Communitybased Transition Center

Located at 811 HAZEN ST, in PAW PAW, Michigan, Communitybased Transition Center is an one-room-style 9-12 campus that teaches 53 students (grades 10 through 12), overseen by Van Buren ISD. Compared to the state average of about 460 students per school, that is 88% smaller than typical.

Within Van Buren ISD, which oversees 3 schools and 156 students, Communitybased Transition Center is one campus in the system.

Demographically, Communitybased Transition Center reports that the largest single group is White, at 66% of enrollment. Beyond that, the school logs 17% Hispanic, 13% Black, 4% multiracial. By comparison, Van Buren County as a whole is about 80% White, so the school skews noticeably less White than its surroundings.

In terms of school funding signals, The school lists 10 full-time-equivalent teachers, for a student-teacher ratio near 5.3:1. The state averages around 21.6:1, so this campus is tighter than the state norm typical. Roughly 38% of students at Communitybased Transition Center qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, which schools and policymakers use as a rough income-mix signal. That share is south of Van Buren County's rate of about 52%.

In the broader community, Van Buren County reports that the typical household earns roughly $68,114 per year, roughly 23% of adults have completed at least a four-year degree, and roughly 10% of residents live below the federal poverty line. Across Van Buren County's 45 public schools (combined enrollment of about 14,850 students), Communitybased Transition Center is one campus in the mix.

The closest other public school is Paw Paw Later Elementary, roughly 0.2 miles away. Counting just inside five miles, 6 other public schools cluster around Communitybased Transition Center.

Communitybased Transition Center operates from a small-town location.

Looking at the recent track record. Over the past 7-year window, the student count edged down 24%: 70 students in 2018 compared to 53 in 2025. Black enrollment moved from 4% to 13% across the same window.

On the community side, members of the Communitybased Transition Center community share and discuss science fair prep, picture-day reminders, and bus-route questions. Contributors range from current parents to recent graduates and teachers.