- Enrollment
- 507
- Students per teacher
- 19.5:1
- Resource Index
- 25/100
Elementary school (grades K-5) · Benton Harbor, MI
Sister Lakes Elementary School
Federal NCES profile for Sister Lakes Elementary School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 24/100.
2024-25 NCES dataElementary school (grades K-5)NCES 261215004923
👥 S:T ratio 45
🌟 Gifted program 30
🎓 Counselors 17
📋 Attendance 5
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Sister Lakes Elementary School earns 24/100 on the Resource Investment Index, even as it posts class sizes smaller than 78% of Michigan schools. It is also more racially and ethnically mixed than most Michigan schools.
- #1 of 4
- elementary schools in Benton Harbor · Resource Index
- 24
- Resource Index · Lower
- 13.8:1
- small classes for Michigan
- 71.3%
- free-lunch eligible
Sister Lakes Elementary School has class sizes smaller than 78% of Michigan schools. Computed live against every Michigan school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Sister Lakes Elementary School ranks #1 of 4 elementary schools in Benton Harbor, MI.
School address
District: Dowagiac Union School District · Michigan
NCES ID 261215004923 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-13 students YoY
Sister Lakes Elementary School shrank from 181 students in 2022-23 to 168 in 2023-24 (-7.2%).
Teacher FTE lost 12.3 → 12.0 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Shrinking CCD campus
-13 students YoY 261215004923 · Benton Harbor, MI Elementary · SMALL · TRAD
166 enr · 13.8:1 · 71.3% lunch · RII 24
Nearest enrollment peer: Union High School (507 students)
Sister Lakes Elementary School shrank from 181 students in 2022-23 to 168 in 2023-24 (-7.2%). Teacher FTE lost 12.3 → 12.0 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Michigan schools → · Find another →
Sister Lakes Elementary School in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Union High Sch
Union High School
507 students
- Dowagiac Middl
Dowagiac Middle School
393 students
- Justus Gage El
Justus Gage Elementary School
262 students
- Patrick Hamilt
Patrick Hamilton Elementary
224 students
- Kincheloe Elem
Kincheloe Elementary School
214 students
- This school 166
Sister Lakes Elementary School
166 students
What this shows Sister Lakes Elementary School reports 166 students on the CCD universe file.
How Sister Lakes Elementary School compares
Sister Lakes Elementary 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 | 13.8:1 | ▼ 21% | 17.5:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 71.3% | ▲ 31% | 54.3% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 166 | top 80% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
13.8:1
Leaner classes than 59% of US schools, a middle-of-the-pack class size.
166
Bigger than 16% of US schools by enrollment, a small campus.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
71.3%
free-lunch eligible
- 31% 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
13.8:1
students per teacher
- 21% below state mean
Top 22% in Michigan - lower ratio than 78% of state schools
Close to the 15:1 benchmark most often cited for individualized attention.
Engagement
38.0%
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
$15,351
per pupil, district-wide
- above Michigan avg of $15,012
Somewhat below the U.S. average per-pupil spend; funding constraints may affect programs, facilities, and staffing.
Support staff
Counselors0.4 FTE
Student-support staffing from the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Discipline context
0
in-school suspensions + 0 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.0 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 0.0 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
White 56.6%
Hispanic or Latino 33.1%
Two or More 7.2%
American Indian / Alaska Native 1.2%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 1.2%
African American 0.6%
Largest group: White at 56.6% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 56.5/100
Simpson diversity index - at 56.5, Sister Lakes Elementary School is more mixed than the Michigan school average of 36.2.
Programs
District finance for Dowagiac Union School District reports $15,351 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Sister Lakes Elementary School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Union High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Dowagiac Middle School | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Justus Gage Elementary School | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Patrick Hamilton Elementary | Larger | Higher economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Kincheloe Elementary School | Larger | Lower economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Sister Lakes Elementary School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 393
- Students per teacher
- 17.1:1
- Resource Index
- 21/100
- Enrollment
- 262
- Students per teacher
- 15.4:1
- Resource Index
- 22/100
- Enrollment
- 224
- Students per teacher
- 16:1
- Resource Index
- 19/100
- Enrollment
- 214
- Students per teacher
- 14.3:1
- Resource Index
- 28/100
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 (~166 students)
Frequently asked questions about Sister Lakes Elementary School
How many students attend Sister Lakes Elementary School?
Sister Lakes Elementary School has 166 students enrolled. It is an elementary school in Benton Harbor, MI. CCD year-over-year: 181 (2022-23) → 168 (2023-24), down 13.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Sister Lakes Elementary School?
The student-teacher ratio at Sister Lakes Elementary School is 13.8:1, which is 21% lower than the Michigan average of 17.5:1 and 12% 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 Sister Lakes Elementary School?
71.3% of students at Sister Lakes Elementary School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Michigan average of 54.3%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Sister Lakes Elementary School?
The largest demographic group at Sister Lakes Elementary School is White at 56.6% of enrollment, in Benton Harbor, MI. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 56.5/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Sister Lakes Elementary School?
Sister Lakes Elementary School has a Resource Investment Index of 24/100 (lower 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 Sister Lakes Elementary School rank among elementary schools in Benton Harbor?
By Resource Investment Index, Sister Lakes Elementary School ranks #1 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 Dowagiac Union School District?
Besides Sister Lakes Elementary School, Dowagiac Union School District also operates Union High School (507 students), Dowagiac Middle School (393 students), and Justus Gage Elementary School (262 students). See the Dowagiac Union School District district page for the complete list.