 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.0 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 4.7 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 39.3%
African American 28.1%
Hispanic or Latino 16.6%
Two or More 7.4%
Asian 5.0%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 2.1%
American Indian / Alaska Native 1.5%
Largest group: White at 39.3% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 73.0/100
Simpson diversity index - at 73.0, Mars Elementary School is more mixed than the Michigan school average of 36.2.
Programs
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for Berrien Springs Public Schools, which includes Mars Elementary School.
$13,580
Per student
+1%
vs Michigan
Avg $13,507
-18%
vs U.S.
Avg $16,593
Revenue mix
Local 32.6%
State 59.6%
Federal 7.8%
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 Mars Elementary School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Link Learning Virtual Program | Larger | Similar economic need | No ratio data |
| Berrien Springs High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Berrien Springs Middle School | Larger | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Sylvester Elementary School | Similar size | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| West Michigan Virtual Battle Creek Hs | Similar size | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Mars Elementary School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 2,526
- Students per teacher
- -
- Enrollment
- 554
- Students per teacher
- 18.5:1
- Resource Index
- 38/100
- Enrollment
- 424
- Students per teacher
- 14.6:1
- Resource Index
- 22/100
- Enrollment
- 394
- Students per teacher
- 15.2:1
- Resource Index
- 46/100
- Enrollment
- 370
- Students per teacher
- 61.7:1
- Resource Index
- 43/100
Similar other 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 (~338 students)
Similar student-teacher ratio (~13.5:1)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on Mars Elementary School's federal record.
- Compare Mars Elementary School against another school. Compare schools
- Berrien Springs Public 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 Mars Elementary School
How many students attend Mars Elementary School?
Mars Elementary School has 338 students enrolled. It is a public school in Berrien Springs, MI.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Mars Elementary School?
The student-teacher ratio at Mars Elementary School is 13.5:1, which is 23% lower than the Michigan average of 17.5:1 and 14% 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 Mars Elementary School?
68.6% of students at Mars Elementary School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Michigan average of 54.3%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Mars Elementary School?
The largest demographic group at Mars Elementary School is White at 39.3% of enrollment, in Berrien Springs, MI. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 73.0/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Mars Elementary School?
Mars Elementary School has a Resource Investment Index of 42/100 (typical 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 Mars Elementary School rank among public schools in Berrien Springs?
By Resource Investment Index, Mars Elementary School ranks #2 of 4 public schools in Berrien Springs, 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 Berrien Springs on the city page.
Is Mars Elementary School a good school?
Mars Elementary School earns 42/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes smaller than 80% of Michigan schools. It is also more racially and ethnically mixed than most Michigan schools. 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 Berrien Springs Public Schools?
Besides Mars Elementary School, Berrien Springs Public Schools also operates Link Learning Virtual Program (2,526 students), Berrien Springs High School (554 students), and Berrien Springs Middle School (424 students). See the Berrien Springs Public 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.