Sister Lakes Elementary School

Located at 68079 M 152, in BENTON HARBOR, Michigan, Sister Lakes Elementary School is a cozy elementary-level community that enrolls 166 students (grades K through 5), overseen by Dowagiac Union School District. Enrollment runs roughly 55% leaner than the state mean of about 369.

Within Dowagiac Union School District, which oversees 7 schools and 1,815 students, Sister Lakes Elementary School is one campus in the system.

On the student-mix side, Sister Lakes Elementary School records that White students make up the majority at 57%. Beyond that, the school logs 33% Hispanic, 7% multiracial. By comparison, Van Buren County as a whole is about 80% White, so the school skews visibly less White than its surroundings.

On the resource side, Sister Lakes Elementary School reports 12 full-time-equivalent teachers, putting the student-to-teacher ratio at about 13.8:1. Statewide, the average ratio sits near 15.8:1, putting Sister Lakes Elementary School tighter than the state norm the norm. Around 67% of the student body qualifies for free or reduced-price meals, a number frequently used as a low-income enrollment indicator. By comparison, Van Buren County runs at roughly 52%, so the school's eligibility rate is somewhat above the surrounding baseline.

After controlling for student poverty, Sister Lakes Elementary School tracks the demographic baseline. The model predicts 36.7% given the school's FRL share; actual proficiency is 36.9%.

Zooming out to the county, ACS estimates for Van Buren County put 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. Sister Lakes Elementary School is one of 45 public schools in Van Buren County (combined enrollment of about 14,850 students).

Nearest neighbor: Countryside Academy MiddleHigh School, around 7.0 miles off. 8 of the 8 nearest public schools sit inside a ten-mile radius, suggesting a relatively low-density school footprint.

Sister Lakes Elementary School operates from a countryside location.

Trend over the last 7 years. Over the past 7-year window, the student count decreased 18%: 203 students in 2018 compared to 166 in 2025. The Hispanic share of enrollment edged down from 41% to 33% over that span.

Inside the community feed, recent activity here tends to focus on pickup logistics, teacher feedback, and after-school programs. The community welcomes input from current and former families.