Merritt Elementary School

Set in NILES, Michigan, Merritt Elementary School is a small K-5 school, overseen by Brandywine Community Schools. It works with 304 students across grades pre-K through 2.

Brandywine Community Schools runs 5 schools in total, collectively educating 1,301 students. Merritt Elementary School is one of those campuses.

Demographically, Merritt Elementary School logs that the largest single group is White, at 77% of enrollment. Beyond that, the school records 10% multiracial, 8% Hispanic, 3% Black. That composition is broadly in line with Berrien County as a whole.

Looking at the economic backdrop, The school employs 22 full-time-equivalent teachers, for a student-teacher ratio near 14.1:1. The state averages around 15.8:1, so this campus is tighter than the state norm typical. An estimated 73% of students are eligible for free or reduced-price lunch, a number frequently used as a low-income enrollment indicator. That share is north of Berrien County's rate of about 55%.

Around the school, census data for Berrien County shows median household income runs about $65,425, roughly 31% of adults have completed at least a four-year degree, and roughly 11% of residents live below the federal poverty line. Across Berrien County's 75 public schools (combined enrollment of about 21,027 students), Merritt Elementary School is one campus in the mix.

The closest other public school is Brandywine Elementary School, roughly 0.5 miles away. 8 of the 8 nearest public schools sit inside a five-mile radius.

Merritt Elementary School operates from a commuter-belt location.

Over the past 7-year window. Over the past 7-year window, the student count expanded 10%: 276 students in 2018 compared to 304 in 2025. White enrollment moved from 83% to 77% across the same window.

Inside the community feed, recent activity here tends to focus on pickup logistics, teacher feedback, and after-school programs. Parents, students, alumni, and staff are welcome to weigh in.