- Enrollment
- 2,526
- Students per teacher
- -
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 →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
+3 students YoY
Mars Elementary School held near 369 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (+3 headcount).
Teacher FTE added 25.5 → 27.5 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Steady CCD campus
+3 students YoY 260543004200 · Berrien Springs, MI Other · SMALL · TRAD
338 enr · 13.5:1 · 68.6% lunch · RII 42
Nearest enrollment peer: Link Learning Virtual Program (2,526 students)
Mars Elementary School held near 369 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (+3 headcount). Teacher FTE added 25.5 → 27.5 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Michigan schools → · Find another →
Mars Elementary School in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Link Learning
Link Learning Virtual Program
2,526 students
- Berrien Spring 554
Berrien Springs High School
554 students
- Berrien Spring 424
Berrien Springs Middle School
424 students
- Sylvester Elem 394
Sylvester Elementary School
394 students
- West Michigan 370
West Michigan Virtual Battle Creek Hs
370 students
- This school 338
Mars Elementary School
338 students
What this shows Mars Elementary School reports 338 students on the CCD universe file.
How Mars Elementary School compares
Mars Elementary School held steady on CCD headcount: ratios and free-lunch share vs 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 methodology
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
$14,519
per pupil, district-wide
- below Michigan avg of $15,012
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.
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
District finance for Berrien Springs Public Schools reports $14,519 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
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
- 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
Nationwide other 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 (~338 students)
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. CCD year-over-year: 366 (2022-23) → 369 (2023-24), nearly flat (+3).
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, gifted-program reporting, counselor availability, chronic absenteeism. 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.
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.