- Enrollment
- 469
- Students per teacher
- 33.5:1
- Resource Index
- 21/100
Elementary school (grades K-5) · Benton Harbor, MI
Martin Luther King Jr Elementary
Federal NCES profile for Martin Luther King Jr Elementary, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 21/100.
2024-25 NCES dataElementary school (grades K-5)NCES 260483004175
👥 S:T ratio 34
🌟 Gifted program 30
📋 Attendance 0
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Martin Luther King Jr Elementary earns 21/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the Michigan median.
- #3 of 4
- elementary schools in Benton Harbor · Resource Index
- 21
- Resource Index · Lower
- 16.4:1
- students per teacher
- 94.1%
- free-lunch eligible
Martin Luther King Jr Elementary has class sizes near the Michigan median. Computed live against every Michigan school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Martin Luther King Jr Elementary ranks #3 of 4 elementary schools in Benton Harbor, MI.
School address
District: Benton Harbor Area Schools · Michigan
NCES ID 260483004175 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-53 students YoY
Martin Luther King Jr Elementary shrank from 287 students in 2022-23 to 234 in 2023-24 (-18.5%).
Teacher FTE added 14.0 → 22.0 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Shrinking CCD campus
-53 students YoY 260483004175 · Benton Harbor, MI Elementary · SMALL · TRAD
229 enr · 16.4:1 · 94.1% lunch · RII 21
Nearest enrollment peer: Benton Harbor High School (469 students)
Martin Luther King Jr Elementary shrank from 287 students in 2022-23 to 234 in 2023-24 (-18.5%). Teacher FTE added 14.0 → 22.0 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Michigan schools → · Find another →
Martin Luther King Jr Elementary in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Benton Harbor
Benton Harbor High School
469 students
- Fair Plain Mid
Fair Plain Middle School
240 students
- This school
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 Martin Luther King Jr Elementary reports 229 students on the CCD universe file.
How Martin Luther King Jr Elementary compares
Martin Luther King Jr Elementary 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 | 16.4:1 | ▼ 6% | 17.5:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 94.1% | ▲ 73% | 54.3% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 229 | top 72% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
16.4:1
Leaner classes than 35% of US schools, a middle-of-the-pack class size.
229
Bigger than 23% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
94.1%
free-lunch eligible
- 73% 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
16.4:1
students per teacher
- 6% below state mean
Top 46% in Michigan - lower ratio than 54% of state schools
Between 16:1 and 20:1, squarely in the typical U.S. public-school staffing range.
Engagement
99.1%
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
$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
Counselors0.0 FTE
Student-support staffing from the Civil Rights Data Collection.
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: 7.0 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
African American 86.0%
Hispanic or Latino 6.6%
White 3.5%
Two or More 3.5%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.4%
Largest group: African American at 86.0% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 25.4/100
Simpson diversity index - at 25.4, Martin Luther King Jr Elementary 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 Martin Luther King Jr Elementary Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Benton Harbor High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Fair Plain Middle School | Similar size | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Fair Plain East Elementary | Smaller | Similar economic need | Similar 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 Martin Luther King Jr Elementary's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 240
- Students per teacher
- 20:1
- Resource Index
- 34/100
- 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 elementary 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 (~229 students)
Frequently asked questions about Martin Luther King Jr Elementary
How many students attend Martin Luther King Jr Elementary?
Martin Luther King Jr Elementary has 229 students enrolled. It is an elementary school in Benton Harbor, MI. CCD year-over-year: 287 (2022-23) → 234 (2023-24), down 53.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Martin Luther King Jr Elementary?
The student-teacher ratio at Martin Luther King Jr Elementary is 16.4:1, which is 6% lower than the Michigan average of 17.5:1 and 4% higher 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 Martin Luther King Jr Elementary?
94.1% of students at Martin Luther King Jr Elementary are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Michigan average of 54.3%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Martin Luther King Jr Elementary?
The largest demographic group at Martin Luther King Jr Elementary is African American at 86.0% of enrollment, in Benton Harbor, MI.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Martin Luther King Jr Elementary?
Martin Luther King Jr Elementary has a Resource Investment Index of 21/100 (lower reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 3 factors: student-teacher ratio, gifted-program reporting, chronic absenteeism. Not a test-score or academic measure (national median ~41/100, see methodology).
How does Martin Luther King Jr Elementary rank among elementary schools in Benton Harbor?
By Resource Investment Index, Martin Luther King Jr Elementary ranks #3 of 4 elementary 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 elementary schools in Benton Harbor on the city page.
What other schools are in Benton Harbor Area Schools?
Besides Martin Luther King Jr Elementary, Benton Harbor Area Schools also operates Benton Harbor High School (469 students), Fair Plain Middle School (240 students), and Fair Plain East Elementary (150 students). See the Benton Harbor Area Schools district page for the complete list.