- Enrollment
- 2,526
- Students per teacher
- -
Elementary school (grades K-5) · Berrien Springs, MI
Sylvester Elementary School
Federal NCES profile for Sylvester Elementary School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 46/100.
2024-25 NCES dataElementary school (grades K-5)NCES 260543004201
👥 S:T ratio 39
🌟 Gifted program 30
🎓 Counselors 61
📋 Attendance 55
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Sylvester Elementary School earns 46/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the Michigan median. It is also more racially and ethnically mixed than most Michigan schools.
- #1 of 4
- public schools in Berrien Springs · Resource Index
- 46
- Resource Index · Typical
- 15.2:1
- students per teacher
- 66.4%
- free-lunch eligible
Sylvester Elementary School has class sizes near the Michigan median. Computed live against every Michigan school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Sylvester Elementary School ranks #1 of 4 public schools in Berrien Springs, MI.
School address
District: Berrien Springs Public Schools · Michigan
NCES ID 260543004201 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-1 students YoY
Sylvester Elementary School held near 368 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (-1 headcount).
Teacher FTE lost 26.5 → 25.5 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Steady CCD campus
-1 students YoY 260543004201 · Berrien Springs, MI Elementary · SMALL · TRAD
394 enr · 15.2:1 · 66.4% lunch · RII 46
Nearest enrollment peer: Link Learning Virtual Program (2,526 students)
Sylvester Elementary School held near 368 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (-1 headcount). Teacher FTE lost 26.5 → 25.5 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Michigan schools → · Find another →
Sylvester 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
- This school 394
Sylvester Elementary School
394 students
- West Michigan 370
West Michigan Virtual Battle Creek Hs
370 students
- Mars Elementar 338
Mars Elementary School
338 students
What this shows Sylvester Elementary School reports 394 students on the CCD universe file.
How Sylvester Elementary School compares
Sylvester 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 | 15.2:1 | ▼ 13% | 17.5:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 66.4% | ▲ 22% | 54.3% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 394 | top 43% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
15.2:1
Leaner classes than 45% of US schools, a middle-of-the-pack class size.
394
Bigger than 46% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
66.4%
free-lunch eligible
- 22% 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
15.2:1
students per teacher
- 13% below state mean
Top 34% in Michigan - lower ratio than 66% of state schools
Close to the 15:1 benchmark most often cited for individualized attention.
Engagement
18.0%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
In the 15-20% range, nearing the "high" absenteeism threshold.
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
Counselors2.0 FTE
Per 197 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
14
in-school suspensions + 32 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 3.6 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 11.7 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection. Includes 1 expulsion.
Student demographics
White 42.1%
African American 31.0%
Hispanic or Latino 14.5%
Two or More 7.6%
Asian 3.3%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 1.3%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.3%
Largest group: White at 42.1% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 69.9/100
Simpson diversity index - at 69.9, Sylvester 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 Sylvester 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 | Similar size | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| West Michigan Virtual Battle Creek Hs | Similar size | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Mars Elementary School | Similar size | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Sylvester 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
- 370
- Students per teacher
- 61.7:1
- Resource Index
- 43/100
- Enrollment
- 338
- Students per teacher
- 13.5:1
- Resource Index
- 42/100
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 (~394 students)
Similar student-teacher ratio (~15.2:1)
Frequently asked questions about Sylvester Elementary School
How many students attend Sylvester Elementary School?
Sylvester Elementary School has 394 students enrolled. It is an elementary school in Berrien Springs, MI. CCD year-over-year: 369 (2022-23) → 368 (2023-24), nearly flat (-1).
What is the student-teacher ratio at Sylvester Elementary School?
The student-teacher ratio at Sylvester Elementary School is 15.2:1, which is 13% lower than the Michigan average of 17.5:1 and 3% 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 Sylvester Elementary School?
66.4% of students at Sylvester Elementary School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Michigan average of 54.3%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Sylvester Elementary School?
The largest demographic group at Sylvester Elementary School is White at 42.1% of enrollment, in Berrien Springs, MI. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 69.9/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Sylvester Elementary School?
Sylvester Elementary School has a Resource Investment Index of 46/100 (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 Sylvester Elementary School rank among public schools in Berrien Springs?
By Resource Investment Index, Sylvester Elementary School ranks #1 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 Sylvester 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.